The top reported proficiency rate is 19% in Science. The lowest is 9% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Hodgen Public School
Hodgen Public School is a rural, single-school district in southeastern Oklahoma serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. The school sits in the unincorporated community of Hodgen, a place with a very small population surrounded by the Ouachita National Forest. Outdoor recreation, including camping, hiking, and equestrian trails, defines the area more than any commercial activity. Larger towns such as Heavener, Poteau, and Wister are each a short drive away. Families who choose Hodgen are typically looking for a small, rural setting where the school functions as the primary civic institution.
The school’s enrollment is small, spread across ten grade levels from pre-K through eighth grade. The student body is predominantly American Indian or Alaska Native, with White students making up a substantial share and much smaller numbers of Hispanic students and students identifying as two or more races. Because the school does not serve high school grades, it has no graduation rate to report. Similarly, state testing data covers only the grades tested under Oklahoma’s assessment system.
On state assessments, proficiency rates are low across the tested subjects and grades. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above sits at a modest level in third, fourth, and sixth grades, falls to a very low level in fifth grade, and is suppressed for seventh and eighth grades due to small group sizes. In English language arts, proficiency rates are at a very low level in third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, with a slightly higher but still modest rate in eighth grade; seventh-grade results are suppressed. In science, fifth-grade proficiency is low, while eighth-grade proficiency reaches a more moderate level. Compared to other districts in Le Flore County, the school’s overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint of the field. The state recently changed its cut scores for math and English language arts, which means past results may not be directly comparable to this year’s, and trends are uncertain.
The school’s student support context is thin in the available data. Information on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education services, and English learner status was not reported. No discipline, staffing, or attendance data was available either. A parent considering Hodgen may want to ask the school directly about class sizes, the availability of special programs, and how the school supports students who are below grade level in reading and math.
Housing in the Hodgen ZIP code is notably more affordable than the national median, and values have shown a modest year-over-year increase. The national unemployment rate at the time of this data was moderate, and mortgage rates were elevated relative to recent lows. For families moving to the area, the trade-off of rural affordability and access to national forest recreation comes with a very limited local job market. The school district itself is likely the main institutional employer in the community.
Because the school stops at eighth grade, families will need to plan for high school elsewhere. The nearest options are in surrounding towns such as Heavener, Poteau, or Wister, each within a short drive. Some families may also consider regional charter or private options, though none were identified in the immediate vicinity.
Hodgen Public School is a straightforward rural school serving a small community. Its academic results are low relative to other districts in the county, and data on student supports is largely absent from the public record. For a family already rooted in this part of Le Flore County or drawn to the affordability and outdoor setting, the school offers a familiar, small-scale environment through the middle grades. A family new to the area would want to visit, talk with staff, and clarify how the school addresses the academic challenges visible in the assessment data before making a decision.
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