The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in Science. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Sallisaw Ms
Sallisaw Middle School serves students in grades six through eight in the city of Sallisaw, the county seat of Sequoyah County and a regional trade center in eastern Oklahoma. The town has a historic downtown along Cherokee Avenue that has seen revitalization efforts, and its economy draws on healthcare, retail, the Cherokee Nation, and some light manufacturing. The school is one of several public schools within the Sallisaw district, located within the city itself rather than on an isolated campus.
Enrollment at the middle school is of a size that is moderate for a grade band covering three years. The student body reflects the diversity of the region: a substantial share of students are American Indian or Alaska Native, another large share are White, with a smaller but notable portion identifying as two or more races. Hispanic students make up a smaller group, and Asian and Black students each represent a very small fraction. No data on students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals was available, so a family would need to inquire directly about the school’s economic needs profile. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was also absent from the published data.
On the Oklahoma State Testing Program (OSTP), proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science are low. In math, the proportion of students scoring at proficient or above was in the teens for sixth and seventh grades and fell to a single-digit share for eighth grade. In ELA, the share was in the low twenties for sixth and seventh grades and in the high teens for eighth grade. Eighth-grade science showed a somewhat higher share, but still below a third. The state adjusted cut scores in both math and ELA in the testing year, which means these results cannot be compared directly with prior years. The school’s overall proficiency index, calculated as the average across tested subjects and grades, places it below the midpoint among districts in Sequoyah County. This is a soft spot in the school’s profile, and a parent may want to discuss with the school what academic supports, interventions, or enrichment are available for students who are below proficiency.
Because Sallisaw Middle School does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing were also missing from the public record, so a family would need to seek that information directly from the school or district. No recent district-level changes of note were found in publicly reported sources, and the school operates as a traditional public school with no charter or magnet designation.
For a family considering Sallisaw, the middle school offers a setting in a small city with a stable population and a historic downtown that has been investing in façade improvements and sidewalk upgrades. The housing market is more affordable than the state average, and the area has a mix of agricultural roots and modern employers. The school’s academic results, however, are below the county median, and the lack of certain contextual data means a parent has less information upfront than they might in a more fully reported district. The school’s size and demographic composition may appeal to families who want a middle school that reflects the local Cherokee and broader rural community, but those focused on objective academic benchmarks will want to probe further into the school’s instructional approach and support systems.
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