Tulsa district reports surge in students on track for college-and-career diploma; board accepts report
Summary
Tulsa Public Schools reported 59.2% of high-school students are on track for a college-and-career readiness diploma — exceeding the May 2025 target — and the board accepted the goal-monitoring report; staff credited counseling, credit recovery and new programs.
Tulsa Public Schools presented a goal-monitoring update showing 59.2% of ninth through 12th graders were on track for a college-and-career readiness diploma as of the spring measurement — well above the May 2025 target of 42.6% and ahead of the board's 2027 goal of 49%.
Crystal Hutchinson, director of postsecondary readiness, explained that the college-and-career curriculum requires three math credits at Algebra I rigor or higher, two years of a world language or computer-technology credit, and an additional unit in a core subject. Hutchinson said district strategy focused on moving students by default onto the college-and-career track and reserving the core curriculum for limited, agreed-upon cases.
District staff credited multiple strategies for the gains: targeted credit-recovery programs (Edgenuity and others), filled counselor positions, a suite of career and technical offerings, expanded internship partners and stronger grade monitoring and parent communication. Staff noted subgroup improvements: African American students rose from 51.2% to 55.1% on track, Hispanic and Latino students from 52.6% to 57.9%, and economically disadvantaged students from 51.3% to 55%.
Board members asked about counselor ratios and turnover; Hutchinson and Chief Armstrong said elementary counselors number roughly 44, secondary counselors were increased to 58 and the district aims for lower student-to-counselor ratios (currently site rates ranged from about 250 to 450 students per counselor). The board voted to accept the report.
Superintendent Johnson and deputies emphasized attendance as a major predictor: regularly attending students were far more likely to be on track (76.7% vs. 43% for chronically absent students). The district said chronic absenteeism (about 16,000 students, roughly 44% of enrollment) remains a pressing challenge.
The board accepted the report and asked staff to continue monitoring counselor staffing, attendance interventions and the implementation of career and college programs.
