The top reported proficiency rate is 10% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Burroughs Es
Burroughs Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade and is part of Tulsa Public Schools, the largest district in Oklahoma. The school sits in the northern section of Tulsa, which as a whole has a diversified economy built on finance, aviation, technology, and its historic energy sector. Housing in the school’s ZIP code is priced at a level that is notably lower than the state median and well below the national benchmark, making it one of the more affordable pockets within a city where the typical home value is itself below state averages.
The student body is small, and the demographic composition reveals a clear majority of Black students, with a sizable group of students who identify as two or more races. White, Hispanic, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander students each make up a much smaller share, and there are also small numbers of American Indian or Alaska Native students and Asian students. Data on the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals was not available, nor were counts for students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent interested in those dimensions of the school’s population would need to ask the school directly.
On the Oklahoma School Testing Program, Burroughs Elementary posted results that are deeply below state averages and place it in the bottom quartile among elementary schools across Tulsa County, using a proficiency index that averages the school’s reported proficiency rates across tested subjects and grades. In third-grade math, only a small share of students scored at the proficient level or above, and that share fell further in fourth grade and again in fifth grade, where it was at its lowest point. In English language arts, third grade saw a slightly higher share of students reach proficiency, but fourth and fifth grades again returned very low figures. Fifth-grade science results followed the same pattern. The state made changes to the test cut scores, which can make comparisons with prior years uncertain, but even accounting for that, the overall picture is one of very low academic attainment. A parent considering the school would want to discuss with staff how the school supports students who are below grade level and what specific interventions are in place.
Because Burroughs Elementary serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The district itself, Tulsa Public Schools, has been under state scrutiny: in 2023 the Oklahoma State Board of Education lowered the district’s accreditation status to “accredited with deficiencies,” citing low academic performance scores. A substantial bond package approved by voters in 2024 will fund facility improvements, technology, and instructional materials across all district schools, and some of that funding could affect Burroughs, though the school was not specifically named. The district has also closed two elementary schools in recent years in response to declining enrollment, a signal that families may want to monitor potential future boundary or program changes.
The school’s location on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard places it in a part of Tulsa where the city’s built environment is shaped by a history that includes the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and the subsequent rebuilding of the downtown area, which is known for its Art Deco architecture. Civic and cultural life in Tulsa is concentrated downtown, which is a reasonable drive from the school’s neighborhood. The Arkansas River and the nearby Port of Catoosa are notable geographic features, and the city’s population has grown steadily.
For a family weighing their options, Burroughs Elementary presents a clear profile: a small, predominantly Black elementary school in an affordable part of Tulsa, operating within a large district that is under heightened state oversight for academic performance. The school’s own test results show that very few students are reaching proficiency in math, English, or science, and a parent would want to probe deeply into the school’s academic approach and available supports before enrolling.
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