Riverside Indian School facts for kids

Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke visiting the school library in 2018.

Riverside Indian School (RIS) is a special boarding school for Native American students. It is located near Anadarko, Oklahoma, in Caddo County. The school teaches students from 4th to 12th grade. The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) runs the school.

RIS first opened its doors in 1871. It was originally called the Wichita-Caddo School. It is one of the oldest Native American boarding schools in the United States. Today, hundreds of students attend Riverside Indian School. It is one of only four off-reservation Indian boarding schools still run by the BIE. The others are Sherman Indian High School, Chemawa Indian School, and Flandreau Indian School.

A Look at Riverside Indian School's History

Riverside Indian School is a Native American boarding school in Oklahoma. It welcomed its first Native American students in 1875. The school is still open today. Riverside is an intertribal school. This means students from many different Native American tribes attend. This is common in Oklahoma, as many tribes were moved to lands in the state.

Early Years: 1890 to 1920

From 1890 to 1920, students at Riverside Indian School faced challenges. They came from different tribes and spoke different languages. This could make it hard to understand each other at first. Native American students were not allowed to attend schools with white students. However, students from different tribes were allowed to learn together at Riverside.

This helped students feel like they belonged. Many students wanted to attend Riverside to be with other Native American students. They could also keep their tribal identity. This was possible because their families often visited them at school.

Riverside Indian School Today

Today, Riverside Indian School has almost 800 students. These students come from over 75 different Native American tribes. They travel from all across the United States. Students live in dormitories on the school grounds for nine months of the year. Riverside works hard to make sure students' living spaces help them with their studies and social lives.

The school covers more than 135 acres. It is located on land that belongs to the Wichita, Caddo, and Delaware tribes. This land is just north of Anadarko. Riverside helps pay for students from other states to travel home during school breaks. As of 2025, Amber Wilson is the superintendent. Kallan Glasgow is the assistant principal.

School Campus and Living Areas

The school has dormitories where students live. A pair of dorms for boys and girls in grades 8–12 opened in 2014. Younger students also have their own dorms. The Arapaho Dormitory is for boys in grades 4–7. The Comanche Dormitory is for girls in grades 4–7. The Wichita Dormitory is for students who are new or transitioning to the school, across all grades.

Famous People Who Attended Riverside

Many notable people have attended Riverside Indian School. Here are a few:

• Jeri Ah-be-hill
• Gomeo Bobelu
• John Emhoolah Jr.
• Doris McLemore
• Jennie R. Joe