The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in Science. The lowest is 18% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Washington Es
Washington Es serves only fifth and sixth grades, a narrow middle-elementary span that means it does not produce a graduation rate or high-school-level outcomes. It is one of several elementary schools in Clinton Public Schools, a small city in western Oklahoma near Interstate 40. The school enrolls a modest number of students, with slightly more in fifth grade than in sixth. The student body is majority Hispanic, with white students making up roughly a quarter of the population and smaller shares of American Indian, two-or-more-races, Black, and Asian students. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals was not available, nor were counts of students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about those support programs.
State testing results from the most recent school year show that the share of students scoring proficient or above was low across all tested subjects and grades. In math, about one in six fifth graders and about one in five sixth graders reached that bar. In English language arts, roughly one in six fifth graders and about one in four sixth graders were proficient. In fifth-grade science, roughly one in four students were proficient. These rates place Washington Es below the midpoint among districts in Custer County when measured by an overall proficiency index; the county has four districts total, and the school’s performance sits at the lower end of that group. The state changed its cut scores recently, which makes direct year-over-year comparisons unreliable, but the current numbers are a clear starting point for a family evaluating academic preparation for the middle school years ahead.
Clinton itself is a community of modest size that has seen gradual population decline over recent decades. The economy blends agriculture, light manufacturing, and tourism tied to Historic Route 66, with employers like a custom-tow-rig manufacturer, an Indian Health Service hospital, and a nearby casino. Housing is affordable, with typical home values well below the state and national averages. The town is auto-oriented, with downtown businesses along the old Route 66 corridor and Interstate 40 bypassing the city to the south. Walkability is limited, and schools are distributed across the community rather than clustered in one area. The district operates three elementary schools, one middle school, one high school, and an alternative school; Washington Es is one of those elementary buildings serving the upper elementary grades before students move on to middle school.
There are several gaps in the data that a parent may want to investigate further. Besides the missing free-lunch and special-population figures, no information was reported on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, staffing ratios, or course access. The district’s recent changes and strategic priorities were searched but little of lasting impact was found to report. That does not mean the school lacks direction, only that publicly available records did not surface a clear picture of recent initiatives.
For a family considering Clinton, Washington Es represents the final two years of elementary schooling in a district where academic proficiency rates are a clear area of concern relative to other schools in the county. The school is not a high school and does not produce the kinds of outcomes that older students would have, so any evaluation of long-term preparation will depend on what happens after sixth grade. The affordable housing market and small-town character may appeal to families who value those conditions, but the academic numbers are worth close attention and a direct conversation with the school about what supports are in place for students who are not yet at grade level.
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