Woodall Public School, Tahlequah OK

Original Research by School Decision on Woodall Public School

Woodall Public School is a single-school district serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, located in a rural area outside Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Tahlequah itself is a small city that functions as the capital of the Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, as well as the county seat. It is home to Northeastern State University, the Cherokee Nation headquarters, and a mix of government, university, and residential uses. The city is situated at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains near the Illinois River Valley and several lakes. The Woodall campus sits west of the city proper, in a setting that is more rural than the downtown and university core.

The school serves a student body that is modest in size for a PK-8 campus. The student population is racially and ethnically diverse, with a large share of students identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native, a similarly large share identifying as two or more races, and smaller shares identifying as white or Hispanic. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, meaning students must transition to a different high school after completing eighth grade. Because the school does not serve grades nine through twelve, there is no graduation rate data, and state testing is limited to the grades that are tested.

State assessment results for the most recent testing year show a mixed picture, with some results suppressed due to small group sizes, which is common for a school of this size. In mathematics, where results were reported, proficiency rates varied considerably by grade level. Fourth grade saw a rate in the moderate range, while sixth and seventh grade rates were lower, and eighth grade proficiency was very low. In English language arts, reported results showed a similar pattern: fifth grade proficiency was in the moderate range, while sixth, seventh, and eighth grade rates were progressively lower. Science results for both fifth and eighth grade were suppressed. A parent may want to discuss these trends with the school to understand the specific instructional strategies and supports in place, particularly for the upper grades. When compared to other districts in Cherokee County on an overall proficiency index, Woodall placed in the top quartile, indicating that despite variability by grade, its combined performance across tested subjects and grades was stronger than that of many neighboring districts.

The school is part of a single-school district, and publicly reported information on recent district-level changes, strategic priorities, or facility updates was limited. The district brief found little of lasting impact beyond basic fiscal and enrollment data. This means a family may need to contact the school directly for information on class sizes, curriculum updates, or after-school programming.

Housing in the area is more affordable than national benchmarks, with home values and rents that have risen over the past year. The area's economy is anchored by tribal government, the university, and health services. The combination of a small, rural PK-8 campus, a diverse student body, and academic performance that is uneven by grade but competitive within the county defines the experience at Woodall. Families considering this school should factor in the need to arrange for high school placement after eighth grade and should reach out to the school for details on student support services and programming for the middle grades.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 443%

School 43% · District 43%

▲ 13 pts above state median · ▲ 11 pts above county median

Grade 623%

School 23% · District 23%

▲ 5 pts above state median

Grade 724%

School 24% · District 24%

▲ 4 pts above state median

Grade 89%

School 9% · District 9%

▼ 4 pts below state median

English language arts

Grade 537%

School 37% · District 37%

▲ 16 pts above state median · ▲ 15 pts above county median

Grade 620%

School 20% · District 20%

even with state median

Grade 724%

School 24% · District 24%

▲ 3 pts above state median

Grade 813%

School 13% · District 13%

▼ 4 pts below state median · ▼ 8 pts below county median

This schoolWOODALL, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 5Lower-income36%Higher-income82%45 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income37%Higher-income53%16 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income41%Higher-income40%1 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income38%Higher-income82%44 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 5Lower-income36%Higher-income64%27 pp gap

Grade 6Lower-income22%Higher-income24%1 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income24%Higher-income40%16 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income17%Higher-income36%20 pp gap