The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in Math. The lowest is 27% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Latta Es
Latta Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade and is part of the Latta district, located just outside Ada in Pontotoc County. The school has a substantial enrollment for its grade band, with a student body that is notably diverse in the context of rural Oklahoma. White students make up the largest share, followed by a sizable proportion of American Indian or Alaska Native students—a reflection of the area’s deep ties to the Chickasaw Nation. Students identifying as two or more races also account for a significant portion, and there are smaller Hispanic, Black, and Asian populations. Data on students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch and on those receiving special education or English learner services are not available in the record, so a full picture of the school’s economic and support needs is not possible from this source.
On state assessments, Latta Elementary shows a mixed academic picture. In mathematics, performance rises with grade level: third graders post a lower proficiency rate, fourth graders reach a higher rate, and fifth graders achieve a rate that is the strongest among the tested grades. In English language arts, however, proficiency rates are lower across all three tested grades, with fourth and fifth graders below a third proficient. The fifth-grade science result was suppressed in the reporting, so no determination can be made there. A parent considering this school may want to ask the school directly about literacy support, especially in the upper elementary grades.
When compared with other districts in Pontotoc County, Latta Elementary’s overall proficiency—averaged across subjects and grades—lands above the midpoint of the eight districts. That suggests the school is performing better than several of its county peers, though it does not reach the highest level in the county. The absence of data on chronic absenteeism and other climate measures limits the ability to assess student engagement and daily attendance patterns.
The school’s setting in Ada adds context. Ada is a mid-sized county seat and the headquarters of the Chickasaw Nation, with a diversified economy that includes manufacturing, education, healthcare, and tribal administration. East Central University and Pontotoc Technology Center are in the city, and major employers include the Chickasaw Nation, the school district, and several industrial firms. The housing market in Ada and the surrounding area is moderate in value, and rent is generally affordable relative to national benchmarks. The area has seen steady, not explosive, growth, supported by tribal investment and manufacturing. The school itself sits on County Road 1560, outside the Ada town core, in a rural part of the county. The Latta district, of which this school is part, does not appear to have undergone major recent changes that would be relevant to families, though the district brief noted that little was found on that front.
Because Latta Elementary serves only through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on high school course access or college readiness pathways. The school does not offer the kinds of advanced placement or career programs that apply to secondary schools. For families with children in the early and elementary years, this is a school that reflects the demographic character of the area, with math performance that improves by fifth grade and literacy results that warrant a closer look. The absence of certain data points—such as economic disadvantage rates and discipline numbers—means some important context for understanding the student experience is not available from this source.
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