Depew

The schools in Depew, Oklahoma face significant challenges in providing a high-quality education to their students. Depew Elementary School and Depew High School both serve a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with over 60% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

The schools' consistently low rankings by SchoolDigger, with both being in the bottom third of their respective school types in the state, indicate that they are struggling to provide a high-quality education to their students. Depew High School has seen a concerning decline in its statewide ranking, dropping from 197th out of 350 high schools in 2021-2022 to 276th out of 431 high schools in 2023-2024. Additionally, the academic performance of Depew High School students is concerning, with only 31.3% proficient or better in English Language Arts and just 6.3% proficient or better in Mathematics.

While Depew High School spends more per student ($11,222) compared to Depew Elementary School ($6,976), this higher spending does not appear to be translating into better outcomes for students. The relatively high student-teacher ratio at Depew Elementary School (21.8 to 1) compared to Depew High School (13.7 to 1) may be a contributing factor to the academic struggles, as smaller class sizes can be beneficial for student learning. Addressing the low academic performance, high rates of economic disadvantage, and declining rankings will require a comprehensive, data-driven approach to identify and address the root causes of these issues.