Zuni Public School District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Zuni Public School District |
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|---|---|
| Address | |
| 12 Twin Buttes Drive ZUNI, New Mexico, 87327 United States |
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| District information | |
| Type | Public |
| Grades | PreK–12 |
| District ID | 3502800 |
| Students and staff | |
| Students | 1,232 |
| Teachers | 78.92 (FTE) |
| Staff | 88.37 (FTE) |
| Student-teacher ratio | 15.61 |
| Other information | |
| Website | www |
The Zuni Public School District (ZPSD) is a school district located in the Zuni Pueblo area of New Mexico. It serves students from Pre-Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade.
This district is found in parts of Cibola County and McKinley County. It includes areas like Zuni Pueblo and Black Rock.
Contents
How the Zuni School District Started
The Zuni Public School District began on July 1, 1980. This was a very important moment because it was the first public school system in the United States to be controlled by a Native American tribe. Before this, the last new school district in New Mexico was created in 1950.
Why the Zuni People Wanted Their Own Schools
The Zuni School District mostly covers the Zuni Indian Reservation. It became the 89th school district in New Mexico. About 1,800 students were expected to enroll at first. Almost all of these students (98%) were Zuni people.
Hayes Lewis, who was the acting superintendent, explained why the Zuni Pueblo community wanted their own district. They decided to leave the Gallup-McKinley County Schools system. The Zuni people wanted to make their own choices about education. Also, a Zuni person had never been elected to the school board of the old district. The Zuni people had been trying to form their own school district for about ten years before it finally happened.
Funding Challenges for ZPSD
In 1999, the leaders of the Zuni Public School District shared their concerns. They said that the way New Mexico funded school districts was not enough. They felt the money provided was not enough to properly support their district.
Schools in the Zuni District
The Zuni Public School District has several schools that serve students of different ages.
- Zuni High School
- Zuni Middle School
- Shiwi T'sana Elementary School (Kindergarten to 5th grade) - This school opened in 2016. It replaced two older elementary schools: A:shiwi and Dowa Yalanne.
- Twin Buttes Cyber Academy
Past Elementary Schools
- A:shiwi Elementary School - This school started in the fall of 1992. It was located on the east side of the village. Around the year 2000, about 450 students attended this school.
- Dowa Yalanne Elementary School - In 1999, more than 500 students were enrolled here. It was located in the southern part of Zuni Pueblo.
Alternative High School
- Twin Buttes High School - This is an alternative school. Its building was built in the 1930s and has a special Zuni style of architecture.
