The bulletin board for America's public schools. Parents, teachers, students, and staff. One community per school.

Kay County

Oklahoma · Public K-12

Kay County's public-school directory totals 22 campuses, with student enrollment near 7,295. Ponca City is the largest district. Median household income runs around $58,423. By level, that breaks down as 13 elementary, 5 middle, and 4 high schools.

7-year change in Kay County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
7,295
-714 (-9%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
22
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
22
6 districts
Enrollment
7,295
NCES CCD
Median income
$58,423
Below Oklahoma avg
Free/reduced lunch
75.7%
Above Oklahoma avg
Elementary
13
3,475 students
Middle
5
1,533 students
High
4
2,287 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
PONCA CITY
4,466 students · 6 districts in Kay County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Kay County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
74%
Hispanic
9%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
12%
Native American
7%
Pacific Islander
1%
School enrollment
White
56%
Hispanic
13%
Black
2%
Asian
1%
Two or more
13%
Native American
14%
Pacific Islander
2%
Bachelor's+
19.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
11.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.8%
civilian labor
Median age
39
24.8% under 18

Test scores in Kay County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 8 schools ranked. Oklahoma state average: 30.6%.

Top 5 schools (ELA)
  1. WOODLANDS ES· 52.0%
  2. BLACKWELL ES· 36.3%
  3. E. M. TROUT ES· 32.7%
  4. TONKAWA ES· 31.9%
  5. NEWKIRK ES· 26.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
  1. PONCA CITY EAST MS· 19.0%
  2. BLACKWELL MS· 21.0%
  3. PONCA CITY WEST MS· 24.4%
  4. NEWKIRK ES· 26.0%
  5. TONKAWA ES· 31.9%

See all 8 schools in Kay County ranked by score →

All schools (22)

LargestA-ZTop rated
NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
PONCA CITY HSPonca CityHigh09-121,498·
PONCA CITY WEST MSPonca CityMiddle06-07607·
BLACKWELL ESBlackwellElementaryPK-05507·
TONKAWA ESTonkawaElementaryPK-05402·
BLACKWELL HSBlackwellHigh09-12353·
PONCA CITY EAST MSPonca CityMiddle08-08320·
NEWKIRK ESNewkirkElementaryPK-05317·
LINCOLN ESPonca CityElementaryKG-05316·
UNION ESPonca CityElementaryKG-05272·
E. M. TROUT ESPonca CityElementaryKG-05267·
WOODLANDS ESPonca CityElementaryKG-05258·
ROOSEVELT ESPonca CityElementaryKG-05252·
LIBERTY ESPonca CityElementaryKG-05241·
NEWKIRK HSNewkirkHigh09-12241·
BLACKWELL MSBlackwellMiddle06-08227·
GARFIELD ESPonca CityElementaryKG-05220·
WASHINGTON PRE KG CENTERPonca CityElementaryPK-PK215·
TONKAWA HSTonkawaHigh09-12195·
TONKAWA MSTonkawaMiddle06-08194·
NEWKIRK MSNewkirkMiddle06-08185·
KILDARE PUBLIC SCHOOLPonca CityElementaryPK-08109·
PECKHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLNewkirkElementaryPK-0899·

Cities in Kay County

Ponca City12 schoolsNewkirk4 schoolsBlackwell3 schoolsTonkawa3 schools

About Kay County

In Oklahoma, Kay County is a compact county of about 43,625 residents. 22 public schools across the county teaches about 7,295 students between them.

Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $58,423, roughly 19% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 12% of residents live below the federal poverty line.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Kay County comprises 13 elementary schools (3,475 students), 5 middle schools (1,533), and 4 high schools (2,287).

PONCA CITY is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 4,466 students across Kay County.

Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Kay County has declined 9% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 8,009 students to 7,295.

On this page, the community for Kay County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Kay County?
There are 22 public K-12 schools in Kay County, Oklahoma, with a combined enrollment of about 7,295.
How many high schools are in Kay County?
Kay County, Oklahoma has 4 public high schools, serving approximately 2,287 students.
How many middle schools are in Kay County?
Kay County, Oklahoma has 5 public middle schools, serving approximately 1,533 students.
How many elementary schools are in Kay County?
Kay County, Oklahoma has 13 public elementary schools, serving approximately 3,475 students.
What is the largest school district in Kay County?
PONCA CITY is the largest school district in Kay County, serving approximately 4,466 students. The county contains 6 school districts overall.
What is the population of Kay County?
Kay County, Oklahoma has a population of approximately 43,625, with a median age of 39. About 24.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Kay County?
Median household income in Kay County is $58,423, below the Oklahoma average of $59,445. About 11.9% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Kay County?
Approximately 19.2% of adults 25 and older in Kay County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Kay County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 75.7% of students in Kay County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Oklahoma county average of 66.8%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Kay County schools?
Across Kay County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 16.4 to 1.

Kay County school rankings

Largest schoolsAll rankings →
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data