The top reported proficiency rate is 17% in Science. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Nowata Es
Nowata ES serves prekindergarten through fifth grade in a small, rural county-seat town. The school is part of the Nowata district, and because it does not serve grades beyond elementary, there is no graduation rate to report, nor are broader secondary metrics such as college readiness or career pathways available here.
The student body is notably diverse in its composition. White students and American Indian or Alaska Native students each make up roughly a third of enrollment, and students identifying as two or more races account for about a quarter. The remaining students are Hispanic, Asian, and Black. The total enrollment is typical for an elementary school serving a town of Nowata's size. Free and reduced-price lunch data was not reported, so the economic profile of the student population is not directly measurable from available records.
State assessment results for the most recent testing year show proficiency rates that are generally lower than what families might hope for. In third-grade math, a modest share of students scored at the proficient level or above. In fourth-grade and fifth-grade math, the share of students reaching that bar dropped to a small portion of the tested group. In English language arts, third graders had the strongest results among the elementary grades, with about a quarter meeting the proficiency benchmark. Fourth-grade and fifth-grade ELA results were lower. Fifth-grade science proficiency also reached a small share of test-takers. The state changed its cut scores for ELA and math in the most recent testing year, which means these results are not directly comparable to prior years, and a parent may want to ask the school how performance patterns are shifting over time.
When stacked against other school districts within Nowata County, the district's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint of the small cohort of three districts. That relative position provides some context, though it is a narrow comparison set, and the absolute proficiency levels remain an area a parent would likely want to explore further with the school.
The town of Nowata itself is a rural community that has seen long-term population decline since a mid-twentieth-century peak, though recent estimates suggest a slight stabilization. The local economy was historically rooted in oil and gas, and notable employers include a regional health center, local government, and the school district. Housing in the area is well below the national median value, with a modest year-over-year increase that tracks below the broader state trend. The town's compact layout and traditional grid pattern mean that elementary-age children can typically be driven a short distance to school. No major new housing developments or growth initiatives were identified in public sources, so families moving into the area should expect a stable but not expanding housing market.
The district brief did not surface any recent changes of lasting impact to report, such as boundary adjustments, program additions, or leadership transitions. A parent looking for that kind of forward-looking information may want to contact district leadership directly.
Special-population data, including the share of students receiving special education services or designated as English learners, was not available in the data provided. Similarly, discipline data, staffing ratios, and attendance figures were not reported. These gaps mean a parent considering Nowata ES for a child with particular learning needs or academic habits should request that information from the school to ensure a good fit.
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