Paden

The Paden school district in Oklahoma consists of two schools - Paden Elementary School and Paden High School. While Paden Elementary maintains a diverse student body, Paden High School has seen a significant decline in its state-wide ranking over the years, dropping from #50 out of 424 Oklahoma high schools in 2010-2011 to #239 out of 439 in 2022-2023. Both schools serve a high percentage of economically disadvantaged students, with over two-thirds of their students receiving free or reduced-price lunch.

Paden Elementary School has 153 students and a student-teacher ratio of 17.4, while Paden High School has 63 students and a ratio of 14.8. Interestingly, Paden High School spends significantly more per student ($14,903) compared to Paden Elementary ($7,206), which may be due to the cost of providing specialized high school programs or the need for additional resources to support the smaller student population. However, Paden High School's academic performance remains a concern, with proficiency rates ranging from 13.3% in Science to 33.3% in U.S. History in 2022-2023.

The data suggests that the Paden school district faces several challenges, including the declining performance of Paden High School, the high levels of economic disadvantage among students, and potential differences in the demographics and educational needs of the elementary and high school populations. Addressing these issues will require a collaborative effort between school administrators, teachers, and the local community to identify and implement strategies that support the academic success of all students in the Paden school district.