May 14, 2026
Second Semester Recap Letter
Dear Maroons,
That’s a wrap on the 2025-2026 school year! It was a great year and I wanted to share a few
highlights from our spring semester:
ACADEMICS
● Perry elementary students excelled with tremendous growth from August to May in each
grade level and is ranked in the top 20% of Oklahoma schools!
● Lower Elementary:
○ Pre-K: Reading 26% & Math 16% growth
○ KG: Reading 7% & Math 15% growth
○ 1st: Reading 55% & Math 62% growth
○ 2nd: Reading 45% & Math 75% growth
● Upper Elementary:
○ 72% of 3rd graders scored above the 40th percentile in Spring STAR Reading
○ The following is growth percentages derived from student summative results in Alpha
Plus. Great job!
■ 3rd Grade - ELA 96% & Math 99%
■ 4th Grade - ELA 94% & Math 98%
■ 5th Grade - ELA 88% & Math 89%
■ 6th Grade - ELA 81% & Math 89%
● Junior High:
○ Students focused on state assessment and semester test preparation, with
teacher-led review, peer-taught vocabulary, and practice testing strategies.
○ 8th grade U.S. History students concluded the year studying pre-Civil War
sectionalism using primary and secondary sources and literature.
○ STEM classes wrapped up the year with the design-wheel process: Define, Generate,
Develop, Construct, Evaluate, and Present.
● High School:
○ ACT Composite average increased this year compared to last year.
○ Teachers took a proactive approach to ACT & CCRA prep through daily bell ringers,
weekly skill cycles, and IXL digital practice.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
● Job well done to our students who participated in the Penny Arcade, Bug Collection Project,
Arts & Authors, One Act Play, Band concerts, musicals and other spring events.
● Perry FFA attended State in Tulsa (42 students) and won the Eagle Trophy, which recognizes
the chapter donating the largest amount of money to its chapter trust.
● Congrats to FFA State award winners: 3 State FFA Degree recipients, 2nd place state
proficiency finalist, and a WLC (Washington Leadership Conference) representative.
● The Perry Band qualified for the State Competition and earned a Superior rating in sight-
reading and Excellent in on stage performance.
● The PHS Class of 2026 will graduate 76 seniors tomorrow and were awarded $129,000 total
in local scholarships.
STAFF ACHIEVEMENT
● Congrats to PPS District Teacher of the Year – Diana Sullins (KG).
● The Perry Education Foundation awarded over $42,000 to PPS teachers this spring. The PEF
continues to invest in our teachers and students. Thank you for your ongoing support of PPS.
● A big thank you to Exchange Bank, First Bank and Trust, Seth Wadley Ford, and PPT for
showering our teachers and staff with appreciation during Teacher Appreciation Week!
● Thank you and best wishes to retiring educators/staff – Pam Groom & Diana Layton.
ATHLETICS
● Girls’ Wrestling 6 state qualifiers including 1 state champion
● Boys’ Wrestling 6 state qualifiers
● Boys’ Golf 2 state qualifiers
● Track & Field 4 state qualifiers
Now, summer break has officially arrived and we wish you a safe, healthy, and restful summer!
Looking ahead, the first day of school is Thursday, August 13, 2026. Watch for the full 2026–2027
school calendar to be posted on our website.
To reach us over the summer, PPS office hours at all school sites are Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m. to 3
p.m.
Chad Wilson
Superintendent
Perry Public Schools
View/download letter by clicking the PDF link below.