Chinle Unified School District facts for kids
The Chinle Unified School District No. 24 (often called CUSD) is a public school system. It is located in Chinle, Arizona, within the Navajo Nation in the United States. A group of five elected Navajo leaders manages the district. They follow rules set by the state of Arizona.
As of 2020, almost all of the district's 3,600 students are Navajo. CUSD serves many communities in Apache County. These include Chinle, Del Muerto, Lukachukai, Many Farms, Nazlini, Rough Rock, Sehili, and Tsaile. It also covers small parts of Round Rock and Sawmill.
The district covers a large area of about 4,200 square miles (10,878 square kilometers). Its school buses travel about 6,000 miles (9,656 kilometers) every day. This helps transport students to and from their schools.
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History of Chinle Schools
The Chinle Unified School District was officially started in 1958. It was organized by the state of Arizona and Apache County. In 2008, the district celebrated its 50th anniversary. A special gathering was held at the Wildcat Den, a community arena, on July 25, 2008.
In July 1983, a new school district was formed. The Red Mesa Unified School District was created by splitting off from the Chinle School District.
Student Population in CUSD
The number of students in the district has changed over time. In 1998, there were more than 4,500 students. About 95% of them were Navajo. By 2016, the district had 3,300 students. As of 2020, there were about 3,600 students. Around 99% of these students are Navajo, also known as Diné.
Schools in the Chinle District
The Chinle Unified School District has several schools for different age groups.
High School
K-8 Schools
These schools teach students from kindergarten up to 8th grade.
- Many Farms Public School – This school serves about 425 students.
- Tsaile Public School – This school is located close to Diné College.
Junior High and Middle Schools
- Chinle Junior High School
Primary Schools (K–6)
These schools teach students from kindergarten up to 6th grade.
- Mesa View Elementary School
- Chinle Elementary School
- Canyon De Chelly Elementary School – This school serves about 600 students in Chinle. The community of Chinle is right next to the Canyon De Chelly National Monument. About 97% of the students at this school are Navajo.
Former Schools in the District
Some schools were once part of the Chinle district. They were reassigned when the Red Mesa Unified School District was formed.
- Red Mesa Elementary School
- Red Mesa Junior High School
- Red Mesa High School
School Transportation
Getting students to school can be challenging in the district. As of 2016, more than 60% of the bus routes are on unpaved roads. This can cause more wear and tear on the school buses.
