Oklahoma City: Education and Research

Oklahoma City: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Oklahoma City Public Schools is the second largest public school district in the state. The district offers specialty programs at all grade levels, including Spanish language immersion programs, international studies, performing arts, media/communications and even a Montessori-based education program. A 2001 MAPS for Kids program, in conjunction with the citizens of Oklahoma City and the public school system, was created to help revitalize the school system. This program called for building seven new schools and revitalization work in 65 others, at a cost of more than $500 million. The metropolitan area includes more than 20 other school districts.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Oklahoma City public schools as of the 2003–2004 school year.

Total enrollment: 40,703

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 59

middle schools: 8

senior high schools: 9

other: 9 charter and 6 alternative schools

Student/teacher ratio: 16.2:1

Teacher salaries

average: $29,810

Funding per pupil: $6,541

Many private and parochial elementary schools and two parochial high schools also serve students in the Oklahoma City area, including the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics for gifted high school students.

Public Schools Information: Oklahoma City Public Schools, 900 North Klein, PO Box 25428, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0428; telephone (405)297-6522

Colleges and Universities

Sixteen college and university campuses and two community colleges, with a combined enrollment of more than 100,000 students, are located in the greater Oklahoma City area. The largest institution is the University of Oklahoma, which enrolls about 24,800 students in the main school, the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, and the College of Law. The University ranked among the nation's top 10 percent in the Fiske Guide to Colleges and is the nation's number one school for national merit scholars, as well as the top 5 for graduation of Rhodes scholars. Other institutions of higher education include Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City, University of Central Oklahoma, Rose State College, Oklahoma City Community College, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University, and Oklahoma Christian University of Science and Arts.

Libraries and Research Centers

The Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma County has 17 area libraries that serve the community needs of more than 600,000 people living in Oklahoma City or Oklahoma County. Its more than 1,000,000 volumes include books, newspapers, magazines, microfilms, video collections, and books on tape. In 2003 the city opened a new central library, the 108,000 square foot Downtown Library and Learning Center, which is a state-of-the-art facility built with more than $24 million in MAPS taxes and library building funds. In addition to traditional library services, the Downtown Library also has a high-tech theater, classrooms, learning center, Oklahoma Literacy Council Services, on-site business assistance from the Small Business Development Center, and college classes through the Downtown College Consortium. Special collections include local history and local black history. A large collection of books on Native Americans, genealogy, and the history of Oklahoma is housed at the Oklahoma Historical Society Archives and Manuscripts Division. Libraries at city colleges and universities and at state offices also offer reference materials on a wide range of topics.

Much of the state's cutting-edge research is conducted at the nearby University of Oklahoma. The Sarkeys Energy Center is a 4-square-block, 7-acre, 340,000 square-foot teaching and energy research complex where faculty, students, and energy industry researchers can explore interdisciplinary energy issues, train future energy researchers and leaders, and enhance national energy security. The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is developing into a research institute of national importance, especially in the field of immunology. Research centers affiliated with academic institutions in Oklahoma City study state constitutional law and conduct business research and consulting.

Public Library Information: Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma County, 131 Dean A. McGee Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73102-6499; telephone (405)231-8650