Salina

The Salina school district in Oklahoma consists of three schools - Salina Elementary School, Salina High School, and Salina Middle School - serving students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The district faces some academic challenges, with the middle school showing a concerning decline in its statewide ranking and rating over the past several years.

Among the three schools, Salina Middle School stands out as the highest-performing, having ranked 27th out of 228 Oklahoma middle schools in 2018-2019 and earning a 4-star rating. However, its ranking has since dropped significantly to 243rd out of 369 middle schools in 2024-2025, with a 2-star rating. In contrast, Salina High School has shown some improvement, moving from 187th out of 439 high schools in 2022-2023 to 225th out of 431 in 2023-2024, though it still holds a 2-star rating.

Across the district, the schools face challenges with low test scores, particularly in English Language Arts and Mathematics, as well as high rates of free and reduced-price lunch recipients, ranging from 77.57% at Salina High School to 84.08% at Salina Elementary School. Additionally, the district's chronic absenteeism rate of 19.0% is higher than the state average, which may be contributing to the academic struggles. While Salina High School spends the most per student at $12,333, the lower-performing Salina Elementary School and Salina Middle School spend around $8,400 per student, suggesting potential funding disparities within the Salina district.