Adams Es, Norman OK - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Adams Es

Adams Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Norman, Oklahoma, as part of the Norman Public Schools district. It is a traditional public school, not a charter or magnet. The school is located on Denison Drive, within the Norman city limits.

The student body reflects a diverse mix of backgrounds, with a substantial share of students identifying as White and a large portion identifying as Hispanic. Smaller but present shares of students identify as two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Black. The data on economic disadvantage was not available in the source material, so a parent may wish to check with the school district directly for the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

On state assessments, the school's proficiency rates, across the grade levels tested, generally fell below the midpoint when compared to other elementary schools in Cleveland County. For third-grade math and English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was about seven in every hundred for math, and roughly one in eight for reading. Fourth-grade rates were somewhat higher, particularly in math, and fifth-grade reading showed a similar pattern. The school’s overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades placed the school in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Cleveland County. Science results for fifth graders, which are tested at that grade level only, showed a small share of students meeting proficiency. A parent looking at these outcomes should treat them as one piece of information and may want to visit the school, talk to teachers, and understand the specific instructional approaches being used.

Because Adams Elementary serves only early and elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report for this school. The school, like all elementary schools in the district, feeds into Norman’s middle and high schools.

Norman itself is a mid-sized city that blends residential neighborhoods with the University of Oklahoma, a large public research university that dominates the local economy and culture. The city has grown steadily over time, aided by its location along Interstate 35, roughly a short drive north of Oklahoma City. The housing market in the area is broadly comparable to state benchmarks, with home values and rents that are moderate relative to national averages. The city offers a mix of parks, arts venues, and civic institutions tied to both the university and the National Weather Center. Families considering this school are also choosing the Norman community, which has a college-town feel with suburban characteristics.

The Norman Public Schools district has undergone notable changes. Two elementary schools were closed after the 2022-23 school year due to declining enrollment and budget pressure, a restructuring that may affect attendance zones and school choice options. At the same time, voters approved a large bond issue in 2023, the largest in district history, to fund facility upgrades, security improvements, and technology. This investment will benefit the district’s buildings, including Adams Elementary, over the coming years.

Adams Elementary is a neighborhood school serving a diverse community of families in Norman. The academic performance on state tests has room for growth, particularly in comparison with other schools in the county, and parents who prioritize strong test outcomes may want to look into the school’s instructional support and enrichment offerings more closely. For families who value a diverse, welcoming environment and are comfortable working with a school that is in a period of district-wide investment and adjustment, Adams may be worth a closer look. The school’s grade span means a child can attend from early childhood through fifth grade, offering continuity before moving on to a district middle school.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 37%

School 7% · District 36% · ▼ 29 pts below district

▼ 22 pts below state median · ▼ 27 pts below county median

Grade 420%

School 20% · District 39% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 21 pts below county median

Grade 518%

School 18% · District 34% · ▼ 16 pts below district

▼ 2 pts below state median · ▼ 16 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 313%

School 13% · District 31% · ▼ 19 pts below district

▼ 10 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 418%

School 18% · District 30% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▲ 1 pts above state median · ▼ 4 pts below county median

Grade 521%

School 21% · District 36% · ▼ 15 pts below district

even with state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Science

Grade 523%

School 23% · District 38% · ▼ 15 pts below district

▼ 1 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

This schoolNORMAN, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income17%Higher-income62%44 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income27%Higher-income67%40 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income28%Higher-income60%32 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income10%Higher-income62%51 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income17%Higher-income48%31 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income21%Higher-income53%33 pp gap