The top reported proficiency rate is 17% in English language arts. The lowest is 12% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Davis Ms
Davis Middle School serves students in fifth through eighth grade in the Davis Public Schools district, located in the small town of Davis in southern Oklahoma’s Arbuckle Mountains. The school’s grade band means there is no graduation rate to consider here, and no data on chronic absenteeism or discipline was available in the state reporting. What is available is the most recent state assessment results, which give a clear picture of where the school’s academic performance stands.
Across all four tested grades, proficiency rates in math and English language arts were low. In math, the share of students meeting the state’s proficiency benchmark was in the single digits in fifth and eighth grade and below one-fifth in the other two grades. ELA results were similar, with the highest rate in sixth grade, where roughly a quarter of students scored proficient or above, and lower rates in the remaining grades. Science results for eighth grade showed just under one-fifth of students proficient; fifth-grade science results were suppressed and not reported. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quarter relative to the other districts in Murray County. That comparison set is small, with only three districts in the county, but the direction is clear: Davis Middle School’s achievement levels are below the county median.
That said, the data comes from a single testing year and a state that recently changed cut scores in both math and ELA, making direct comparisons to prior years uncertain. A parent looking at these numbers would want to ask the school about its academic support structures, intervention programs, and any efforts underway to raise proficiency. The available data does not include information on special education or English learner populations, which could also inform the picture.
The school itself is a mid-sized middle school, enrolling students in a small rural district. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial American Indian population making up roughly a quarter of the enrollment, followed by smaller shares of Black, Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. No free- or reduced-price lunch data is reported, which means we cannot speak to the economic need profile from official figures.
The town of Davis sits at the intersection of two state highways and has a compact commercial core. It is known for Turner Falls Park, a city-operated attraction that draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, and the Treasure Valley Casino within the city limits. About a quarter of the local workforce is in education, health, and social services, with many others employed in retail and production. The housing market in the area reflects a modest price point, with typical home values below the state median and a slight year-over-year decline. That context matters for families considering a move: this is a relatively affordable market in a small town with a tourism-driven economy.
The district itself appears stable; a search for recent policy, curriculum, or tax changes turned up nothing that met the bar for a lasting impact over the past four years. That lack of change is neither good nor bad, but it means the school’s academic profile has likely been consistent in recent memory.
So what kind of school is this? It is a small-town Oklahoma middle school with a racially diverse but majority-white student body, serving grades five through eight in a community that has a clear sense of its identity and a few strong economic anchors. The academic numbers are a soft spot, and any family considering this school would want a direct conversation with the principal about how the school addresses core instruction and what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting state benchmarks. The school’s peer environment is shaped by its small size and rural setting, which may appeal to families who prefer a close-knit school community. The housing market is accessible by state and national standards, with prices that are relatively stable but have seen a slight recent dip.
In short, Davis Middle School is a place where the community and setting are clear, but the academic outcomes are well below average for the county, and a family would want to engage with the school directly to understand the path forward for their child.
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