Oklahoma Education Ranked Worst in Nation

The Oklahoma education system has plummeted to 50th in the nation, according to WalletHub’s 2025 education rankings. Once hovering in the mid-40s, the state now claims the lowest spot in the country for K-12 school quality, safety, funding, and student outcomes. The announcement marks a sobering moment for Oklahoma families, educators and policymakers—and could reshape the state’s economic future.

A Superintendent Under Scrutiny

At the center of the decline is State Superintendent Ryan Walters. Since taking office in 2023, Walters has been the architect of a sweeping ideological shift in education policy. Under his leadership, the Oklahoma Department of Education has prioritized political and religious mandates over academic performance and equity.

His administration imposed a directive requiring the King James Bible to be placed in all classrooms and introduced curriculum standards promoting conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. These changes have triggered lawsuits, drawn national media scrutiny, and sparked outrage from educators who say the mandates undermine critical thinking and honest historical instruction.

Walters has also waged public battles with urban districts like Tulsa Public Schools, threatening their accreditation and forcing out veteran administrators, including former Superintendent Deborah Gist. These clashes have bred instability and eroded trust between the state, local educators and communities.

Damaging Academic Trends

The latest NAEP scores show Oklahoma near the bottom in every tested subject area: 47th in fourth-grade reading, 48th in eighth-grade reading, 44th in fourth-grade math, and 45th in eighth-grade math. Even as classrooms reopen post-COVID, achievement gaps have widened, particularly for Black, Indigenous, and low-income students.

Meanwhile, chronic underfunding continues. Oklahoma still ranks near the bottom in per-pupil spending and teacher pay. Walters’ claim that administrative bloat could fund free school lunches was debunked, exposing a pattern of headline-grabbing policies with little substance.

The Economic Cost of Educational Collapse

Oklahoma’s drop to last place in education doesn’t just harm students—it also jeopardizes the state’s economic prospects. National companies scouting locations for new offices, data centers, or manufacturing hubs weigh education rankings heavily. A poorly rated school system can deter talent, reduce workforce readiness, and signal instability.

“Oklahoma now ranks 50th in the nation when it comes to education, and this is not just bad news for our kids. This is bad news for our economy and our quality of life, because we know that companies don’t invest in states that don’t invest in education,” Erika Lucas, founder of StitchCrew and VEST Her Ventures said. “We also know that families don’t tend to stay in states where schools are failing.”

Major corporations that once considered Oklahoma for expansion, attracted by low real estate prices and tax incentives, may now pass it over in favor of states with stronger educational outcomes. The state risks not just reputational damage but a future of missed economic opportunities.

Lucas argues that while Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters is often blamed for the state’s education crisis, he is merely a symptom of a deeper issue: voter apathy. 

The Impact on Black and Marginalized Students

For Black families, the crisis is especially urgent. Underfunded schools, staff shortages, and curriculum whitewashing amplify racial disparities. Walters’ attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion policies compound the problem. Students deserve a system that affirms their identity, reflects their history, and prepares them for success. Instead, they face a system collapsing under the weight of neglect and ideology.

What Needs to Change with the Oklahoma Education System

To reverse this course, Oklahoma must:

• Fully fund public education and restore five-day school weeks.
• Raise teacher pay and invest in retention.
• Repeal restrictive laws like HB 1775.
• Remove ideological litmus tests from curriculum development.
• Empower educators to teach truthfully and inclusively.

Oklahoma’s education system didn’t fall by accident. It was pushed. And unless voters, parents, and community leaders demand better, the consequences will last for generations.