Havasupai Elementary School facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Havasupai Elementary School |
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The school in 2012
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| Address | |
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40 Main St
86435
United States
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| Coordinates | 36°14′13″N 112°41′20″W / 36.2369°N 112.6890°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public school (federally operated) |
| Established | 1895 |
| School district | Bureau of Indian Education |
| Principal | Hoai-My Winder |
| Grades | K–8 |
| Mascot | Eagle |
Havasupai Elementary School (HES) is a special school in Supai, Arizona. It's run by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and teaches students from kindergarten all the way to 8th grade. This school is very important for the children living on the Havasupai Indian Reservation.
It's also known as Havasupai Indian School. In the past, it was called Havasupai Boarding and Day School. The school is located high up, about 3,500 feet (1.1 km) above sea level.
Contents
A Look Back: Havasupai School History
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Havasupai Elementary School has been around for a long time, starting by 1895. At different times, the United States government directly managed the school. Other times, the Havasupai tribe itself was in charge. In 1908, about 42 students attended the school.
In 1910, a big flood hit Supai, affecting the town and the school. However, by 1911, the school was reported to be in "fine condition" again. In the 1930s, there were plans to update the school building.
Around the 1950s, the school building was used for other purposes, like a library. For a short time in that decade, the school stopped operating. All students from Supai had to go to boarding schools away from home.
School Reopens and Grows
The school started up again in the 1960s. By 1967, it only taught students up to second grade. This meant older students still had to leave Supai for boarding schools. People like Martin Goodfriend, who supported the Supai community, suggested that Havasupai School should teach more grades.
By 1978, the school taught students from kindergarten through sixth grade. In 1988, students learned in both English and the Havasupai language. They also learned about the rich culture of the Havasupai people.
In 2002, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) took over control of the school again. They have continued to manage it since then.
Challenges and Improvements
In 2017, there were reports about the school facing many challenges. These included changes in principals often and not enough teachers. Sometimes, the school even had to close for a week because there weren't enough teachers. There were also times when the school's janitor had to step in as a substitute teacher. Many teachers did not stay for the whole school year.
The school also lacked a library and after-school activities. Its scores in math and English were lower than other BIE schools. Even though the school was supposed to teach the Havasupai language and culture, it wasn't happening.
A legal case was started in January 2017 to address these issues. In March, a judge allowed the case to move forward. The director of the BIE met with the Supai community. In October 2020, an agreement was reached to help improve the school.
In 2018, a group called "Friends of Havasupai Elementary" suggested that the Havasupai tribe should control the school. They thought it could become a charter school with tribal support.
Who Attends Havasupai Elementary?
In 2011, Havasupai Elementary had 94 students from kindergarten to 8th grade.
As of 2017, there were 70 students. About 35 of these students had special learning needs. However, the school did not offer special services to help these students.
Around 2017, only about 20% of the students from Havasupai Elementary went on to earn a high school diploma.
School Building and Facilities
The school building is a single-story structure.
In 2011, to help with overcrowding, the BIE brought in a new classroom. It was a special type of classroom that could be flown in pieces by helicopter and then put together at the school.
How the School is Managed
The Havasupai tribe has a board that deals with education matters. However, in 2017, it was noted that this board did not have much real power.
In the 1950s, the school did not use physical punishment for students. This was because the Havasupai tribe was against it.
As of 2017, students were dismissed early on Fridays. This was to make it easier for teachers to travel back to their homes outside of Supai.
Student Learning and Performance
During the 2012–2013 school year, students' scores showed they were learning less than most other students in the country. For math, they were in the third percentile, and for reading, they were in the first percentile. This means their scores were lower than 97% of other students in math and 99% in reading.
Student Behavior and Support
In 2017, there were concerns about how student behavior was handled. Students were often suspended or reported to law enforcement for minor misbehavior.
There were also claims that teachers sometimes used harsh punishments because they lacked resources or didn't fully understand the local culture. Parents and community members were worried that small mistakes led to very big consequences for students.
A legal case in 2017 also mentioned problems with how the school handled student behavior. It was even claimed that the janitor sometimes acted as a substitute teacher. The lawsuit also said that teachers often left before the school year ended, which could make it hard to have a consistent way of dealing with student behavior.
Even with these challenges, Havasupai Elementary is the only elementary school on the Havasupai Indian Reservation. Students who feel unprepared sometimes leave high school early.
School Life and Activities
In 2017, Havasupai Elementary did not have any student clubs or extra activities outside of regular classes.
As of 2017, there was no school library at Havasupai Elementary School. The school was also supposed to teach the Havasupai language and culture, but this was not happening.
What Happens After Havasupai Elementary?
As of 1988, students who finish Havasupai Elementary usually go to boarding schools for high school. Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, California was a common choice. There is no high school in Supai itself.
