Top High Schools in the Tulsa, OK Area: How They Compare for College Admissions

Tulsa grew up on oil money, Art Deco ambition, and a strong tradition of local philanthropy. That history produced a surprisingly layered high school market for a mid-sized metro. Families here can choose among a nationally ranked International Baccalaureate magnet, a STEM charter, and several enormous suburban campuses. Additionally, the city supports an Episcopal independent school and two established Catholic college-preparatory schools. Each option sends graduates to selective universities. However, each one presents a very different profile to an admissions reader.

From a college admissions standpoint, Tulsa-area schools differ meaningfully in:

• Admission model, from selective application and lottery to open attendance zones
• Advanced coursework, including IB, broad AP catalogs, and concurrent college enrollment
• Senior class size, which ranges from about 75 students to more than 800
• Name recognition among admissions offices beyond Oklahoma and neighboring states
• Counseling access, particularly at campuses serving several thousand students

The profiles below take each school in turn and explain what its numbers mean for applicants.

The Tulsa Admissions Market: What Families Should Understand

Selective colleges know Tulsa, but they do not know it deeply. Booker T. Washington, Holland Hall, and Cascia Hall carry the most name recognition outside the region. Consequently, strong students elsewhere must supply more context through course rigor and outside achievement. Geography, on the other hand, can help. Oklahoma sends relatively few applicants to the most selective coastal colleges. As a result, a well-prepared Tulsa student seldom competes with dozens of classmates for one seat.

Rankings here also deserve caution. In 2024, U.S. News lacked Advanced Placement data for most Oklahoma schools, and large suburban campuses fell sharply. Booker T. Washington, for example, ranked 1,153rd nationally that year and ranks 315th today.

State policy, meanwhile, shapes many college lists. Oklahoma’s Promise covers tuition at Oklahoma public colleges for income-eligible students who apply on time. Furthermore, the State Regents’ Academic Scholars Program rewards National Merit Scholars who remain in state. The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State therefore keep many top students close to home. Tulsa Community College also offers concurrent enrollment, with tuition waivers for eligible juniors and seniors.

Internal competition, in contrast, depends on scale. Jenks enrolls 844 seniors, while Dove Science Academy enrolls about 75. Class standing means something different at each school.

Selective Public and Charter Schools: How They Compare

Booker T. Washington High School

Public Magnet (IB World School) · North Tulsa, OK (Tulsa Public Schools)

Academic Model

Booker T. Washington opened in 1913 in the Greenwood district and became a magnet school in 1973. Today, it admits students by application instead of by attendance zone. Middle school grades, attendance, and test scores all factor into each decision. The school has offered the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme since 1983, alongside a deep AP catalog. Moreover, students can study five world languages through advanced levels. U.S. News reports that 69% of seniors took at least one AP exam. The graduation rate stands at 99%.

Activities and Recognition

Academic competition defines much of the school’s culture. The Academic Bowl team, for example, has won more than 20 state titles. It also claimed national championships in 1992 and 2008. Speech and debate adds ten state titles of its own. Furthermore, nine seniors earned National Merit Semifinalist honors in the fall of 2024. Athletics remain strong as well, with more than 50 state championships.

From a College Admissions Standpoint

Booker T. Washington is the most recognized public school in the Tulsa market. Its IB Diploma, in particular, gives admissions readers a familiar measure of rigor. That said, the gap between AP participation (69%) and AP passing (35%) deserves attention. Strong applicants should therefore post high exam scores, not simply enroll in advanced classes. Full IB Diploma candidates hold the clearest advantage, especially with strong Higher Level results. With nearly 290 seniors, internal competition is real but manageable. Students should specialize early in one area, such as debate, research, or languages.

Dove Science Academy Tulsa High School

Public Charter (STEM) · Tulsa, OK (Dove Schools of Tulsa)

Academic Model

Dove Science Academy Tulsa is a tuition-free public charter with a STEM focus. Admission runs through a randomized lottery, with priority for siblings of current students. The high school enrolls just 343 students, including about 75 seniors. Notably, 87% of seniors took at least one AP exam, the highest rate among the schools profiled here. The graduation rate, meanwhile, reaches 95%. STEM labs and competition teams anchor student life. Across the Dove network, students compete in Science Olympiad, MathCounts, and FIRST robotics events. The network also reports a 100% college acceptance rate.

From a College Admissions Standpoint

Dove offers the smallest public senior class in this comparison, so teachers know students well. Consequently, recommendation letters can be specific and detailed. The school’s national profile remains limited outside Oklahoma. Applicants should therefore add outside validation, such as regional science fairs or concurrent college courses. A 19:1 ratio also means counseling time is finite. Students aiming at engineering programs benefit most, particularly when test scores confirm the transcript.

