A wave of encouraging news is rippling through Oklahoma’s education community, and several schools in Okmulgee County are among those being celebrated.

According to a memorandum released by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) on Jan.27, 121 schools statewide have officially met the exit criteria for Support and Improvement status under Oklahoma’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan. These schools are no longer designated as campuses in need of intervention, marking a significant milestone in academic growth, leadership development and student achievement.

Among those recog- nized are Dunbar Intermediate Elementary School in Okmulgee, Schulter Elementary School, Wilson Elementary School and Wilson High School, reflecting progress across multiple districts within Okmulgee County. Additionally, Okmulgee Primary Elementary School was listed among “Overall F” sites that voluntarily partnered with OSDE prior to formal designation and successfully remained undesignated, further highlighting proactive efforts at the local level.

Under Oklahoma’s ESSA accountability framework, schools are identified for Support and Improvement when performance indicators place them among the lowest-performing campuses statewide. Exit criteria are rigorous and achievement-based, requiring measurable gains in areas such as academic performance, graduation rates, and improvement among historically underserved student groups.

Schools can exit designation by:

• Raising overall academic performance out of the bottom five percent statewide

• Increasing four-year graduation rates to 67 percent or higher (for designated high schools)

• Demonstrating meaningful improvement in chronically low-performing student subgroups Meeting these benchmarks signals sustained improvement rather than short-term gains. OSDE officials emphasized that exiting designation reflects months – and often years – of focused work by educators, administrators, students and families.

State leaders were quick to note that exiting designation does not mean schools are left to navigate the future alone.

The OSDE Office of School Support has spent the past several years building positive, on-site partnerships with schools across the state, including those in Okmulgee County. These partnerships focus on leadership development, problem-solving strategies, data analysis and implementation of Oklahoma Academic Standards.

Many campuses participated in Networked Improvement Communities, collaborative groups that bring educators together to share best practices, address challenges, and learn from peer schools experiencing similar circumstances. This collaborative model allows schools to grow together rather than in isolation.

In addition to the 121 schools that met formal exit criteria, OSDE also recognized 30 “Overall F” schools statewide that voluntarily engaged with School Support services prior to designation and successfully avoided formal intervention. This proactive approach highlights a growing shift toward early engagement, collaboration and prevention rather than reaction.

State education officials described the outcome as a testament to the effectiveness of shared accountability and targeted support, particularly in rural and small-district communities where resources can be limited but commitment remains strong.