Atoka

The Atoka school district in Oklahoma consists of two schools - Atoka Elementary School and Atoka High School. While Atoka Elementary stands out as a relatively high-performing school, with students significantly outperforming the state averages in English Language Arts and Mathematics, Atoka High School has seen a significant decline in its statewide ranking, dropping from 79th out of 350 high schools in 2021-2022 to 329th out of 431 in 2023-2024.

Atoka Elementary School spends $9,961 per student, which is higher than the state average, and maintains a student-teacher ratio of 23.8. However, the school serves a predominantly low-income student population, with 80.52% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch. Despite these challenges, the school's strong academic performance suggests effective teaching practices and curriculum.

In contrast, Atoka High School faces significant academic challenges, with low proficiency rates in CCRA/English Language Arts (24.6%) and CCRA/Mathematics (5.8%) for 11th-grade students. The school's high spending per student ($10,682) and lower student-teacher ratio (14) suggest that simply increasing funding may not be the sole solution, and other factors, such as teaching quality, curriculum, and student support, may play a more significant role in driving student outcomes.