Choctaw Tribal School System facts for kids
The Choctaw Tribal School System is a group of schools in Choctaw, Mississippi. It is run by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. This school system has eight schools. They are spread across three counties: Neshoba, Leake, and Newton.
About 1,700 to 1,800 students attend these schools. It is the largest school system in the United States run by a Native American tribe. The system works with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). Mr. Terry Ben is the current Director of Schools.
All eight schools are called Title I schools. This means they get special funding to help students. Most students at these schools speak two languages. They speak both the Choctaw language and English.
The National Center for Education Statistics says these schools are public schools.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation means a school system meets high standards. It shows the schools offer good quality education. The Choctaw Tribal School System and its schools are accredited. They are approved by the Mississippi Department of Education. They are also approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Who Can Attend?
To attend these schools, students must belong to a recognized Native American tribe. They also need to be at least one-fourth Native American.
Student Dormitory
The school system has a dormitory for older students. A dormitory is like a boarding house. It is for students in grades 7-12. This dormitory is called the Choctaw Central Dormitory. It helps students who do not live near the Pearl River area.
The Schools
The Choctaw Tribal School System has eight schools:
- Bogue Chitto Elementary School (Grades PK-8)
- Choctaw Central High School (Grades 9-12)
- Choctaw Central Middle School (Grades 7-8)
- Conehatta Elementary School (Grades PK-8)
- Pearl River Elementary School (Grades PK-6)
- Red Water Elementary School (Grades PK-8)
- Standing Pine Elementary School (Grades PK-6)
- Tucker Elementary School (Grades PK-8)
Famous Visitors
Many important people have visited the Choctaw Tribal School System. These visits often inspire students.
- In 1969 and 1971, Congressman G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery visited Choctaw Central High School. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives for many years.
- Marcus Dupree was a famous high school football player. In 1981, his final high school game was at Choctaw Bowl. This stadium is at Choctaw Central High School's Warriors Stadium. He set a record for yards rushed in that game. Author Willie Morris described the stadium as excellent. In 1983, Marcus Dupree returned to the school. He met with students one-on-one.
The stadium on the reservation was the finest I had seen all year, with excellent lights, and a large concrete grandstand on one side, and bleachers on the other. A gymnasium-field house was adjacent to the grandstand with-what else?- WARRIORS in sizable letters on the facade. Although the game was more than an hour away, it was obvious there would be a big crowd.
—Willie Morris
- In 1985, Eunice Kennedy Shriver visited the school. She was a member of the famous Kennedy family. She also started the Special Olympics. She praised the school's involvement in a program called "Let's Play to Grow."
- In the mid-1990s, Billy Mills spoke to the students. He was the second Native American to win an Olympic gold medal.
- In 2000, John Herrington visited the campus. He was the first Native American NASA astronaut. He flew his first space mission two years later.
- In 2008, Rodney A. Grant came to the campus. He is a Native American actor. He is well-known for his role in the movie Dances with Wolves.
