Dove Schools

Dove Schools
Location
5601 Northwest Expressway
Warr Acres
, Oklahoma
United States
District information
TypePublic charter school district
MottoFor a brighter future
GradesPK–12[1]
Established2000
SuperintendentAbidin Erez
Deputy superintendent(s)Kanuni Yilmaz
Schools9
Students and staff
Enrollment3,765[1] (2024)
Student–teacher ratio13:1
District mascotRaptors (Tulsa) and Rockets (OKC)
ColorsDove Blue, Dove Red[2]    
Other information
Locations ServedOklahoma City, Tulsa
WebsiteDove Schools

Dove Schools is a college-preparatory public charter school district in Oklahoma. Founded in 2000 as a single middle school serving 218 students in grades 6–8, the district has since expanded to nine campuses across Oklahoma City and Tulsa, serving nearly 4,000 students in grades PreK–12.[3]

History

Dove Schools began as a middle school in the year 2000, with an emphasis on STEM education, accelerated coursework, and college preparatory programming. In 2001, the district launched its first High School in Oklahoma City, and over the years, the district expanded to include multiple elementary, middle, and high school campuses in the OKC and Tulsa areas, along with a virtual academy.

Academics and recognitions

Dove Schools offers a college-preparatory curriculum with an emphasis on STEM education, including mathematics, science, and engineering. The district follows an accelerated model in which many students complete high school credit requirements by the 11th grade and continue with college-level coursework during their senior year.[4] Dove Science Academy campuses participate in a variety of competitions, including MathCounts, Science Olympiad, FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge, and robotics competitions.[5]

In statewide rankings, Dove Science Academy High School OKC has been recognized as one of the top high schools in Oklahoma. U.S. News & World Report ranked the campus among the best high schools in the state, placing it within the top three in Oklahoma for college readiness and overall academic performance.[6] Local news outlets, including The Oklahoman, have highlighted the school's performance and college-preparatory achievements.[7] Dove Schools campuses have also received recognition for character education. Dove Science Academy South OKC earned Honorable Mention as a School of Character from Oklahoma Schools of Character in 2020.[8]

The district has received federal grant funding to support its STEM programs and college-preparatory initiatives. U.S. Department of Education documentation details awards and project funding for the district, supporting curriculum expansion, technology integration, and extracurricular STEM competitions.[9] Third-party school review websites, including Niche.com, list Dove Science Academy among the top charter schools in Oklahoma for academics, student engagement, and STEM focus.[10]

Additionally, the district has hosted events attended by U.S. government officials, such as a visit from the U.S. Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, in 2025, highlighting the campus's STEM programs and student achievements.[11]

Controversies and investigations

In 2012–2014, a state audit[12] found that the non-profit managing Dove Schools (the Sky Foundation) collected millions in lease payments exceeding the purchase value of school properties, potentially violating charter and state regulations.[13] In 2020, the Oklahoma State Department of Education alleged that Dove officials accessed confidential student records for over 100,000 students not enrolled in Dove Schools to send recruitment mailers. The matter was referred to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.[14][15][16] The district was involved in litigation[17] concerning operations and compliance, including probationary accreditation status for several campuses, as recorded in state board minutes.

Dove Schools is considered a part of the Gülen/Hizmet movement based on organizational affiliations, participation in cultural events, staffing demographics, and operational patterns similar to other U.S.-based Gülen-affiliated charter networks.[18][19] The district maintains a secular STEM-focused curriculum,[20] but these ties have been noted by students, alumni, and staff. Dove Schools employs the largest concentration of Turkish staff in the State of Oklahoma, often hiring H-1B workers from Turkey across the district. Dove Schools is also a sister school of Harmony Public Schools in Texas.[18]

Schools

Dove Science Academy High School OKC

Dove Science Academy High School/Middle School South

Dove Science Academy High School Tulsa

Dove Science Academy Middle School OKC

Dove Science Academy Middle School Tulsa

Dove School of Discovery

Dove Science Academy Elementary OKC

Dove Science Academy Elementary OKC South

Dove Virtual Academy

References

  1. ^ a b "Dove Schools Website". Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "Dove Schools Media Kit". Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  3. ^ "Dove Schools | Top PK-12 Tuition-Free Schools in Oklahoma". Dove Schools. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  4. ^ "Dove Schools Website". Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  5. ^ "Clubs and Activities at Dove Schools". Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  6. ^ "U.S. News & World Report: Best High Schools Oklahoma". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  7. ^ Evans, Murray (August 21, 2025). "OKCPS Magnet School, Two Charter Schools Lead List of Best Oklahoma Public High Schools". The Oklahoman.
  8. ^ "Schools of Character". Oklahoma Schools of Character.
  9. ^ "U.S. Department of Education: Dove Schools Grant Application, 2025" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Dove Science Academy High School OKC in Oklahoma City, OK". Niche.
  11. ^ Martinez-Keel, Nuria (August 19, 2025). "U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visits OKC Charter School, State Capitol". Oklahoma Voice.
  12. ^ "Investigative Audit Report: July 1, 2012 – June 30, 2014" (PDF). Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector's Office.
  13. ^ "Oklahoma Audit Questions Charter School Lease Payments". Associated Press. March 17, 2016. Retrieved November 23, 2025 – via Public Radio Tulsa.
  14. ^ Martinez-Keel, Nuria. "OSBI to Investigate Dove Charter Schools". The Oklahoman. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  15. ^ Severin, Kevin (February 21, 2020). "Dove Charter School Reported for Sharing Student Records". KTUL. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
  16. ^ "Problem Solvers Investigates: Mailers Addressed to Students Prompts Investigation". 2 News Oklahoma KJRH Tulsa. 2020-02-19. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  17. ^ State of Oklahoma v. Dove Public Charter School Foundation (PDF) (Court case). District Court of Oklahoma County, State of Oklahoma. February 18, 2020.
  18. ^ a b Wecker, Menachem (Spring 2019). "Turkey's Fight Against U.S. Charters | An Autocrat Declares War on High-performing American Schools". Education Next. 19 (2): 30–36. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  19. ^ Lesley Stahl (May 13, 2012). U.S. Charter Schools Tied to Powerful Turkish Imam Fethullah Gulen. 60 Minutes. Retrieved November 23, 2025 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ Davis, Dave. "Dove School of Discovery Responds to Claims of Terrorism Link". KOTV. Retrieved January 5, 2026.

36°09′21″N 95°53′14″W / 36.15576°N 95.88730°W / 36.15576; -95.88730

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