The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Science. The lowest is 25% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Ward Es East
Ward Es East serves fourth through sixth grade in Colbert, a small, car-dependent town in southern Bryan County, just north of the Texas border. The school is part of the Colbert Public Schools district, where all grade levels are housed on a single campus near the center of town. This is a traditional small-town arrangement, with the school within walking distance of Moore Avenue, the main street where Town Hall and a handful of local businesses sit. There is no public library in Colbert; the nearest is in Durant, about ten miles north. Lake Texoma, five miles west, provides the area’s main recreational draw.
The student body is predominantly White, with a notable share of students who identify as two or more races, a smaller share of Hispanic students, and a modest share of American Indian or Alaska Native students. A very small number of Black students are enrolled, and no Asian or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students are reported. The school serves just over a hundred and sixty students across three grades, with the largest group in sixth grade and fairly even numbers in fourth and fifth.
State testing data from the most recent school year shows that math proficiency rates fell below thirty percent in each grade, with the highest rate occurring in fourth grade and the lowest in fifth grade. English language arts results were similarly low, with rates ranging from roughly twenty to twenty-eight percent across the three grades. Science results, tested only in fifth grade, were notably stronger, with just over half of students meeting the state’s proficiency standard. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among districts in Bryan County, a reminder that the comparison set here is local and the county’s overall performance is modest. Oklahoma changed its cut scores for math and reading in recent years, so year-over-year trend comparisons are not possible from the available data.
Data on student support programs is sparse. The share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch was not available, nor were counts of students with disabilities or English learners. A parent who wants to know the level of support for these populations should ask the school directly. Discipline data, staffing ratios, and chronic absenteeism rates were also absent from the information at hand.
The town’s housing market is affordable by both state and national standards, with home values well below the Oklahoma median. The population has been essentially flat for two decades, and no new residential or commercial development was identified in searches. The regional economy relies on agriculture, Lake Texoma tourism, and commuting to Durant, where the Choctaw Nation, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and a hospital are among the larger employers. Within Colbert itself, the school district and town government are the main employers.
For a family considering this school, the picture is straightforward. The school is small, rural, and part of a district where all grades share one campus. Academic results on state tests are mixed, with science showing a stronger outcome than math or reading. A parent would want to ask the school about its approach to supporting students who are not yet on grade level, particularly in the core subjects of math and reading, where most students tested below the proficient threshold. The lack of published information on special education and English learner services means those conversations are especially important for families with children who may need those supports. The community offers a quiet, low-cost living environment with few amenities in town and a commute to Durant for shopping, healthcare, and employment.
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