By Lindsay Cuomo, Strategic Advocacy and Engagement Manager
“A hungry kid cannot learn, but a well-supported student, with quality meal service and quality instruction, will thrive. In Elk City, Oklahoma, we have the numbers to prove it!”
That conviction from Superintendent Mike Sparks sits at the heart of the transformation underway at Elk City Public Schools. Superintendent Sparks, recently named the 2025 OASA District 12 Superintendent of the Year, attributes the district’s academic progress to a powerful combination: strengthened child nutrition programs paired with data-driven instruction.
A District Facing Hard Truths
Prior to Sparks’ tenure as superintendent, Elk City’s academic indicators reflected persistent challenges. The district’s 3-year average from 2018 through 2021 showed only:
- 20 percent of students were advanced or proficient in math
- 23 percent were advanced or proficient in English Language Arts
Participation in school meals revealed another concern.
“Before the 2022 to 2023 school year, just 36 percent of our 2,100 students were eating in school cafeterias,” Sparks explained.
At the same time, roughly 60 percent qualified for free or reduced meals. Access existed, but participation did not.
Expanding Participation, Changing Outcomes
District leaders focused on modernizing and expanding the child nutrition program, including accessing federal support through the Community Eligibility Provision. The shift dramatically increased student participation. Today, nearly 70 percent of Elk City students eat school meals.
That change coincided with striking academic improvements. Current 3-year averages now show:
- 49 percent advanced or proficient in science
- 45 percent advanced or proficient in math
- 36 percent advanced or proficient in English Language Arts
Eighth-grade math scores tell the most compelling story. The percentage of students reaching advanced or proficient levels climbed from 12 percent to 45 percent in just a few short years.
“Increasing the number of students that are now receiving quality meals, coupled with improved teaching and learning, has made a huge difference with respect to academic achievement for ECPS,” Superintendent Sparks said.
Designing Meals Around Real Student Needs
Nutrition strategies now reflect how students actually move through their day.
At middle and high school campuses, second chance breakfasts provide another opportunity for students who arrive late or miss the morning meal due to activities. Well over 70 high school students regularly use the second-chance option.
Younger students benefit from expanded variety and flexibility.
“Students at the Intermediate Elementary love our new waffle bar and yogurt and granola options,” Superintendent Sparks said. “Students also have the choice of a grab-and-go breakfast if they want to walk and talk with their friends before school.”
Why Access Matters: A Small but Powerful Moment
Sparks recalls a story that captures the deeper significance of school meals.
“The little girl had never seen a cucumber. She asked her teacher if she could try one. She later said she didn’t like it much, but to think how many students don’t get the opportunity to eat fresh fruits and vegetables,” he revealed.
Continuing to Close Gaps
Beginning in March, Elk City Public Schools will expand meal access even further, offering a third meal option through partnerships with local after school programs.
“We are seeing an increase in students who need meal support,” Sparks said.
A Clear Pattern Emerges
Elk City’s experience reflects a growing body of evidence: when schools reduce barriers to student nutrition, academic outcomes often improve.
“As our most recent data shows, Elk City students are outperforming their peers at both the state and Region 9 levels,” Sparks emphasized.
In Elk City, the connection between nourishment and learning is no longer theoretical. It is visible in participation rates, test scores, and classrooms where more students are ready to engage, focus, and succeed.
Summary
By focusing on improving and modernizing school meals, Elk City Public Schools (ECPS) has increased participation in school meals, expanded access to nutritious foods, and significantly improved academic success. ECPS students are now outperforming their peers, both at the state and district level, on state tests.
Elk City schools now offer flexible meal options, including second-chance and grab-and-go breakfast, and soon hope to offer a third meal after school.
A key piece of the improvements is due to accessing CEP funding, allowing the district to invest additional resources into their child nutrition program, which has expanded access to no-cost meals to all students.
Results
45 percent of ECPS students are now proficient or above in math and 36 percent in English Language Arts, compared to 20 and 23 percent previously — a 25-point gain in math and a 13-point gain in ELA, reflecting significant growth in student performance.
Bottom line
Elk City Public Schools increased school meal participation and academic performance by modernizing school meals and leveraging CEP funding to provide no-cost meals to all students. Students now show major gains, with math proficiency rising from 20% to 45% and ELA from 23% to 36% in a few short years.