| Index | McAlester | Oklahoma | National |
| Average Test Scores | 43% | 32% | 48% |
| Student/Teacher ratio | 21:1 | 22:1 | 16:1 |
| Total public schools | 12 | 1,346 | 79,221 |
| Total private schools | n/a | 159 | 24,874 |
| Total post-secondary schools | 2 | 178 | 7,963 |

| Index | McAlester | Oklahoma | National |
| Completed 8th grade | 77.9% | 83.5% | 84.3% |
| Completed high school | 75.6% | 82.2% | 83.0% |
| Completed some college | 52.2% | 55.6% | 59.4% |
| Completed associate degree | 26.3% | 31.9% | 38.5% |
| Completed bachelors | 17.3% | 24.5% | 30.3% |
| Completed masters | 6.8% | 8.1% | 11.5% |
| Completed professional degree | 1.8% | 2.3% | 3.3% |
| Completed doctorate | 0.6% | 1.0% | 1.3% |
There are a total of 12 public schools, n/a private schools and 2 post-secondary schools in McAlester. Using the proficiency score averages, the average test scores for McAlester, OK schools is 43%. The average student to teacher ratio is 21:1. In McAlester, OK, an average of 77.9% of students have completed 8th grade and an average of 75.6% have completed high school.
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Kiowa, OK | 694 | 49% | 1.0% |
| Pittsburg, OK | 182 | 38% | 21.9% |
| Krebs, OK | 2,205 | 32% | 34.4% |
| Crowder, OK | 413 | 26% | 45.8% |
| Savanna, OK | 605 | 26% | 45.8% |
| McAlester, OK | 18,601 | 43% | 10.0% |
| City | Population | Avg. Test Scores | National Avg. |
| Nipomo, CA | 18,602 | 46% | 4.2% |
| Hurricane, UT | 18,604 | 40% | 16.0% |
| Safety Harbor, FL | 18,573 | 60% | 24.0% |
| Bethpage, NY | 18,648 | 72% | 50.9% |
| Oxon Hill, MD | 18,651 | 28% | 42.7% |
| McAlester, OK | 18,601 | 43% | 10.0% |