Flandreau Indian School facts for kids

The Flandreau Indian School (often called FIS) is a special boarding school for Native American students. Most of its students are from the Lakota people. It is located in Moody County, South Dakota, near the town of Flandreau. The school is run by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and is not on a reservation.

FIS is one of only four such boarding schools directly managed by the BIE. It teaches students in grades 9 through 12. The school began in 1872 as a mission school run by the Presbyterian Church. This makes it the oldest Native American boarding school in the United States that has been open continuously.

School History

The Presbyterian Church started this school in 1872. At first, it was a mission school for grades 1-6. In 1877, the United States government took over running the school. They opened dormitories in 1892 so students could live there. Later, high school classes were added.

In the past, these federal boarding schools aimed to help Native American students learn English and American culture. By the early 2000s, many of these schools became places for students who needed a second chance. This included students who might have had difficult home lives or learning challenges.

In the 1940s, the Lakota people tried to close the school, but it stayed open. Over time, more Native American students started going to public schools or schools run by their own tribes. Because of this, funding for schools like FIS changed after 2004. Some parts of the school had to close, and staff members lost their jobs.

Joining the School

The Flandreau Indian School is open to children who are members of federally recognized tribes. In 2002, the school accepted most students who applied, about 95%. The only students usually not admitted were those with disabilities that the school could not support.

How the School Works

The United States government pays for students' classes, their rooms, and their meals. This is part of agreements made long ago after the Indian Wars. These agreements helped set up reservations for Native American tribes.

Student Life

The number of students at FIS has changed over the years. In 1972, there were about 600 students. By 2002, this number was around 370. In 2015, the school had 279 students. Most of them were from South Dakota, but some also came from Nebraska and Iowa.

In 2002, many students came to Flandreau because they were looking for a more stable place to live than their homes. Some students are "legacy students," meaning other family members have attended the school before them. Others come for the "adventure" of a new environment, as reported by Matt Baney of the Argus Leader.

Sports Teams

The sports teams at Flandreau Indian School are called the Indians. Erin Grace from the Omaha World-Herald mentioned in 2015 that this name is used very carefully.

In 1989, the school was in South Dakota's class AA for athletics. At that time, it did not have an American football team. That year, the school asked to be moved to class A for sports.

See also

• Other off-reservation boarding schools run by the BIE:
  • Chemawa Indian School, in Salem, Oregon
  • Riverside Indian School, in Oklahoma
  • Sherman Indian High School, in California

• Off-reservation boarding schools run by tribes:
  • Circle of Nations Wahpeton Indian School
  • Pierre Indian Learning Center
  • Sequoyah Schools