The top reported proficiency rate is 17% in Science. The lowest is 13% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Stilwell
Stilwell Public Schools is a single district covering a wide grade band from prekindergarten through twelfth grade in Adair County, Oklahoma. The district is small and rural, serving the community of Stilwell and the surrounding area in the county's hill country near the Arkansas border. Home values in the district’s zone were well below both state and national medians, making the area more affordable than many parts of Oklahoma. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home was modest by national standards.
The student body is diverse, with a large share of American Indian or Alaska Native students, a substantial Hispanic population, and smaller but notable proportions of White students and students identifying as two or more races. Asian, Black, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students each accounted for a very small fraction of enrollment. Data on the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, as well as counts of students with disabilities or English learners, was not reported.
Academically, state test results for the 2024-25 school year showed low proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science across tested grades. In math, the percentage of students scoring proficient or above ranged from a low single digit in one grade to about a fifth of students in another grade. In English language arts, proficiency rates were similarly low, with no grade reaching one in five students. Science results at the end of elementary and middle school were also low, though the middle school science rate was somewhat higher. When compared with other districts in Adair County, Stilwell’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades fell just above the midpoint of the county’s eight districts. That relative position does not change the fact that the absolute proficiency levels are low; a parent who is evaluating academic performance will want to look into the district’s curriculum and student support structure further.
The district’s chronic absenteeism rate was a bright spot relative to its neighbors. It ranked in the top quartile among Adair County districts, meaning fewer students missed substantial school time than in many surrounding systems. That is a meaningful signal of student engagement and family connection to the schools. Per-pupil current spending was in the lower range of the county, reflecting the district’s rural, low-resource context.
A major, parent-relevant development is a federal Full-Service Community Schools grant, called Project PLAN, secured by Stilwell Public Schools. The grant brings funding to implement wraparound services, integrated student supports, expanded learning time, and onsite childcare across all three district schools, each of which is designated Title I, small, rural, and low-income. This represents a structural shift in how the schools serve families, with a stated cradle-to-career commitment. For parents who value holistic support that goes beyond the classroom, this grant signals an intentional investment in student and family well-being.
The district operates three schools: Stilwell Elementary, Stilwell Middle, and Stilwell High School. High school graduation rate data was not available in the provided information, so a family interested in that metric should ask the district directly. State test results were reported for grades three through eight; no high school assessment was included, so this narrative cannot speak to performance at the secondary level. No information on advanced coursework, career pathways, or dual-credit offerings was available, and a parent seeking those program details would need to reach out to the high school.
Stilwell Public Schools is a rural district with a heavily American Indian and Hispanic student population, affordable housing, and low academic proficiency rates that place it near the middle of its small county. Its low chronic absenteeism and the new community schools grant suggest a school system that is working to stabilize engagement and expand family-facing services, even as it operates on comparatively lean per-pupil spending. Families moving into the area who place a high priority on test-score performance will want to investigate academic supports and alternatives closely, while those who value a community-focused, wraparound approach may find the district’s recent investments align with their priorities.
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