The top reported proficiency rate is 24% in Science. The lowest is 15% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Peary Es
Peary ES is a public elementary school in Tulsa, Oklahoma, serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. It sits within the Tulsa Public Schools system, the largest district in the state, which has drawn attention in recent years for both a significant infrastructure investment and academic struggles that led the state board to lower its accreditation status to “accredited with deficiencies” in 2023. For families looking at this school, the district’s broader context matters.
The school’s student body is diverse, with a substantial share of Hispanic students forming the largest racial or ethnic group, followed by smaller proportions of White, Black, Asian, Native American, and multiracial students. The enrollment is small enough that families will find a relatively intimate elementary setting. Data on how many students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those support programs.
Academically, state test results from the 2024-25 school year show that across tested grades and subjects, proficiency rates are low. In third-grade math, roughly one in three students scored at a proficient level or above, but by fourth grade that share dropped sharply, and fifth-grade math also showed only about one in five students reaching proficiency. English language arts results follow a similar pattern: third and fifth grade hover near one in five students proficient, while fourth grade falls to a very small share. Science, tested only in fifth grade, shows about one in four students proficient. The overall proficiency index, which averages these rates across all tested subjects and grades, places Peary ES below the midpoint relative to other districts in Tulsa County. Parents considering the school should be aware that academic performance is a significant soft spot and may want to discuss with the school what interventions or supports are in place.
No chronic absenteeism data or graduation rate is available, which is expected for an elementary school that does not serve high school grades. The school’s location in Tulsa means families are part of a large, diversified city with a range of cultural institutions, major employers in aviation, finance, and energy, and steady population growth. Housing in the immediate area, based on ZIP-level data, is more affordable than the state and national benchmarks, with rents and home prices that are modest relative to income.
The district itself has been in flux. In spring 2024, voters approved a sizable bond package for facility upgrades, safety, technology, and instructional materials across all school sites, which will not raise property tax rates because it replaces expiring bond debt. That same year, the district closed two elementary schools as part of a portfolio review driven by declining enrollment, a trend that could affect other schools in the future. The 2023 accreditation downgrade was a high-profile move by the state board citing low academic performance and library book policies. The district remains operational and is working to address those deficiencies, but the standing is a factor families may weigh.
For a parent or resident, Peary ES offers a small, diverse elementary school within a large urban district that has both recent investment and known academic challenges. The test results are a clear area to investigate further with the school, particularly around how fourth-grade performance is being addressed. The broader Tulsa community provides many opportunities, and the district’s recent bond promises improvements, but the school’s own academic record is a central consideration.
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