Oklahoma public schools have released their spring test scores for the 2023-24 academic year, highlighting both areas of achievement and ongoing challenges.
Each spring, third through eighth graders are assessed in English language arts and math, with fifth and eighth graders also tested in science. The latest data from the Oklahoma Department of Education shows proficiency rates in English language arts ranging from 39% to 51%, and math scores between 25% and 40%, in bigger schools across the state. In science, 34% of fifth graders and 35% of eighth graders met or exceeded proficiency standards.
This year’s results, however, are not directly comparable to previous years due to updated expectations for proficiency levels. Individual student scores were made available to parents last month, prompting discussions about academic performance in school districts across the state.
Vian Public Schools At Vian Public Schools’ regular monthly board meeting in September, the board discussed the implications of the standardized test results. Superintendent John Brockman and principals in each building highlighted the significant strides made, particularly in the middle school, where all three tested subjects— math, English, and science—showed improvement, with average scores exceeding statewide averages and surpassing results from the previous year.
“Vian Middle School’s results were the biggest bright spot,” board member Jeff Cotner, said.
While elementary grades demonstrated some progress, overall performance remained at or slightly below state averages.
Curriculum Director Leslie Bridges emphasized the ongoing efforts to enhance educational rigor through curriculum revisions, teacher training, and new classroom procedures.
“I’ve never seen a harder working group of teachers,” she said, commending the staff’s commitment to embracing new teaching techniques.
The board’s discussion included concerns about potential grade inflation, and asked whether some students who scored poorly were still receiving high marks. Administrators agreed on the importance of maintaining rigorous grading standards to better prepare students for future assessments.
Another area of focus was the number of students scoring in the “Advanced” category on state exams.
Administrators described targeted programs aimed at nurturing top-performing students to bridge the gap in this area.
In terms of high school performance, Vian’s ACT scores were on par with previous years.
Following the meeting, the district received the needed details so that they could compare them to the statewide average.
Vian High School Principal Carrie Jo Willis provided followup information to board members, showing that while Vian’s ACT results for the Class of 2025 had decreased very slightly from the Class of 2024, the high school was still just above statewide averages for Composite ACT scores.
A notable achievement was seen in high school history testing, which showed significant improvement, attributed to focused efforts from the history department.
As the school year progresses, Vian Public Schools plans to continue addressing academic challenges while celebrating the successes evident in the latest test scores. The board has committed to exploring additional resources and policies to support student achievement and improve outcomes in the coming years.
