Oklahoma legislators seek clarification on distorted US World News school rankings

Leaders of the Oklahoma Legislature and Gov. Kevin Stitt are raising concerns about the recent U.S. News and World Report rankings of Oklahoma high schools. Reports indicate that the Oklahoma State Department of Education failed to provide crucial data to the publication, leading to skewed results in the rankings.

The issue was first brought to light by Oklahoma City television station KFOR and the Tulsa World, quoting school district superintendents who expressed worries about the significant changes in the 2024 rankings. These rankings are often used by families to make decisions about where to live within the state.

Governor Stitt emphasized the importance of transparency and accuracy in presenting information about Oklahoma schools. He stated that if any mistakes were made in providing data for the rankings, they need to be rectified to ensure the promotion of the state in a positive light.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat and House Speaker Charles McCall also expressed concerns about the situation, with Treat questioning the impact of the Education Department’s reduced staff on their ability to fulfill essential tasks.

The lack of Advanced Placement data from Oklahoma schools led to a significant drop in rankings, with only a small percentage of schools making it to the top 25% nationally. Schools with larger enrollments suffered the most in the rankings due to the absence of this data.

The Education Department spokesperson blamed a postal issue for the failure to provide the necessary information to U.S. News and World Report. Moving forward, the department has given permission for the data to be used in future rankings to avoid a repeat of the situation.