Elk City, OK — Elk City Public Schools are continuing to build on academic growth by focusing on a key need outside the classroom, making sure students are fed.

Superintendent Mike Sparks said the district’s goal is simple, create an environment where students and staff thrive while contributing to the community.

“We want to be a great place to go to school, a great place to work, and we want to make a lasting contribution to this community,” Sparks said.

District leaders recently reviewed the school year and noted steady academic progress, even as similar gains across the state have slowed. Sparks credits part of that success to expanded nutrition programs aimed at removing barriers to learning.

All students in the district receive free breakfast and lunch, and Elk City has now introduced a third daily meal available from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The program is open to any child in the community between the ages of 2 and 18.

Sparks said the effort comes in response to a larger issue facing the state.

“Oklahoma is ranked around fifth or sixth in the nation in food insecurity,” he said. “That’s not a secret.”

By addressing hunger, the district hopes to directly impact classroom performance. Sparks pointed to a clear link between students having their basic needs met and improved academic outcomes.

“There’s a connection between our kids having those food needs met and their academics continuing to rise,” he said.

The district also plans to extend food services into the summer months, ensuring students continue to have access to meals even when school is not in session.

Sparks said the expanded programs reflect a broader commitment, not just to education, but to the overall well-being of Elk City’s youth and families.

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