The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in Math. The lowest is 23% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Pretty Water Public School
Pretty Water Public School is a small public school serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in a rural area just west of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. It is the only school in the Pretty Water school district, a single-school district that does not operate a high school, so families will need to plan for where their children will attend after eighth grade. The school’s address places it on a country road, and its size is modest, with a student body that creates a close-knit atmosphere typical of a small elementary and middle school.
The student body at Pretty Water is predominantly white, with a notable share of students identifying as two or more races and a smaller but present population of American Indian or Alaska Native students. Hispanic and Asian students are also represented, though in smaller numbers. Information on how many students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, receive special education services, or are learning English was not available in the data, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about the support services and funding programs in place.
State test results for Pretty Water are limited in what can be shared publicly. For the most recent testing year, proficiency rates were reported for only a few grade levels and subjects. In third-grade math and English language arts, about a quarter of students scored at the proficient level or above. Eighth-grade math showed a similar rate. Results for fourth through seventh grade in both math and English language arts, as well as science in fifth and eighth grade, were suppressed, meaning the numbers of students tested were too small for the state to release. This by itself is not a judgment and simply reflects the school’s small enrollment at each grade. When taken together across the grades where data is available, the school’s overall proficiency rate falls above the midpoint among districts in Creek County, a group that includes fifteen districts. The school does not have a graduation rate because it does not serve grades that produce one, and chronic absenteeism data was not provided.
In terms of academic pathways, the school offers a standard pre-K through middle school curriculum. There is no data on advanced coursework or specialized programs like dual credit or career-technical education, which are typically offered at the high school level anyway. The school is not a charter or a magnet school, and its Title I status was not listed. A parent curious about enrichment, electives, or how the school supports students who need extra help outside of the core day would need to ask the school or district office directly.
The broader community context is important for understanding what life outside school is like. Sapulpa is a mid-sized city and the county seat of Creek County, with a history rooted in glass manufacturing and railroad industry. Its economy remains anchored by manufacturing, with a notable employer being the Ardagh Group glass plant. The city is positioned at the intersection of major highways, including I-44, which connects it to Tulsa about 14 miles northeast. Housing in the area, based on the ZIP code that serves the school, has a property value that is slightly below the state average and well below the national average, making homeownership more attainable here than in many parts of the country. Rents are also relatively modest compared to incomes, though the rental and home value data should be seen as a general area indicator and not specific to the immediate neighborhood around the school. The city is growing modestly, with recent annexation activity, but the school’s rural setting on the west side of Sapulpa gives it a distinct feel from the more developed parts of town.
The district itself had no publicly reported recent changes, so it appears to be in a stable period. For a family seeking a small, rural, and straightforward pre-K through eighth grade experience in the Tulsa orbit, Pretty Water Public School offers a clear option, though the absence of high school grades and the limited test data in the middle grades are points a parent will want to investigate further with the school.
See more original research from School Decision →