The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in Math. The lowest is 16% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Thomas Jefferson Es
Thomas Jefferson Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as part of Union Public Schools. It is a neighborhood school in a southern Tulsa ZIP code, where housing values sit above the statewide average but below the national figure, and rental prices have been climbing modestly. The school is neither a charter nor a magnet, and no Title I status was reported. For a family looking at this part of Tulsa, the housing market is relatively accessible compared with much of the country, though the area has seen steady price growth.
The student body of roughly several hundred children is diverse. The largest racial group is Black students, followed by Hispanic students, White students, students of two or more races, Asian students, American Indian students, and a small number of Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, on students with disabilities, and on English learners was not available in the information provided. A parent who wants to understand the full support picture at the school would need to ask the school directly for those numbers.
State testing in the 2024-25 school year showed proficiency rates that varied noticeably by grade and subject. In third and fourth grades, math proficiency was near the midpoint of what schools in Tulsa County report, while fifth-grade math was lower. In English language arts, third and fourth graders again posted rates around the county middle, while fifth graders were below that level. Science, tested only in fifth grade, also came in lower. Across all tested subjects and grades combined, the school’s overall proficiency index landed just above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Tulsa County, though the top-performing district in the county posted a much higher figure. This means that while Thomas Jefferson Elementary is not an outlier for weak performance, families will see a drop-off in test results as students move through the upper elementary grades, particularly in fifth grade. It is also worth noting that Oklahoma changed the cut scores for math and English language arts assessments starting this year, so year-to-year trend comparisons are not possible from this data alone.
The school does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate applies. No information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or course access was available.
Tulsa itself is Oklahoma’s second-largest city and a diversified economic hub. Historically tied to oil, its current major employers include aviation, finance, technology, and manufacturing. The city has substantial cultural assets, including the Gilcrease Museum, the Woody Guthrie Center, and the Greenwood Rising history center, and its downtown is known for Art Deco architecture. The Arkansas River runs through the city, and a network of interstates and toll roads shapes development. Population growth has been steady, and the metropolitan area has expanded beyond the city limits.
The parent district, Union Public Schools, is in the midst of significant facility investments. Its most recent bond campaign is funding a transformation of the 6th and 7th Grade Centers, a major project that will reshape the middle-grade learning environment. The district has also introduced new career pathway academies, including an aerospace academy, a nascent medical academy, and an expanded construction academy. For a family considering Thomas Jefferson Elementary, these district-level developments matter because they represent the kind of programming a student could move into after leaving this school.
Thomas Jefferson Elementary offers a mixed academic picture: early elementary results are around the typical level for Tulsa County, but fifth-grade performance is a clear soft spot. The school serves a diverse student population in a moderately priced part of Tulsa, within a district that is actively investing in facilities and career-focused pathways. A family looking for a traditional elementary school in this area will want to talk with the school about how it supports students in the transition to the upper grades and about the supports available for students who are behind, given the testing gaps at fifth grade.
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