Thomas Edison Preparatory High School

Public · Midtown Tulsa, OK (Tulsa Public Schools)

Academic Model

Thomas Edison Preparatory sits in midtown Tulsa and serves grades 6 through 12 on one campus. As a result, many students spend seven years in the same community. U.S. News ranks the high school 15th in Oklahoma and third in the Tulsa metro. Specifically, 56% of seniors took at least one AP exam, and 90% of students graduate. The senior class numbers about 240. Edison also supports more than 30 clubs and organizations.

From a College Admissions Standpoint

Edison gives motivated students solid AP access inside a mid-sized public school. Its name, however, carries less weight nationally than Booker T. Washington’s. Applicants should take the most demanding schedule available and report strong AP scores. Concurrent enrollment at Tulsa Community College can add further rigor. In addition, a sustained activity with measurable results will help separate a student from classmates.

Suburban Comprehensive Public Schools: How They Compare

Tulsa’s suburbs run some of the largest high schools in Oklahoma. The table below compares three of them.

Jenks High School

Public · Jenks, OK (Jenks Public Schools)

Academic Model

Jenks High School serves most of Jenks and part of south Tulsa. It is the district’s only comprehensive high school, and it enrolls 3,655 students. A separate Freshman Academy eases the transition into a campus that size. Additionally, the school organizes students into smaller Success Teams for support. The AP catalog includes about 30 courses, and 47% of seniors took at least one exam. Jenks also graduates 92% of its students.

Activities and Recognition

National Merit results set Jenks apart from other large Oklahoma schools. The school has produced ten or more Semifinalists in most recent years. Beyond academics, the Academic Bowl team won state titles in 2022 and 2023. The Trojan Pride marching band, meanwhile, appeared in the Rose Parade in 2016 and 2024.

From a College Admissions Standpoint

Jenks is the strongest large public school in the Tulsa market. Admissions readers who know Oklahoma will recognize the name immediately. However, a senior class of 844 creates serious internal competition. Top applicants therefore need to stand near the head of that class. Counselors serve many students, so families should plan course sequences early. In particular, students should pair heavy AP loads with one distinctive pursuit. Regional or national recognition matters more here than another club membership.

Owasso High School

Public · Owasso, OK (Owasso Public Schools)

Academic Model

Owasso High School is the only high school in its district and enrolls about 3,050 students. The school offers 24 AP courses, from AP Physics II to AP Music Theory. Nevertheless, only 22% of seniors took at least one AP exam. Sixteen percent passed at least one. Students can also earn college credit through Tulsa Community College. Concurrent enrollment requires a 3.0 unweighted GPA or a qualifying test score.

From a College Admissions Standpoint

Owasso offers real rigor, but most students do not pursue it. As a result, a student with a full AP schedule stands out clearly in context. Admissions readers compare applicants against what their school offers. Owasso’s strongest students should therefore exhaust the AP catalog and add concurrent courses. Outside recognition is also essential, since the school is less familiar nationally. Early planning with a counselor will keep a demanding schedule on track.

Bixby High School

Public · Bixby, OK (Bixby Public Schools)

Academic Model

Bixby High School serves a fast-growing district south of Tulsa. Enrollment now stands at 2,405, with 553 seniors. The AP program has expanded quickly. In fact, the school reports nearly doubling its AP exam takers over five years. More than 76% of its AP exams, moreover, earn a score of 3 or higher. U.S. News puts AP participation at 30%. Students can also add concurrent college courses or Tulsa Tech programs to their schedules.

From a College Admissions Standpoint

Bixby’s trajectory works in a student’s favor. Its AP pass rate, in particular, shows that students who take the exams are well prepared. Still, the school’s state rank (52nd) trails Jenks and Owasso. Applicants should consequently let exam scores and course rigor carry the academic case. A 21:1 ratio limits individual advising. Families should therefore build a four-year plan early and seek recognition beyond the district.

Independent and Faith-Based Schools: How They Compare

Tulsa’s private market centers on one Episcopal independent school and two Catholic schools. The table below compares them.

Holland Hall

Independent (Episcopal) · South Tulsa, OK

Academic Model

Holland Hall is an independent Episcopal day school that marked its centennial in 2022. Its Upper School enrolls 358 students at a 9:1 ratio. The school holds accreditation from the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest and belongs to NAIS. Notably, classes run on a six-day modular schedule that leaves students responsible for unscheduled time. The model consequently resembles a college week more than a typical school day. Holland Hall offers only five AP courses: Calculus AB, Calculus BC, Statistics, Chemistry, and Computer Science Principles. Most advanced work happens in honors electives, such as Organic Chemistry and Multivariable Calculus. The school does not rank students.

