The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Math. The lowest is 17% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Oakes Es
Oakes Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through third grade in the Okemah Public Schools district. Because it is an early-grades school, state testing results are available only for third grade, which is the first tested year in Oklahoma. On the state assessments, about a quarter of third graders scored at the proficient level or above in math, while roughly one in six reached that threshold in English language arts. Those figures place the school’s overall proficiency index in the top quartile relative to districts across Okfuskee County. Readers should note that Oklahoma changed its cut scores for math and English language arts between testing administrations, which makes direct comparisons with prior years unreliable.
The student body is notably diverse. American Indian students make up the largest single group, at just over two-fifths of enrollment, followed by white students at about a quarter, and students of two or more races at roughly a fifth. Smaller shares are Black, Hispanic, and Asian. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals and on students receiving special education services or English learner support were not reported in the available data sets, so a family may want to ask the school directly about those supports. The school serves about 250 students, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly from kindergarten through third grade and a somewhat smaller prekindergarten class.
Okemah itself is a small rural county-seat town roughly 71 miles east of Oklahoma City, sitting at the intersection of Interstate 40 and several state highways. The local economy draws on cattle ranching, small manufacturers, the Creek Nation Casino, and the Creek Nation Hospital. Downtown has a traditional grid, a Woody Guthrie statue, and a handful of cafes and coffee shops. The population has declined slowly over recent decades. Housing values in the area are well below both state and national medians, making this a relatively affordable place to live. No program offerings data were available for the school, so it is not possible to describe elective or enrichment options from the provided information.
A recent district-level event may matter to families. A school bond package proposed by Okemah Public Schools was voted down by local residents. A failed bond means the district cannot move ahead with capital improvements or facility upgrades that would have depended on that borrowing. Any near-term plans for building repairs, new construction, or large equipment purchases would need to find other funding sources or be deferred.
Because Oakes is a primary school, there is no graduation rate, no chronic absenteeism data, and no high-school-level course access information to report. The school environment and staffing sections were also empty in the available data. Families looking for information on class sizes, teacher experience, discipline practices, or before- and after-care options would need to contact the school or visit its website directly. What is clear is that this is a small, early-elementary building in a slowly shrinking rural town, with a diverse student population and proficiency rates that, while modest in absolute terms, sit relatively well compared with other schools in the county. The failed bond vote adds a layer of uncertainty about the district’s near-term physical infrastructure.
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