Riverside Indian School facts for kids
Riverside Indian School (RIS) is a special boarding school for Native American students. It is located in Caddo County, Oklahoma, near the town of Anadarko. Students from fourth grade all the way to twelfth grade attend this school.
Riverside Indian School first opened its doors in 1871. It was originally called the Wichita-Caddo School. This makes it one of the oldest Native American boarding schools in the United States. Today, only four such schools are still open. These include Riverside Indian School, Sherman Indian High School, Chemawa Indian School, and Flandreau Indian School. Hundreds of students live and learn at Riverside Indian School each year.
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A Look Back: School History
Riverside Indian School has a long and important history. It first welcomed Native American students in 1871. The school is still open for Native American students today. Riverside is an "intertribal" school. This means students from many different Native American tribes attend. This is especially true because Oklahoma is home to many tribes. Many tribes were moved to reservation lands in the state long ago.
From 1890 to 1920, students at Riverside Indian School came from many different tribes. They sometimes faced challenges with different languages and cultures. However, students from all tribes were allowed to learn together. They were not separated by their tribal background. This helped students feel like they belonged. They were around other students who understood their experiences.
Students at Riverside could stay together, even if they were from different tribes. This helped them feel a sense of community. Many students wanted to attend Riverside. They liked being around other students like themselves. Students could also keep their tribal identity. Their families often visited them at the school.
Riverside Today
Today, Riverside Indian School has almost 800 students. These students come from more than 75 different Native American tribes. They travel from all over the United States to attend. Students live at the school for nine months of the year. They stay in dormitories on the school grounds.
Riverside works hard to make sure students have good living spaces. These spaces help them with their schoolwork and social lives. The school covers more than 135 acres of land. It is located on land that belongs to the Wichita, Caddo, and Delaware tribes. Riverside helps pay for students to travel home during school breaks. The current leader of the school is Superintendent Amber Wilson. Kallan Glasgow is the assistant principal.
School Campus and Living
The school campus has modern dormitories for students. Two 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. There is also the Wichita Dormitory for students who are new to the school.
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
