The top reported proficiency rate is 17% in Math. The lowest is 12% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Mark Twain Es
Mark Twain Elementary in Duncan, Oklahoma, serves kindergarten through fifth grade and is part of the Duncan Public Schools district. It is a neighborhood school with a modest enrollment, drawing from the west side of town. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable share of Hispanic students and a smaller representation of multiracial, American Indian, and Black students. Data on economic disadvantage, special education, and English learner status was not available in the public record, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the share of students who qualify for support services.
The school’s academic performance on the Oklahoma School Testing Program (OSTP) is markedly low. In math, proficiency rates across tested grades were far below what one would typically expect at the state or county level, and the pattern was similar in English language arts and science. For the 2024-25 school year, the composite proficiency index placed Mark Twain in the bottom quartile among elementary schools in Stephens County. The comparison group includes seven other county districts, and the school’s index was the lowest of that group. Oklahoma changed its cut scores for math and reading beginning in 2024-25, so direct comparisons to prior years are not possible, but the current snapshot shows very weak results across all three subjects and every testable grade.
Because Mark Twain is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism was available. The school’s environment is typical of a K-5 building in a small city; the broader locale of Duncan is a county seat with a strong oilfield and manufacturing history anchored by Halliburton, which maintains multiple complexes in town. Agriculture and cattle also play a role in the local economy, and the community has described itself as experiencing steady growth. Housing in the zip code covering the school is affordable relative to state and national benchmarks, with home values and rents well below the averages for Oklahoma as a whole.
A parent considering Mark Twain will want to look closely at whether the school’s academic supports match their child’s needs. The proficiency data is a clear concern, and with no public information on free or reduced-price lunch rates or special population counts, it is hard to gauge the school’s level of need or the intensity of intervention programs available. The district’s recent priorities and any reform efforts were not captured in the materials reviewed, so a family would benefit from visiting the school, talking to the principal, and asking about current improvement strategies. The school itself is small, which can sometimes mean more individual attention, but that advantage is not evident in the testing outcomes. For families already living in the attendance zone or looking for an affordable home in a working-class city, Mark Twain is the elementary option in that part of Duncan, and it is worth investigating further to see if the day-to-day experience aligns with what the test scores suggest.
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