• As an indicator of local support for education, a new map has been added to reflect the current utilization of bonding capacity by the districts in each county. Figure 15 (page 32) shows how close districts and their communities are to reaching bonding capacities that allow for improvements in the educational environment through construction, remodeling, transportation, and equipment purchases.
  
  
• To evaluate schools' overall performance in preparing students for the Core Curriculum Tests, the Education Oversight Board has adopted “70% of students achieving a score of Satisfactory or above” as a minimum performance benchmark. Figures 25 and 26 (page 50-51) show the number of schools that achieved the benchmark by grade and number of subject areas. To learn more about the benchmark and how the schools in your area performed, click here for the 1999-2000 School Report Cards.
  
  
• In an effort to assess Oklahoma's student loss, Figure 31 (page 58) shows the attrition of the graduating class of 2000 based on their fall enrollment from grades 9th through 12th by race and gender. As you may note, this class lost between 30% and 40% of all African American and Hispanic male and female students.
  
  
• The ACT is also an important measure of high school performance. This college-entrance exam is used to measure a student’s level of academic knowledge and is usually required for admission to Oklahoma public colleges and universities. Figures 35, 36 and 37 (pages 62-64) display Oklahoma’s impressive gain on the national average, but also outline distressing performance gaps across ethnic groups.

The Education Oversight Board and Office of Accountability strive to provide the most timely and comprehensive information regarding Oklahoma’s public schools. We are proud to be partners with public education and welcome your suggestions and questions regarding these reports. Please contact us at (405) 522-4578 or email contact@ed-stats.state.ok.us.