Oklahoma State Report Cards Show Low Academic Achievement Scores

Oklahoma academic achievement remains stagnant

Only 27% of Oklahoma students scored at a proficient or advanced level in reading, math, and science during the 2025-26 school year, according to the Oklahoma State Report Cards released Thursday.

The data, which evaluates 1,750 public schools, shows the state’s academic achievement grade remains a D, matching the previous year’s mark.

The report, first detailed by The Journal Record, highlights a disconnect between core academic testing and other areas of student development. While proficiency in foundational subjects struggled, the state saw improvements in student attendance and exposure to career-readiness programs.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education, which manages the annual grading system, expects future improvements driven by recent investments in literacy coaches and reading instruction. This includes the upcoming implementation of the Strong Readers Act, a policy requiring third graders to repeat the grade if they fail state reading tests, beginning in the 2027-28 school year.

Graduation rates drop due to diploma counting changes

The state’s four-year high school graduation rate dropped to 77.6% for the 2025-26 academic year, down from 82.2% the year prior. This decline is largely attributed to a change in how the state counts students earning a CORE Curriculum diploma.

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Under this track, students can substitute math and science credits with career technology courses. However, the U.S. Department of Education notified the state two years ago that it views this specific diploma as a “lesser credential” compared to a traditional high school diploma. While a small percentage of students opt into this program with parental consent, the shift in accounting has directly impacted the statewide graduation percentage.

The performance data for various metrics is summarized below:

Metric Category	State Grade / Percentage	Context
Academic Achievement	D	27% proficiency in reading, math, and science
Academic Growth	C	Measures year-over-year test score improvement
English Learner Progress	B	34% of 74,500 learners met growth targets
Post-Secondary Opportunities	B	54% of 11th and 12th graders participated
Chronic Absenteeism	D	84.1% of students were not chronically absent

The tension between career readiness and core testing

While core test scores dipped, the state earned a B for post-secondary opportunities. This category measures how effectively schools provide access to Advanced Placement classes, concurrent college credit, and vocational training. Participation in these pathways rose by 4.4 percentage points over the last year.

This growth suggests a strategic pivot toward workforce preparation, even as traditional academic metrics lag. Proponents of the current direction argue that expanding vocational and career-tech pathways better serves the state’s economic needs. Conversely, critics point to the falling graduation rates and the federal scrutiny of the CORE Curriculum diploma as evidence that academic rigor may be being traded for technical training.

The Department of Education noted that 64% of public schools earned grades of A, B, or C, suggesting that most institutions are making "adequate or better progress." The number of schools receiving D or F grades has also decreased compared to the previous cycle.

Attendance remains a complicating factor for school administrators. Although the overall student attendance rate rose by 3 percentage points, the state failed to meet its 85% benchmark for satisfactory progress regarding chronic absenteeism. Currently, 84.1% of students avoided being chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year.

A legislative change passed last year aims to shift how absenteeism affects school grades, moving it from a penalty to a potential source of bonus points. The Oklahoma State Department of Education noted it is still awaiting final federal approval to implement this change in the report card system.

The struggle to balance technical skill acquisition with standardized proficiency in math and science remains the central challenge for Oklahoma’s educational framework.