The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in Science. The lowest is 12% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Boswell Es
Boswell ES serves a small rural community in southeastern Oklahoma, enrolling students from prekindergarten through sixth grade. The school sits in Boswell, a town that has seen a gradual population decline over decades, reflecting the broader trajectory of many small agricultural towns in the region. Historically anchored by farming and ranching, the town retains a quiet residential character with limited commercial activity. The school district is the town’s sole prekindergarten-through-twelfth-grade system, and the elementary building likely sits near the town’s center along the highway corridor rather than on a separated campus. Boswell State Park, a lake stocked with channel catfish, lies within the town.
The student body is small and racially diverse. American Indian and white students each make up a substantial share of enrollment, with a smaller presence of students who identify as two or more races, Hispanic, or Black. The data does not include counts for students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those support programs.
On the state assessments known as the OSTP, the school’s results are low across the tested subjects of math, reading, and science, and in nearly every grade level only a modest share of students reached the proficient level. In third-grade math, about a fifth of students scored proficient or above; in fourth-grade math, it was below one in twenty. In fifth-grade math, roughly one in seven; in sixth-grade math, fewer than one in ten. Reading scores follow a similar pattern, with third grade at about one in ten, fifth grade at about one in five, and sixth grade again below one in ten. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed a bit less than a quarter of students at proficiency. One grade’s reading result was suppressed, meaning the state withheld the data, likely because the tested group was too small to report reliably. The state changed the cut scores for math and reading in recent years, so the proficiency results are not directly comparable to prior years, a fact the school has flagged.
When placed among the other districts in Choctaw County, Boswell ES’s overall proficiency index sits in the top quartile. That means relative to its immediate neighbors, the school performs better than most, though the county overall may have low attainment levels. The data for chronic absenteeism and graduation rate are not applicable here because the school does not serve high school grades.
Housing in the area is notably more affordable than the state and national benchmarks, which may appeal to families looking for a lower cost of living. The town has no identified major employers beyond the school district itself, and no recent bond issues, curriculum changes, or referendums were found in available public sources for the district. A parent considering Boswell ES will find a very small school in a shrinking rural town with low academic test results, though it fares better than other local options within the county. Given the limited supporting data on special programs, staffing, and student support services, families with children who need additional academic help or enrichment may want to inquire directly with the school about what is available.
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