2024 Best Elementary Schools in Oklahoma

The Complete Guide to Elementary Schools in Oklahoma

The state of Oklahoma has over one thousand different elementary schools (1,128) spread across numerous cities and metropolitan areas, some of the largest being Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Edmond. That’s 9% more than the typical state, although on a per capita basis, Oklahoma actually ranks #16 in the nation, averaging about 15% more elementary schools than most states. This can mean that there are more school options to choose from, but just because the quantity goes up, doesn’t mean school quality drops necessarily. The typical elementary school in Oklahoma has about 356 students on average, which puts it 7% smaller than the national average. On a positive note though, despite the smaller school size, there are typically the same number of students per teacher as anywhere else in the nation (as evidenced by Oklahoma elementary schools having a 14:1 student to teacher ratio, equal to the national average).

As a whole, the average elementary school in the state earns a B grade, which is equal to the national average. Furthermore, of the 1,000+ elementary schools, just under half (48%) are rated above average. Still that leaves 550 options for parents to evaluate - which can be an overwhelming endeavor. Narrowing that total down further, if you include only schools that rank in the top 25% of the nation, that total slims to 344. In other words, there’s still nearly 350 school options in Oklahoma that rank in the nation’s top quartile.

Are public elementary schools in Oklahoma a good option?

Oklahoma has 987 total public elementary schools, and of that total, traditional public schools comprise 97% or about 955 of them. That’s a relatively large number for such a small state and for those with above average sights, 53% of them score above the national average. It's worth noting that the typical public school size in Oklahoma tends to be slightly larger when compared to the national average, clocking in at 347 students per school, about 9% above the typical state average.

What is the best public elementary school in Oklahoma?

Based in Coalgate comes Cottonwood Public School - ranked as one of the best public elementary schools in Oklahoma. With 156 students and a student to teacher ratio of 10:1, this school has a 29% lower ratio than the typical US elementary school - which can equate to greater focus per student and often lead to better student learning outcomes - despite its slightly above-average size within its own state.

Key statistics about charter elementary schools in Oklahoma

Some ask: are charter schools in Oklahoma a good option? This really depends on your preference, but with more than 20 different options (24 to be exact) there are numerous potential fits for your youngster. Although far less prevalent than their traditional public school counterparts, the typical charter elementary school in Oklahoma scores a B–. Although the grade may be slightly below average, this is certainly in part due to the fact that the state has 37% fewer charter schools per capita than the average state. In other words, there’s still an abundance of high quality charter options in Oklahoma if parents look hard enough.

What is the best charter elementary school in Oklahoma?

The top ranked charter elementary school in Oklahoma is John W. Rex Charter Elementary School located in Oklahoma City. It’s home to 717 students and as you’d expect is graded an A+. The school is known for exceptional quality and has managed to keep class sizes relatively lean with 17 students per every teacher at this school (17:1 ratio) which is actually 21% higher than what’s seen at most US elementary schools.