Wister

The Wister school district in Oklahoma operates two schools: Wister Elementary School, serving grades PK-8, and Wister High School, serving grades 9-12. While both schools face challenges, the high school appears to be the stronger performer in the district.

Wister High School has a higher statewide ranking, better test scores, and a higher graduation rate compared to the elementary school. The high school is ranked 174 out of 463 Oklahoma high schools and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger, while the elementary school is ranked 494 out of 614 Oklahoma elementary schools with a 1-star rating. Additionally, the high school's 11th-grade English and Science test scores are above the state average, though its Math scores lag behind.

Both schools face significant challenges, including high rates of chronic absenteeism (19%) and a large proportion of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch (69.75% at the elementary school and 58.62% at the high school), indicating a high level of economic disadvantage in the community. While the elementary school spends more per student ($9,827) compared to the high school ($5,604), this does not seem to translate into better academic outcomes. Addressing issues like attendance, economic factors, and instructional effectiveness may be key focus areas for improving student performance across the Wister school district.