Summary:
The 74859 zip code area is home to 7 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools. While the schools serve a high-need population, with free and reduced lunch rates ranging from 69.64% to 88.67%, the academic performance across the schools varies significantly.
Okemah High School stands out as a bright spot, with its statewide ranking improving from 351st out of 431 Oklahoma high schools in 2023-2024 to 198th out of 463 in 2024-2025, and a respectable 82.2% four-year graduation rate. In contrast, Okemah Middle School struggles, with only 5% of students scoring proficient or better in mathematics, well below the state average.
Chronic absenteeism is a significant issue across all schools in the area, with a consistent rate of 19%, much higher than the state average. This, coupled with generally lower-than-average proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics, suggests a need for targeted interventions to address the root causes of these challenges. The variation in spending per student, from $8,344 at Okemah Noble Center to $12,996 at Okemah High School, may also be a factor in the disparities in academic performance observed in this Okemah, Mason, and Bearden school district area.
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