Oklahoma has long faced challenges in education. But in July, WalletHub released its 2025 study, States with the Best and Worst School Systems. Using information from the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Department of Education, ACT scores and other components, the study ranked Oklahoma at 50th out of 51st (with Washington D.C. included) in quality of public schools, ahead of only New Mexico. For many, the numbers place rural schools in the crosshairs.
Robert Trammell, executive director of the Organization of Rural Oklahoma Schools, says rural education has to overcome large barriers including class sizes, the diversity of equipment and access of multi-level disciplines.
Erika Wright, founder of the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition (ORSC), agrees, and mentions that rural teachers and staff are “the only consistent source of services for kids,” with rural educators doing more with less, often stretching across multiple roles and responsibilities. “In more remote areas, recruiting and retraining teachers is a major hurdle.”
Plus, rural districts have difficulty passing bonds to upgrade facilities and broadband, and “the ongoing teacher shortage, particularly in critical areas like special education, math, science and arts,” poses another problem, Wright adds. Add onto that the uncertainty of federal dollars and the confusion at the state level, and rural schools are fighting tough odds.
But Brandon Dutcher, senior vice president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, says that, “some rural districts spend extraordinary amounts. The Billings school district, for example, spends $25,211 per student. Per-student spending is $21,569 in Nashoba, $25,583 in Dover, $31,020 in Taloga, and $23,734 in Frontier. And yet the taxpayers’ return on investment in many districts continues to disappoint. That tells us the problem runs deeper than dollars.”
Despite complicated and deep-seeded issues, many passionate folks are working to help fill the gaps – and need your help in doing so.
“Donate to classroom or teachers’ wish lists or foundation projects,” says Wright, adding that attending school board meetings, rallying faith communities to adopt a school or provide support, and advocating for affordable housing, broadband and childcare in your area will help.
“Show up at the polls and support your board and administration ideals,” adds Trammell.
Dutcher agrees that teachers and administrators need support from outside sources.
“Parents and citizens must step up to the plate: volunteer in classrooms, tutor a struggling reader, or run for school board,” he says.
A silver lining? Many efforts are well underway in helping Oklahoma schools thrive.
“Led by local patrons, local public school foundations have done a good job at creating sustainable endowment funds to provide classroom grants, professional development opportunities and student scholarships,” says Wright. “Direct partnerships with tribal nations are also providing additional resources.”
She continues: “In Watonga, collaboration between schools and tribal offices from the Cheyenne and Arapaho nations has cut absenteeism. The federal Community Eligibility Provision program enables schools to offer breakfast and lunch at no charge. In Oklahoma, approximately 256 districts now participate, providing free meals to around 277,458 students, or about 40% of all public school students in the state.”
