The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in Science. The lowest is 19% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on New Lima Es
New Lima ES serves students from prekindergarten through eighth grade in the community of Wewoka, Oklahoma, as part of the New Lima district. It is a traditional public school with a modest enrollment, covering the elementary and middle school years before students would move on to a high school elsewhere. The school’s academic results come from the Oklahoma State Testing Program, though the state recently changed its cut scores for math and reading, meaning test results from the current year may not be directly comparable to prior years.
On state assessments, the share of students scoring proficient or above varied widely by grade and subject. In math, roughly a third of third graders and a similar share of eighth graders reached that benchmark, while in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades the proportion was notably smaller. Seventh-grade math results were suppressed for privacy. In English language arts, the highest proficiency share was just over a third of third graders, and other grades showed considerably lower levels, with fourth grade falling especially low. Science results for fifth graders were somewhat higher than those for math and reading in that grade. Eighth-grade science data was also suppressed. These figures represent absolute performance, and a parent may want to discuss with the school what supports are available for students who are not yet meeting grade-level expectations.
However, when compared with districts in Seminole County, the school’s overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades places it above the midpoint among its peers. This means that relative to other schools in the county, New Lima ES is among the higher-performing options, even though the raw proficiency rates are modest. The county-level comparison provides context that the school is not alone in facing challenges, and it holds its own within that local landscape.
The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with the largest group being white students, followed by students who identify as two or more races and students who are American Indian or Alaska Native. Smaller numbers of Hispanic and Black students also attend. This composition reflects the area’s history and the presence of the Seminole Nation, whose capital is Wewoka. Data on students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, special education services, or English learner supports was not available, so families should ask the school directly about these dimensions of student need and the resources allocated to meet them.
Wewoka is a small county seat that once boomed as an oil town in the 1920s and has since seen a long population decline that is projected to continue. Housing is quite affordable relative to both the state and national averages, and the town maintains civic anchors including the Seminole Nation Museum and two recreational lakes. The local economy has shifted away from its industrial past, and the city reports efforts to attract new businesses. For families, this means a low cost of living in a rural setting with a distinct cultural heritage.
No information was available on class sizes, discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, or program offerings such as advanced courses or extracurriculars. The school also lacks data on its Title I status and staffing ratios. These gaps mean that any family considering New Lima ES should contact the school directly to learn about the specific opportunities, supports, and learning environment it provides. The school fits a family seeking a small, community-rooted school in an affordable rural town, where their child can attend through middle school in a setting that, by county measures, performs competitively despite the absolute academic challenges evident in the state test results.
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