Ponca City

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Ponca City, Oklahoma - 11 schools

An equity score of 22/100 ranks Ponca City #383 of 439 districts in Oklahoma (state average 38). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $10,598 per pupil, Ponca City ranks #373 of 540 Oklahoma districts by per-pupil spending (Oklahoma districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

4,612
Total Enrollment
11
Schools
$10,598
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Ponca City operates 11 public schools serving 4,612 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Oklahoma. The school portfolio breaks down into 7 elementary, 2 middle, 1 high, 1 combined schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Kay County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $10,598 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 540 Oklahoma districts by per-pupil spending. See how Oklahoma compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 42.7% local, 37.8% state, and 19.5% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 22/100, ranked #383 of 439 in Oklahoma against a state average of 38, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 11 schools offering Advanced Placement (8 AP courses district-wide), a 322.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 29.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 50.6% White, 15.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.8% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Lincoln Es, with a diversity index of 75.2/100.

Its largest campus is Ponca City Hs, enrolling 1,498 students (34% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Washington Pre Kg Center, at 215 students, a 7x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Ponca City Hs accounts for 32.5% of all Ponca City student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Ponca City-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Ponca City school enrollment varies 7.0× across entities

Ponca City school enrollment ranges from 215 students (lowest) to 1,498 students (highest), a spread of 1,283 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Ponca City student-counselor ratio is 322:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Ponca City is typically wider than the Ponca City-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Ponca City chronic absenteeism rate is 29.2% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Ponca City is typically wider than the Ponca City-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

19.5%
Federal
37.8%
State
42.7%
Local

Funding Equity

22
Equity Score
383 / 439
State Rank
38
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 11 schools in Ponca City.

White 50.6%
Hispanic or Latino 15.6%
African American 2.8%
Asian 0.8%
Multiracial 12.8%
Other 17.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 67.1/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Ponca City's schools, above the Oklahoma average of 59.6.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Lincoln Es 75.2
  2. 2 Liberty Es 71.9
  3. 3 Union Es 71.6
  4. 4 E. M. Trout Es 67.9
  5. 5 Ponca City Hs 67.2

Programs & Resources

1 / 11
Schools with AP
8 AP courses total
322.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.2%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Ponca City

School Enrollment
Ponca City Hs
1,498
Ponca City West Ms
607
Ponca City East Ms
320
Lincoln Es
316
Union Es
272
E. M. Trout Es
267
Woodlands Es
258
Roosevelt Es
252
Liberty Es
241
Garfield Es
220
Washington Pre Kg Center
215

How Ponca City Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Oklahoma districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Muskogee Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Piedmont Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Sand Springs Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Claremore Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Durant Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Ponca City's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Oklahoma

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Tulsa
33,871 students · 69 schools · $12,178/pupil
Compare vs Ponca City →
Oklahoma City
33,245 students · 59 schools · $13,529/pupil
Compare vs Ponca City →
Epic Virtual Charter
28,478 students · 2 schools · $6,980/pupil
Compare vs Ponca City →
Edmond
26,190 students · 28 schools · $9,132/pupil
Compare vs Ponca City →
Moore
24,632 students · 34 schools · $9,485/pupil
Compare vs Ponca City →

Compare Ponca City

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Tulsa →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Ponca City?

Ponca City has 11 schools, including 1 high, 2 middle, 7 elementary, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 4,612 students.

How much does Ponca City spend per student?

Ponca City spends $10,598 per student. The district has an equity score of 22/100, ranking #383 in Oklahoma.

What is the demographic composition of Ponca City?

Ponca City students are 50.6% White, 15.6% Hispanic or Latino, 2.8% African American, 0.8% Asian, averaged across 11 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Ponca City?

Ponca City has an equity score of 22/100, ranking #383 out of 439 districts in Oklahoma.