The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in Math. The lowest is 29% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Waurika Es
Waurika Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the Waurika school district, a small rural system in Jefferson County, Oklahoma. The school is located in the northeast section of town, away from the historic downtown core that centers on the Jefferson County Courthouse and the restored Rock Island depot, which now houses the public library. Waurika itself is a small county seat whose economy has long been rooted in cattle raising, agriculture, and petroleum production. The town has experienced a long-term population decline over many decades, and no major new housing developments or growth initiatives were identified in publicly available sources. The school sits in a low-density residential area, and the overall built environment is car-dependent.
Waurika Elementary serves about that many students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic share and smaller numbers of students who identify as two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, or Black. Data on the share of students who 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 these supports.
State testing results from the Oklahoma School Testing Program are available for the most recent school year, though some results were suppressed due to small group sizes, which is common in a school of this size. In mathematics, fourth graders posted a proficiency rate that was a clear strength, while fifth-grade math proficiency was lower. Third-grade math results were suppressed. In English language arts, third graders showed a moderate proficiency rate, fifth graders were lower, and fourth-grade results were suppressed. Science results for fifth grade were also suppressed. Because Oklahoma changed its cut scores for math and English language arts in this testing cycle, year-over-year comparisons are not possible, and the school's performance should be read as a single-year snapshot. When compared to other districts in Jefferson County, Waurika Elementary's overall proficiency index placed it in the top quartile, meaning its combined performance across tested subjects and grades was the strongest among the three districts in the county.
The school is a traditional public elementary school, not a charter or magnet. It is part of the Waurika district, which also operates a junior high and senior high school in the same northeast section of town. No information was available on course access, staffing ratios, discipline rates, or chronic absenteeism, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about class sizes, enrichment offerings, and student support structures.
Housing in the area is notably affordable. Home values in the zip code are well below both the state and national benchmarks, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home is modest. Rents were not available. The national unemployment rate at the time of this data was moderate, and real median household income nationally has been relatively stable in recent years.
For a family considering Waurika Elementary, the picture is one of a small, rural school in a town with a long history and a shrinking population. The school's overall proficiency index was the highest among the three districts in Jefferson County, a meaningful distinction in this local context. At the same time, the range of performance across individual grade levels and subjects was wide, with some results suppressed due to small numbers. The school serves only elementary grades, so there is no graduation rate to consider. A parent may want to follow up on the specific supports available for students who are not yet meeting proficiency benchmarks, particularly in the upper elementary grades where results were lower. The town itself offers limited commercial development and no signs of recent growth, but housing costs are low, and the school sits in a quiet rural setting.
See more original research from School Decision →