The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in Math. The lowest is 33% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Central Es
Central Elementary in Bixby, Oklahoma, serves students from pre-kindergarten through third grade, making it an entry point for families in the Bixby School District. Because it only covers the early elementary years, the school does not have a graduation rate, and state testing data is available only for third grade, the one tested grade in this building. The school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to districts in Tulsa County, a strong showing for a school that serves the youngest students.
The school’s third-grade state assessment results show that about a third of students scored at the proficient level or above in both math and English language arts. This is a single snapshot of one grade, and the state changed its cut scores for these tests, so comparisons to prior years are not reliable. A parent may want to ask the school how it tracks early literacy and numeracy growth in the pre-kindergarten through second-grade years, where no state testing data is available.
Central Elementary is a large school for its grade band, with enrollment spread fairly evenly across pre-kindergarten through third grade. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of students who identify as two or more races, and smaller shares of Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Black students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about these supports.
The school is located on South Main Street in Bixby, a fast-growing suburb of Tulsa that has seen significant population growth in recent decades. Bixby has the highest per capita income in the Tulsa metro area, and its housing market reflects that. Home values in the area are well above the state average and close to the national average, and rents are similarly elevated. The town’s nickname, “The Garden Spot of Oklahoma,” comes from its agricultural past, but most of the former truck farms have been converted to residential development. The district has responded to growth by opening new West Intermediate and Elementary schools to accommodate rising enrollment.
Because Central Elementary serves only pre-kindergarten through third grade, students will move to another school in the district for fourth grade. The school’s third-grade proficiency rates, which place in the top quartile among districts in Tulsa County, suggest a solid academic foundation for the early grades. The school does not report data on chronic absenteeism or discipline, and no information on program offerings such as gifted education or arts was available. A parent may want to ask the school about enrichment opportunities and how the school supports students who are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks.
The school is not a charter or magnet school, and its Title I status was not reported. The district has been building new schools to keep pace with Bixby’s rapid population growth, which means families moving into the area may find newer facilities but also a district that is still expanding. The town itself has a historic downtown south of the Arkansas River, with parks and community festivals, and the school is near the site of the original Main Street schoolhouse, giving it a long history in the community. For a family looking at early elementary options in a growing, affluent suburb, Central Elementary offers a solid academic start in a district that is investing in new capacity.
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