The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in Math. The lowest is 10% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Salk Es
Salk ES is an elementary school within Tulsa Public Schools, located in a mid-sized city that functions as a commercial, financial, and cultural hub for the region. The school serves children from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, and it operates as a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation. Its enrollment, which falls in a moderate range for an elementary school, draws from a racially and ethnically diverse attendance area. The student body is majority Hispanic, with a substantial share of Black students, along with White, multiracial, Asian, and a small number of American Indian or Alaska Native students. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals was not reported, so a parent would need to ask the school directly about economic need levels. Information on students with disabilities and English learners was also absent.
On state assessments administered through Oklahoma's OSTP, results for the most recent testing year show very low proficiency rates across all tested subjects and grade levels. In third-grade math, a small portion of students met the proficiency bar; fourth-grade math was similarly low, and fifth-grade math was even lower. In English language arts, the portion scoring proficient was also small in each grade, with fourth grade the lowest among them. Fifth-grade science proficiency was below one in ten. The state adjusted cut scores for math and English language arts in the same testing year, which means the results cannot be directly compared with prior years, but the current snapshot is clear. When measured against other school districts within Tulsa County, the school's overall proficiency index lands in the bottom quartile. A family focused on academic outcomes measured by state tests should note these results and may want to discuss with the school what interventions and supports are in place.
Tulsa Public Schools itself has been under state scrutiny. The board of education voted to lower the district's accreditation status to "accredited with deficiencies" in 2023, citing low academic performance and library policy concerns. Voters also approved a substantial bond package in 2024 for facility upgrades and technology, without raising tax rates, and the district closed two elementary schools in response to declining enrollment. These district-level developments provide context for all schools in the system.
Because Salk ES serves only elementary grades, no graduation rate is reported, and no chronic absenteeism or disciplinary data were available. The school does not list specific programs such as gifted or magnet offerings in the available information, so parents interested in specialized pathways should contact the school to learn what is offered. In terms of community setting, Tulsa's economy has diversified beyond its historical oil base into aviation, finance, and technology, and the city has a range of cultural institutions and a downtown campus of Oklahoma State University. The neighborhood around the school sits in a residential area of the city with housing values and rents roughly in line with statewide benchmarks.
For a family considering Salk ES, the academic picture is one of significant challenge on state tests. The school serves a diverse student population, and it operates within a larger district undergoing both financial investment and accreditation pressure. Families who prioritize strong test scores may find the low proficiency rates a concern worth investigating further with the school's principal and teachers. Those who value a diverse peer environment and proximity within Tulsa may still consider the school, but the absence of data on free lunch eligibility, special education services, and English learner supports means a conversation with the school is advisable to understand the full picture of student needs and resources.
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