Despite a year marred by tragedy and an outside test vendor which created havoc due to programming and equipment failures, Oologah-Talala Schools still scored well in the statewide A-F school grades released overnight.
Oologah Lower and Upper Elementary had A- grades, the Middle School earned a B+ and the High School earned a C+.
In comparison: Collinsville earned three B-marks, two B’s and One C+; Caney Valley scored D+ marks across the board; Nowata had a B+, a B, a B-, three C’s, a C- and a D; Foyil had an F and two C- grades; Sequoyah had an A,a B and a B-; and Claremore had an A, a B, two B-’s, a C+ and a C.
Oologah was particularly hard-hit by the OSU Homecoming parade tragedy; was among the schools hardest hit by the statewide failure by the testing vendor to provide proper computer linkage to allow students to take tests without interruptions or re-takes and faced other major distractions totally outside the school’s control.
The test results will be the last released using the current system, which virtually all educational leaders from a variety of viewpoints consider widely flawed.
“Our sights are fixed on a stronger school accountability system that will be a more meaningful and accurate measure for Oklahoma schools and districts,” Dr. Joy Hoffmeister, State Superintendent of Public Instruction said.
O-T Superintendent Max Tanner said, “I’m looking forward to the improvement in the new system because we’ve all known from the beginning that it was a flawed measurement, an invalid system and completely unreliable.
“Even though our school had good scores there’s always room for improvement and we are always looking for new ways to improve.”
He said the high school was provided incorrect draft information for the report for verification, which was provided to the state department but which was never corrected.
It is unclear how schools will be graded for the academic year that began in August because the recommendations will not be voted on by the State Board of Education and will not be presented to the State Legislature for final approval until it convenes in mid-Febrary.
A complete story on building by building results and other information on this year’s a-F results will be published in next week’s Leader, available on news stands Wednesday afternoon or by email through this web site Wednesday morning for just 99¢.