The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in Math. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Key Es
Key ES serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as part of Tulsa Public Schools, the state’s largest district. The school draws from a diverse student body: the largest share of students identify as Hispanic, with substantial numbers of Black students, White students, and students of two or more races, along with smaller groups of Asian and American Indian students. Enrollment is moderate for an elementary school serving these grades. The school sits in Tulsa, a city that is the second-largest in Oklahoma and a regional commercial and cultural center whose economy has diversified beyond its historic oil base into finance, aviation, and technology. Housing values in the school’s zip code are above the state median but below the national median, and rents are moderate relative to local incomes.
On state assessments for the 2024-25 school year, Key ES recorded proficiency rates that are very low across both reading and mathematics in grades three, four, and five, and in fifth-grade science. In third grade, the share of students meeting or exceeding state standards was in the single digits for math and about one in ten for English language arts. Fourth-grade results were similarly weak. Fifth-grade reading and math showed modestly higher rates, but still far below what most families would consider typical. Science proficiency in fifth grade was also low. Overall, the school’s proficiency index lands in the bottom quartile when compared across districts in Tulsa County. Oklahoma made changes to its math and English language arts cut scores for this assessment cycle, which makes direct year-over-year comparisons uncertain, but the current results are clear.
Because Key ES is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, special education identification, and English learner status are not available in the profile, so a complete picture of student support needs is missing. Discipline data, staffing ratios, and attendance rates are also absent. Families would benefit from asking the school directly about these areas, particularly given that the district has faced scrutiny in recent years.
Tulsa Public Schools has been navigating a period of change. In 2023 the state board of education lowered the district’s accreditation to “accredited with deficiencies,” citing academic performance concerns and library book policies. Voters in 2024 approved a substantial bond package to fund facility improvements, technology, and safety upgrades without raising property tax rates. The district also closed two elementary schools in 2024 as part of a right-sizing effort driven by declining enrollment. These district-level dynamics may affect staffing, school budgets, and student assignment over time.
Key ES is a school with a diverse student population in a large urban district that is undergoing significant transitions. Its academic results are well below averages for the county and state, which is the central fact for any family considering this school. A parent would want to understand what academic interventions and supports are in place, how the school is addressing these outcomes, and what the district’s ongoing changes mean for the school’s future. There is no indication of specialized programs or magnet offerings, so the school’s identity is as a neighborhood elementary. The data present a clear picture of where student performance stands; the next step for a prospective family would be a direct conversation with the school to learn about its instructional approach, resources for struggling students, and the specific steps being taken to improve.
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