The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in Science. The lowest is 9% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Jefferson Es
Jefferson ES serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Shawnee, a regional hub and county seat roughly an hour east of Oklahoma City. The school is one of several elementary campuses in the Shawnee Public Schools district, and its neighborhood sits within a city that blends historic downtown streets, mid-century commercial strips, and newer suburban development along Interstate 40. The local economy draws on a mix of institutional anchors, including Oklahoma Baptist University, Gordon Cooper Technology Center, and a regional medical center, along with the headquarters of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, a significant tribal employer with multiple casinos in the area.
State testing results for the most recent academic year show that the share of Jefferson students scoring at the proficient level or above was low in every tested subject and grade. In math, the rates were modest across grades three, four, and five. In English language arts, the rates were also modest, with the highest among tested grades still well below the typical statewide benchmark. Science, tested only in fifth grade, followed a similar pattern. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across all tested subjects and grades, placed Jefferson in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Pottawatomie County—a comparison set that includes fifteen districts. A parent reviewing these outcomes will see that the school faces significant academic challenges. It is worth noting that Oklahoma adjusted its cut scores for math and ELA in this testing cycle, which makes direct comparisons to prior years uncertain, so the current results should be interpreted as a baseline for the new standards.
Because Jefferson ES ends at fifth grade, no graduation rate applies, and the school does not offer advanced courses or career pathways typical of a high school setting. No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing were available, and no information on free or reduced-price meal eligibility, special education enrollment, or English learner status was reported. These gaps mean a parent cannot assess the full picture of student support or school climate from the data provided.
The student body is diverse. White students make up the largest share, followed by a substantial group of students who identify as two or more races, a notable American Indian population, and Hispanic students. Smaller shares of Black and Asian students round out the enrollment. This racial and ethnic mix reflects the broader Shawnee area, where the Citizen Potawatomi Nation is headquartered and where the city’s history includes significant tribal presence. The total enrollment is of a size typical for an elementary school serving a neighborhood attendance zone.
Housing in the area is relatively affordable compared with national and state benchmarks. The typical home value in the zip code is well below the state median, and monthly rents are also modest relative to incomes, making the neighborhood accessible for many families. Home values and rents have both seen small, steady increases recently, consistent with moderate growth in the city itself. Shawnee’s population has grown gradually over recent decades, and the district has passed a bond issue to build a new elementary school on the north side of town, pointing to residential expansion in that direction.
Shawnee is an auto-oriented city overall, with Interstate 40 running through it and development spread along highway corridors. Walkable areas are concentrated in the historic downtown and around the university campus. The city’s civic anchors include the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, Woodland Park, and the Santa Fe Depot, which houses the county historical society. No public transit system was identified in available sources, so most families will rely on cars for school drop-off and errands.
For a parent or resident evaluating Jefferson ES, the central takeaway is a school where academic proficiency rates are well below state averages and where the comparison to other district-level performance in the county places it at the lower end. The school does not release data on several critical dimensions—poverty concentration, special education services, attendance patterns—so those pieces of the picture are missing. The city itself offers a mix of historic character, institutional employment, and modestly priced housing, with a steady but not explosive growth trajectory. A family considering this school will want to visit, talk with staff about how the school supports students who are not yet meeting grade-level standards, and ask directly about the resources and interventions available.
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