The top reported proficiency rate is 23% in Math. The lowest is 13% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Temple Es
Temple ES is a small public school in the rural town of Temple, Oklahoma, serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. It is the only elementary and middle school in the Temple district, which also includes a separate high school. The school’s enrollment is modest for a PK-8 campus, with students spread fairly evenly across the grades in small class sections. The student body is predominantly White, with smaller shares of students who identify as two or more races, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Black. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals was not reported, and no information was available on the number of students with disabilities or English learners, so a full picture of the school’s support needs is incomplete.
Academically, the school’s state test results from the 2024-25 school year show that proficiency rates in both math and English language arts are low across most tested grade levels. In the grades where results were reported, the share of students scoring at or above the state’s proficiency standard was well under a third in every subject. In several grades, the numbers of test-takers were too small to report a rate publicly, which is common in very small schools. The state changed the cut scores for math and English language arts for this testing cycle, meaning that these results cannot be compared to prior years with confidence. In science, the only reported result was from eighth grade, where about one in five students met the proficiency standard. When combining all tested subjects and grades into a single index, the school falls above the midpoint among the three districts in Cotton County. However, the absolute level of achievement is low even within that narrow comparison.
Because Temple ES does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The school’s program offerings are not documented in the available data. A parent looking for details on elective courses, extracurricular activities, or special academic tracks would need to contact the school directly, as no such information was found.
The community context matters for anyone considering this school. Temple is a small, declining rural town. Its population has dropped steadily for decades, and the local business district has largely emptied out. Residents travel to larger cities such as Lawton, Duncan, or Wichita Falls for shopping and services. Housing values are very low compared to state and national averages, and they have declined notably in the past year. The school itself is one of the few institutional anchors remaining in the town. No recent district-level changes, such as referendums or curriculum overhauls, surfaced in publicly available records; the district appears to operate on a stable, if constrained, footing.
For a family considering Temple ES, the picture is one of a very small, rural school serving a community that has been shrinking for a long time. The academic proficiency rates are low in absolute terms, though the school sits near the middle of a very small county. The low housing costs may appeal to some, but the limited local economy and lack of documented enrichment programs are factors to weigh. A parent with a child in the upper elementary or middle grades may want to ask the school directly about course offerings, student supports, and how the school addresses the challenges that come with a small enrollment and a high-poverty area.
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