Oklahoma fails to meet deadline for including test scores in US News Best High Schools in Oklahoma list

The Oklahoma State Department of Education has come under fire for missing a crucial deadline that has resulted in Advanced Placement test scores not being included in the annual Best High School rankings by US News & World Report.

The decision to release the AP data was approved by the state Board of Education in November, but the letter granting permission was sent too late for the data to be included in the 2024 rankings. This has left parents and educators concerned that the rankings do not accurately reflect which schools are effectively preparing students for college.

According to US News spokesperson Jeanette Colby, the AP scores make up nearly a third of each school’s cumulative ranking, and schools that administered AP exams were not fully credited for their College Readiness Index due to the missed deadline.

The Oklahoma Department of Education reportedly missed the permission granting deadline for both the 2023 and 2024 rankings, but spokesperson Dan Isett claims it was a one-time issue caused by a mail problem. The department has already sent a letter granting permission for the 2025 rankings.

As a result of the missing AP data, many of the top schools in Oklahoma have seen a significant drop in their rankings compared to previous years. Superintendents believe this is directly related to the absence of their AP scores in the rankings.

The impact of this missed deadline has raised questions about the accuracy and reliability of the Best High School rankings, and the importance of timely data submission for schools to receive proper recognition for their efforts in preparing students for college.