Paul Potts, a senior from Dale High School, has been selected for the 2026 Academic All-State Class by the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence.
Potts is valedictorian for his class and a longstanding member of the National Honor Society, according to OFE. He is also a nationally and internationally published poet. He was a finalist for the Inaugural Rowayat Poetry prize and a two-time JUST POETRY! National winner. He has also won three Gold Keys in the Scholastic Art & Writing awards.
Potts is a jazz vibraphonist and drummer, and plays the vibes for the Oklahoma Youth Jazz Ensemble. He was previously selected for the OSSBDA and OKMEA All-State Jazz bands. He plays the drums for the Oklahoma Jazz Preserve, a Shawnee-based jazz organization. He plans to major in philosophy.
The Academic All-State class will be recognized at the OFE Academic Awards Celebration on May 2 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Each honoree will receive a $1,500 award, honor cord and a medallion, OFE said.
“This is our 40th Academic All-State class, and every year we are amazed by our honorees’ academic accomplishments and deep involvement in their school communities,” said OFE Executive Director Elizabeth Inbody. “By celebrating them alongside their teachers, we send a powerful message about the importance of public education and great educators.”
This year’s honorees come from 63 public schools in 58 districts. The 2026 All-State class averaged a 33 on the ACT, with nine honorees scoring a perfect 36. Their weighted average GPA is 4.36, and 38 are semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Students can apply for the honor if they meet one of three criteria -- an ACT composite score of at least 30, a combined SAT evidence-based reading and writing and math score of at least 1370, or being selected as a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program.