The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in Math. The lowest is 26% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Savanna Es
Savanna Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in the small, rural town of Savanna, Oklahoma. The school is part of the Savanna district, which operates a single pre-K through 12 system in Pittsburg County. The community itself is a mainly residential town with a long history tied to agriculture, coal mining, and, more recently, the nearby McAlester Army Ammunition Plant and commuting to McAlester for work. Population has been in steady decline for decades, and the town has seen no major new housing or commercial development reported in available sources. Families moving here should expect a quiet, shrinking rural setting with limited amenities.
The school is small, with an enrollment that reflects the town’s size, and it serves a diverse student body in terms of race and ethnicity. A substantial share of students are American Indian or Alaska Native, and a notable number identify as two or more races. This demographic profile is a straightforward characteristic of the school and community, not something to judge as good or bad, but it does shape the peer environment a child experiences.
On the academic side, state testing results are mixed. Oklahoma recently changed its cut scores for both math and English language arts, which makes year-over-year trend comparisons uncertain. For the 2024-25 school year, proficiency rates on the OSTP assessments, where they are reported, are below those of many schools across the state. In third grade math, roughly a third of students met the proficiency benchmark, while in fifth grade math the share was lower. Seventh grade math showed a similar pattern. In English language arts, third grade proficiency was about a quarter of students, fifth grade was slightly higher, seventh grade was lower, and eighth grade was back around a third. Science results in fifth grade showed about a quarter of students proficient. Several grade levels had their results suppressed, likely due to small testing group sizes, which is common in a school of this size. Overall, the available data suggests that academic performance, as measured by these state tests, is a soft spot. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand how the curriculum aligns with the state assessments and what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting benchmarks.
Because the school serves only through eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. That gap is expected given the grade band. The school does not offer high school level programs such as Advanced Placement, dual credit, or career pathways, which are only relevant for high schools. Programs specific to this school were not detailed in the available data. Information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, and course access was also absent from the data.
Compared to other districts in Pittsburg County, the school’s overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint among the districts for which data is available. This county-level comparison is notable, because it places the school in a different light than a statewide frame would. While the raw proficiency rates are low by absolute standards, the school performs in the middle to upper half relative to its immediate neighbors in the county. A family considering Savanna Elementary should keep this local context in mind. The decision may come down to whether a rural, small-school setting with a moderate local academic profile fits a child’s needs. Those seeking very high test scores or a wide array of enrichment programs will find neither here. Those who value a small, stable community school within a long-established town may find it a reasonable option.
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