Blackwell Middle School

Blackwell Middle School is a public middle school located in Blackwell, Oklahoma, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 220 students. The school is part of the Blackwell School District, which is ranked 149 out of 452 districts in Oklahoma and is rated 3 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Blackwell Middle School has consistently underperformed compared to the state average in standardized test scores for English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 19% of Blackwell students were proficient or better in ELA, compared to the state average of 26%. Similarly, only 18% were proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to the state average of 26%. The school has also had high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 12.9% to 22.3% in recent years, which is significantly higher than the state average. Additionally, Blackwell Middle School has a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 80% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch in the 2023-2024 school year.

Despite the school's relatively low student-teacher ratio, ranging from 12.9 to 15.8 in recent years, its performance has declined over the years, as evidenced by its decreasing statewide ranking and star rating from SchoolDigger. In the 2024-2025 school year, the school ranked 204 out of 369 Oklahoma middle schools, down from a ranking of 55 out of 521 in the 2008-2009 school year. Blackwell Middle School's performance is particularly concerning for its White students and students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, who rank significantly lower than their peers statewide. Compared to nearby middle schools, such as Ponca City East Middle School and Newkirk Middle School, Blackwell Middle School's academic performance is generally lower, with higher test scores and lower rates of chronic absenteeism.