The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in Science. The lowest is 13% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Wells Ms
Wells Middle School serves grades six through eight in the Catoosa school district, a public school system in Rogers County, Oklahoma. The school sits in a town that blends industrial employment, casino and resort tourism, and commuter life for people working in Tulsa, which is a short drive away. Catoosa has been growing steadily for years, with the Port of Catoosa industrial park and the Hard Rock Casino as major economic anchors. The built environment is car-oriented, centered on historic Route 66 and the interstate. For a family considering this area, the town offers a mix of civic parks, museums, and roadside landmarks, with a housing market that has seen values rise.
The student body is diverse. White students make up the largest share, followed by Hispanic students, students who identify as two or more races, and American Indian or Alaska Native students. Smaller groups include Asian, Black, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch was not available for this profile, nor was information on students with disabilities or English learners. A parent may want to ask the school directly about those support services.
On the Oklahoma School Testing Program assessments, the school’s results fall well below state averages, and the overall proficiency index places Wells in the bottom quartile among districts in Rogers County. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above was modest in seventh grade and very low in sixth and eighth grades. In English language arts, proficiency rates were in the low double digits across all three tested grades. In eighth grade science, roughly one in five students met the proficient benchmark. These scores represent a significant soft spot, and a parent would want a clear picture of how the school is addressing learning recovery and core instruction. The state changed its cut scores for math and English language arts in the testing year reflected here, which makes direct comparison with prior years difficult, but even accounting for that adjustment, the results are well below what many families would expect.
Wells is a middle school only, so there is no graduation rate to report, nor are there advanced academic programs like Advanced Placement or dual credit, which are typically found at a high school. The data does not include information on course access, staffing ratios, or student discipline rates. Those are meaningful gaps. A parent considering this school may want to ask about class sizes, teacher experience, the range of electives and enrichment offerings, and the school’s approach to student behavior and support.
The district itself did not show recent publicly reported changes, such as boundary shifts, leadership turnover, or new program launches, that would alter a family’s basic understanding of the school. That can be read as a period of stability or as a lack of visible momentum; either way, what a family sees today is what they should expect tomorrow.
Wells Middle School serves a growing, commuter-oriented community with a strong industrial base. The school reflects that community’s demographic variety, and the town’s steady growth suggests families are choosing the area for reasons beyond the school’s test scores. For a parent who places a high priority on academic proficiency as measured by state assessments, these results will give serious pause. For a parent who values a community that is affordable relative to the Tulsa area and who is willing to engage closely with the school on academic support, this is a school worth visiting and asking hard questions of. The profile is thin in several places, so direct conversations with the principal and teachers will be essential.
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