Oklahoma City: overview of education and schools
Oklahoma City Public Schools is the second largest district in Oklahoma and one of the few urban districts in the nation with a growing enrollment. There are over 80 public schools (grades K - 12) with an enrollment of about 40,000 students. Of special interest are the district specialty schools. At the elementary level, Spanish language immersion, international studies and sciences and arts are offered at a number of the specialty schools. At the middle school level, team teaching provides innovative courses and programs in each school. Specialty high schools offer advanced academic programs such as the International Baccalaureate, visual and performing arts, technical and scientific curriculum, and bio-medical and health-career related areas.
There are also several excellent suburban school districts adjacent to Oklahoma City including Putnam City Schools, which was named by Money magazine as one of the nation's "100 Top Schools in Towns You Can Afford." Putnam City's recent $10.5 million computer technology plan is being hailed by Oklahoma educatiors. In addition to Oklahoma City and Putnam City schools, other school districts located in Oklahoma County include: Choctaw / Nicoma Park, Crooked Oak, Deer Creek, Edmond, Jones, Luther, McLoud, Mid-Del, Millwood, and Moore.
The Oklahoma School of Science and Math (OSSM) is located on a 32-acre site in Oklahoma City. OSSM is Oklahoma's tuition-free, residential high school for juniors and seniors with exceptional ability in mathematics and science.
Private and Parochial Schools: Several excellent private and parochial schools are also available to elementary and high school students. These include Bishop McGuinness High School, Casady School, Heritage Hall School, Mount Saint Mary High School, St. Eugenes, Christ the King and Westminster School. There are over 9,000 students enrolled in over 35 private and parochial schools.
Colleges and Universities: Oklahoma City also has outstanding higher education programs with fifteen colleges and universities and two community colleges. They include the University of Oklahoma, the University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City Community College, University of Phoenix, Oklahoma Christian University, Rose State College, and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Also, within the central Oklahoma area and convenient to Oklahoma City is Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
Oklahoma City Technology Centers: The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technical Education's Training for Industry Program (TIP) has been hailed as a leader among the nation's programs. Last year, 379,000 workers and would-be workers - one in 10 Oklahomans - were trained at Technology Centers. Schools include Francis Tuttle, Metro Tech, Metro Tech-Springlake, Metro Tech-South Bryant, and Metro Tech-Aviation Career Center.
Source: The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce
