The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in Science. The lowest is 22% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Altus Intermediate School
Altus Intermediate School serves a narrow but pivotal two-year band, fifth and sixth grades, at the point where students move from elementary self-contained classrooms into the departmental structure of middle school. It is one of the nine schools in the Altus Public School District, located just north of the downtown core on Howse Street. The school’s enrollment is moderate for an intermediate school in a small city, with roughly equal numbers in each grade. Because it covers only these grades, it has no graduation rate—that measure belongs to the high school—and no state testing data beyond the Oklahoma School Testing Program for grades five and six.
On the state assessments, the share of students reaching proficiency is modest. In both math and English language arts, about one in four or one in five students scored at Levels 3 or 4, the state’s definition of proficient. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed a somewhat higher rate. These are low absolute numbers, but they need to be read in context. Among the five school districts in Jackson County that had proficiency data available, Altus Intermediate sits above the midpoint of the group. Its overall proficiency index is higher than the county median, meaning that while the school’s results are not strong in statewide terms, they are competitive within the local area. The state changed cut scores in math and ELA for this testing year, so direct comparisons with prior years are not possible; trend data was not available.
The student body reflects the broader Altus community. Hispanic and White students each make up a little over two-fifths of the enrollment, with smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races, Black, Asian, and American Indian. This is a racially diverse school by southwestern Oklahoma standards. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, nor was information on free or reduced-price meal eligibility, so a family would want to ask the school directly about its special education and language-support programs. The school is not a charter, and its Title I status was not listed.
Altus itself is a rural plains city with a strong military presence from Altus Air Force Base, a major training hub for transport aircraft. The base shapes both the local economy and the school community; a number of students likely come from military families, though the data does not specify how many. Housing in Altus is markedly more affordable than the state or national average. Home values and rents are low, and the cost of living is a draw for families, though the city’s population has been declining slowly over the long term. The school district did not appear to have any major recent changes or initiatives reported publicly, so parents may want to ask about current priorities at the district level.
Because Altus Intermediate covers only two grades, its academic profile is limited to what can be measured in those years. There is no information on course offerings, extracurricular programs, staffing ratios, or chronic absenteeism. A parent considering this school would want to look into what electives, music, arts, or exploratory classes are available for fifth and sixth graders, and how the school supports students transitioning from elementary to junior high. The absence of that data is a gap worth noting, not a verdict on the school itself.
In sum, Altus Intermediate is a mid-sized, diverse school that serves a short but important stretch of the K-12 pipeline. Its academic results are modest in absolute terms but sit above the county median. The community is affordable and shaped by the air force base, and the school’s place within a small district means families can expect a close relationship between the school and the town. Anyone looking for a more complete picture should ask the school directly for the information that state reporting leaves out.
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