schoolsbycounty

Coal County Schools & Education

School Score

53/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

87.7%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.7%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 84.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,318

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,520

School Score

53/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 28/100

State Score Position

#7

of 77 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Coal County

Measured School Summary

Coal County performs at an average level with a school score of 53/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.7%.

Funding Context

Coal County spends $8,318 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 91% above the Oklahoma average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 3.4 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 28% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Coal County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

6 public schools and 3 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

53/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #7 of 77 Oklahoma counties with school score data.

Completion

87.7%

3.4 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,318

$1,798 above the state average

School coverage

6

3 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Coal County has 6 public schools across 3 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Coal County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Mixed school landscape

Coal County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#7

of 77 Oklahoma counties with school score data. The county score is 25 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

COALGATE

Elementary to high school visible

700 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

TUPELO

Elementary and high visible

219 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

COTTONWOOD

Elementary school only in this slice

147 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

COALGATE is the largest listed district slice, with 3 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Coal County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Coal County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Coal County, Oklahoma

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Small-Scale Education with Deep Investment

Coal County operates just 6 public schools across 3 districts, serving 1,066 students. The system includes 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools. There are no charter schools, keeping all students within the local district framework.

Coalgate Leads Local Enrollment

The Coalgate district is the largest in the county, managing 3 schools and 700 students. Tupelo and Cottonwood serve the remaining student population with 219 and 147 students, respectively. These small districts ensure that local administration remains very close to the student body.

Purely Rural Education with Personal Attention

Every school in the county is located in a rural setting, providing a classic countryside educational experience. The average school size is 178 students, ensuring low student-to-teacher ratios and high visibility for every learner. Emerson Elementary in Coalgate is the largest campus with 374 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

6

in Coal County

Reported Enrollment

1,066

6 schools reporting

School Districts

3

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary3
Middle1
High2
Other0

3 School Districts in Coal County

COALGATE

3 schools
700 students

TUPELO

2 schools
219 students

COTTONWOOD

1 school
147 students

6 Public Schools in Coal County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 6 of 6 matching schools

EMERSON ES

COALGATE

Coalgate, 74538 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary374 students

COALGATE HS

COALGATE

Coalgate, 74538 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High217 students

TUPELO ES

TUPELO

Tupelo, 74572 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary148 students

COTTONWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL

COTTONWOOD

Coalgate, 74538 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary147 students

WALLACE BYRD MS

COALGATE

Coalgate, 74538 / Rural: Remote

Record7–8Middle109 students

TUPELO HS

TUPELO

Tupelo, 74572 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High71 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,318

State avg $6,520

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Coal County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Oklahoma counties have the highest graduation rates?
Harmon County (95.0%), Major County (93.1%), and Garvin County (92.8%) currently lead Oklahoma among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Oklahoma?
Across Oklahoma counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,520. The highest current county values are Grant County ($9,426), Alfalfa County ($9,014), and Roger Mills County ($8,927). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Coal County?
Coal County has a school score of 53/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Coal County?
The high school graduation rate in Coal County is 87.7%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Coal County spend per student?
Coal County spends $8,318 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Coal County, Oklahoma — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Coal County, Oklahoma?

Coal County operates just 6 public schools across 3 districts, serving 1,066 students. The system includes 3 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools. There are no charter schools, keeping all students within the local district framework.

What are the major school districts in Coal County, Oklahoma?

The Coalgate district is the largest in the county, managing 3 schools and 700 students. Tupelo and Cottonwood serve the remaining student population with 219 and 147 students, respectively. These small districts ensure that local administration remains very close to the student body.

What is the school experience like in Coal County?

Every school in the county is located in a rural setting, providing a classic countryside educational experience. The average school size is 178 students, ensuring low student-to-teacher ratios and high visibility for every learner. Emerson Elementary in Coalgate is the largest campus with 374 students.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.