Kickapoo Nation School facts for kids

The Kickapoo Nation School is a special school in Powhattan, Kansas, United States. It teaches students from kindergarten all the way through high school. This school is connected to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIE), which is a part of the U.S. government that works with Native American tribes. It is the only school like this in Kansas that is run by a tribe.

The school is about 6 miles (9.7 km) north of the Kickapoo Indian Reservation. It welcomes students from the Kickapoo, Potawotami, and Sac and Fox tribes.

School History

When the School Started

The Kickapoo Nation School moved into its current building in 1981. This building was used by another school before the Kickapoo Nation School took it over.

Community Views in 2004

In 2004, a newspaper called the St. Joseph News-Press reported that some people in the area didn't have a very good opinion of the school. The school community worked hard to change these ideas and show how great their school was.

How the School Works

Official Status of the School

The Kansas Department of Education sees Kickapoo Nation School as a "nonpublic" school. This means it's not a regular public school run by the state. However, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) counts it as a public school.

Enrollment and Tuition

As of 2006, the school could accept students who were not registered members of Native American tribes. However, these students had to pay tuition. This is because the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIE) only provides money for students who are officially enrolled members of tribes. In 2006, the cost for a non-tribal family was $200 for each semester, or $100 for just one student.

What Students Learn

Learning Languages

The school has a special program where students learn both English and the Kickapoo language. This is the only program in Kansas that teaches an original American language. The school has worked hard to keep the Kickapoo language alive and strong.

Family and Child Education Program

According to the Topeka Capital-Journal, the school's Family and Child Education (FACE) program was getting good attention by 2006. This program, funded by the BIE, helps both parents and children learn together, even at home.

Technology and Learning

In 2006, the school did not have enough money to give laptops to all its students. Public schools often had more funding for technology. But, starting in the fall of 2006, the school planned to begin a virtual learning program. This program would help students learn subjects where the school didn't have a teacher on site.

Student Life

Number of Students

In 2004, the school had 91 students. All of them were Native American. By 2016, the number of students was 58. Many students come from the Kickapoo reservation, and some live in Topeka.

School Staff

Teachers at Kickapoo Nation School

In 2016, the Kickapoo Nation School had eight teachers.

Sports and Athletics

School Sports Teams

As of 2006, the school's sports teams sometimes had trouble finding enough students to play. This was because there weren't many students enrolled in the school. For example, in 2004, the track team only had seven members. By 2016, the school was trying to form a track team again, but at that time, they didn't have any sports teams at all.