College Counseling and Outcomes

Two college counselors guide a senior class of fewer than 90 students. Every junior, furthermore, takes a College Seminar course in the spring. Seniors also complete a 40-hour internship. The Class of 2025 posted an ACT composite of 25.8 and included two National Merit Finalists. Historically, 99% of graduates attend four-year colleges, and 67% leave Oklahoma. Recent destinations include Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern, Penn, Rice, Vanderbilt, and Williams.

From a College Admissions Standpoint

Holland Hall offers the most familiar independent school profile in the Tulsa market. Admissions offices understand its limited AP catalog because the school profile explains it. Students should therefore choose honors electives aggressively and sit for AP exams where prepared. The small class allows detailed counselor letters. However, colleges will expect each applicant to have used the modular schedule well. Independent projects, research, or serious arts work give that free time a visible purpose.

Cascia Hall Preparatory School

Catholic (Augustinian) · Midtown Tulsa, OK

Academic Model

Cascia Hall is a Catholic, Augustinian school serving grades 6 through 12 in midtown Tulsa. Founded in 1926, the school celebrates its centennial in 2026-27. Students take English, math, science, social studies, and theology every semester. AP courses sit at the top of the curriculum. Every AP student must take the exam, and the principal approves loads above three AP classes. In 2025, 170 students took 408 AP exams. As a result, 82 students hold AP Scholar recognition. Upperclassmen can also take college courses through concurrent enrollment.

College Counseling and Outcomes

Cascia Hall employs two college counselors, and planning begins in the freshman year. Roughly 70 college representatives visit campus annually. All seniors enroll in college. Recent acceptances have included Northwestern, Notre Dame, Rice, Stanford, and Yale.

From a College Admissions Standpoint

Cascia Hall pairs a small class with unusually strong National Merit results. That combination signals academic depth to selective colleges. The mandatory exam policy also makes its AP record credible. Nevertheless, students compete against capable classmates for top recommendations and counselor attention. Applicants should therefore define an academic direction by sophomore year. Service and faith commitments can add authentic essay material, particularly when they involve sustained responsibility.

Bishop Kelley High School

Catholic (Diocesan, Lasallian Tradition) · Tulsa, OK

Academic Model

Bishop Kelley is Oklahoma’s largest private high school and the diocesan Catholic high school for Tulsa. It opened in 1960 and follows the Lasallian educational tradition. The curriculum includes more than 40 honors and AP courses. In 2025, 257 students took a record 626 AP exams, and 85% earned a 3 or higher. Furthermore, 72% of the Class of 2025 took at least one AP course and exam. The College Board accordingly named the school to its Gold AP Honor Roll. Bishop Kelley reports an average ACT of 28 and an average SAT of 1260. About 90% of graduates attend four-year colleges. Students also choose from 20 sanctioned sports and dozens of clubs.

From a College Admissions Standpoint

Bishop Kelley combines private school structure with the scale of a mid-sized public school. Its AP results rival those of any school in the metro. The school does not publish a detailed matriculation list, however, so selective outcomes are harder to gauge. Ambitious students should therefore build the most rigorous schedule the school permits. Class size also means applicants must seek out counselor relationships. Leadership in service, athletics, or academic teams can give the application a clear center.

How College Transitions Helps Tulsa-Area Families

College Transitions works with students across the Tulsa market. We help families:

• Explain each school’s context to admissions readers, from Booker T. Washington’s IB program to Holland Hall’s modular schedule
• Plan AP, IB, and Tulsa Community College concurrent coursework so that rigor is clear on every transcript
• Build multi-year activity plans that reach regional and national recognition, especially for students at large campuses like Jenks, Owasso, and Bixby
• Weigh Oklahoma’s Promise, National Merit packages, and in-state flagship options against selective out-of-state colleges
• Develop essays that give readers outside Oklahoma a specific, accurate picture of a Tulsa applicant

Final Thoughts

Booker T. Washington remains the best-known public option in Tulsa, and its IB Diploma travels well. Dove Science Academy, meanwhile, pairs a tiny senior class with the highest AP participation in this comparison. Edison Preparatory, for its part, offers solid AP access in a mid-sized midtown setting.

The suburban campuses reward students who seek out rigor. Jenks, in particular, leads the group in rank and National Merit results. Owasso offers a broad AP catalog that relatively few students use fully. Bixby, in contrast, shows fast growth and strong AP exam results.

Among private schools, Holland Hall offers the classic independent school profile and the smallest classes. Cascia Hall adds strong National Merit numbers and a strict AP exam policy. Bishop Kelley delivers AP depth at a larger scale. Wherever your student attends, College Transitions helps families in the Tulsa area turn strong academic options into clear, differentiated admissions plans.

Additional Resources

• Case Study: How One Tulsa Student Earned Admission to Selective Colleges
• Is Tulsa, OK a Good Place for College Admissions? What Green Country Families Should Know
• Oil Capital, Open Road: How to Get into Top Colleges from Tulsa, Oklahoma
• Best Private Schools in Tulsa