Best Schools in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
13 schools · 9 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Tahlequah?
Use this page to compare every school in Tahlequah by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Shiloh Christian School
Elementary. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Cherokee ES
Elementary · Tahlequah. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Woodall Public School
Elementary · Woodall. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Tahlequah for 2026 are Shiloh Christian School (7.4/10), Cherokee ES (6.6/10), and Woodall Public School (6.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 12 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
13
12 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$169,700
home value · ACS
Districts
7
serving the city
Schools
13
12 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$169,700
home value · ACS
Districts
7
serving the city
Rates 6.6/10 despite 76% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 0.8 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Tahlequah schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +19.8 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Tahlequah schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Tahlequah
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (12 of 13). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shiloh Christian School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 2 | Cherokee ES | 6.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Woodall Public School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Tahlequah MS | 6.3 / 10 |
| 5 | Tahlequah HS | 6.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Cherokee Immersion Charter Sch | 6.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Heritage ES | 5.9 / 10 |
| 8 | Sequoyah ES | 5.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Grand View Public School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 10 | Greenwood ES | 5.6 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $51,362
- Median home value
- $169,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 32%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 56%
8% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Tahlequah compares
Oklahoma rank
#156 of 223
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below Oklahoma avg (6.2)
Median household income
$51k
85% of Oklahoma median
Schools in this city
12
About Schools in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Tahlequah, Oklahoma gives parents 11 ranked public schools to evaluate, with an average score of 5.8 out of 10 across the district. That average lands in solid mid-range territory — functional schools with room for selectivity at the elementary level, where the strongest options concentrate.
Only one school clears the 7-point mark: Lowrey Public School, the city's top-rated campus at 7.2 out of 10. That puts Lowrey in the top 9% of Tahlequah's ranked schools — a meaningful gap above the city average. Parents who prioritize elementary academics should put Lowrey at the top of the visit list. Heritage ES (6.6) and Greenwood ES (6.4) round out the next tier, both performing above the city average and representing credible alternatives if Lowrey is not geographically accessible. Grand View Public School (6.1) sits just above average and completes the elementary options worth considering.
At the secondary level, Tahlequah HS scores 6.2 out of 10 — above average for the city and the primary pathway for most students completing their K–12 years here. Parents researching the full pipeline should weigh how elementary performance connects to outcomes at the high school level, particularly around graduation rates and college readiness indicators.
The practical picture: Tahlequah is a small-city school market where elementary choice matters most. The spread between the highest-rated school (7.2) and the city average (5.8) is 1.4 points — meaningful but not extreme. Families who can access Lowrey gain a measurable academic edge; those in other attendance zones are not starting from a dramatically weaker position, but the data does show a real gap. Parents new to the area should confirm current attendance boundaries directly with the district, since boundary lines in smaller cities can shift. Visiting campuses and reviewing school-level test score trends alongside these ratings will give the most complete picture before enrollment.
Elementary Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 425 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 | ||
| 2 | 385 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.5 | ||
| 3 | 105 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.0 | ||
| 4 | 490 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.9 | ||
| 5 | 522 students · Pre-K–8th | 5.6 | ||
| 6 | 501 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.6 | ||
| 7 | 395 students · Pre-K–8th | 4.7 | ||
| 8 | 95 students · Pre-K–8th | 4.5 | ||
| Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Shiloh Christian School
Private
50 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.4 | ||
Middle Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 693 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,341 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 2 | 328 students · 9th–12th | — |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 160 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.7 |
Schools in Tahlequah
Tahlequah, Oklahoma · 13 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$51,362
Median Home Value
$169,700
Median Rent
$793/mo
Population
30,990
College Educated
32%
Homeownership
56%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
19.6%
Community Profile
Tahlequah has a median household income of $51,362. It is an area where 32% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $169,700, with a median rent of $793/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.6%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Oklahoma
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 1
- High
- 2
- Other
- 1
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Oklahoma
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Tahlequah, Oklahoma
How many schools are in Tahlequah, Oklahoma?
Tahlequah has 13 schools, including 12 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Tahlequah, Oklahoma?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Tahlequah is 5.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Tahlequah, Oklahoma?
The top-ranked school in Tahlequah on MySchoolScout is Shiloh Christian School with a composite score of 7.4/10.
What is the best elementary school in Tahlequah, Oklahoma?
The top-ranked elementary school in Tahlequah on MySchoolScout is Shiloh Christian School with a composite score of 7.4/10.
What is the best middle school in Tahlequah, Oklahoma?
The top-ranked middle school in Tahlequah on MySchoolScout is Tahlequah MS with a composite score of 6.3/10.
What is the best high school in Tahlequah, Oklahoma?
The top-ranked high school in Tahlequah on MySchoolScout is Tahlequah HS with a composite score of 6.2/10.
How many school districts serve Tahlequah, Oklahoma?
Tahlequah is served by 7 school districts: Cherokee Immersion Charter, Briggs, Grand View, Lowrey, Tahlequah, Woodall, Sequoyah High School.
What is the education level in Tahlequah, Oklahoma?
According to Census data, 32% of adults in Tahlequah have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Tahlequah, Oklahoma?
The median household income in Tahlequah is approximately $51,362 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Tahlequah, Oklahoma?
Yes, Tahlequah has 1 private school alongside 12 public schools. The top-rated private school is Shiloh Christian School with a score of 7.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Tahlequah, Oklahoma?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Tahlequah is 38.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Tahlequah, Oklahoma?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Oklahoma Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.