But the same report cards also lay bare persistent gaps in student learning. Statewide, 26% of students tested proficient in English language arts and 25% tested proficient in math — figures that state education leaders say remain far too low.

State Superintendent Lindel Fields described the results as a mixed picture, acknowledging both encouraging signs and unfinished work.

"There were some promising things we saw. Clearly, we still have a lot of work to do and these report cards mean different things to different schools and different priorities, but some good things and some things to work on," Fields said.

Fields said reading is a central priority, pointing to efforts by the Legislature and the state Education Department this year to direct attention and resources toward early literacy. He described reading as foundational to all other learning and said grade-level performance must rise out of the low range where it currently sits.

"The legislature and state department worked really hard this year to make reading a priority. And I think why that's important. It's just the baseline for everything. So those grade levels, we got to get those out of the 20th percent. And so I think we're funding some improvements in that area and some resources," Fields said.

Fields also urged families and communities not to reduce a school's quality to a single letter grade. He said the report cards are meant to offer a broad organizational view and may not capture the day-to-day work of individual teachers.

"What it doesn't take into account, it doesn't necessarily get at the heart of the school, how great individual teachers might be. It's a comprehensive look at the organization," Fields said.

In Oklahoma City, district leaders highlighted bright spots alongside the need for continued improvement. Jason Galloway, chief of academics for Oklahoma City Public Schools, said Wilson Elementary ranked first in academic achievement among more than 680 schools statewide, and that several other district schools placed in the top five or ten percent of their categories.

"Especially in context with other schools in the state. We had a school that was the number one school in academic achievement out of 680 plus schools in Wilson Elementary. That was amazing. We had a number of other schools that were in the top five or ten percent of their particular category. So some really encouraging things that we're seeing across the board," Galloway said.

State education leaders say the report cards are intended to give families a clearer view of how schools are performing while also helping identify where additional support is needed. For communities across Oklahoma, the latest numbers offer both a measure of progress and a reminder of how much ground remains to be covered, particularly in reading and math.