St. Francis Indian School is a K-12 Native American school in St. Francis, South Dakota. It is tribally controlled and is affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE).[1]

Lakota people are served by the school.[2]

History

In 1886 the school, initially a Christian elementary school of St. Francis Mission meant to serve Native students with English as a second language, was established. It had 200-person boarding facilities, with all students boarding, and had one building, though a second was later added and the boarding facilities filled. A fire destroyed the existing facilities in January 1916. Concrete replacement facilities were built and school resumed in fall 1916. The high school classes began in 1931. It had a peak enrollment of 500 in the 1940s and 1950s. The dormitories were decommissioned in the 1960s after improvements to the roads were implemented. Tribal control came in 1979.[3] Residents had a positive reception to gaining tribal control.[2]

By 2004 the school began hiring teachers from other countries to fill vacancies.[4]

Curriculum

In 1986, in addition to English and Lakota, the school had the following foreign languages available: German, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. Some languages classes were only open to high school students.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "St. Francis Indian School". Bureau of Indian Education. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Holland, Debra (June 29, 1986). "St. Francis School is significant part of Lakota life". Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, South Dakota. p. B1. - Clipping from Newspapers.com
  3. ↑ Taylor, Kay (June 29, 1986). "Catholic ministry nurtures heritage at St. Francis". Rapid City Journal. Rapid City, South Dakota. p. B1. - Clipping from Newspapers.com
  4. ↑ Schmidt, Brenda Wade (January 26, 2004). "Schools take small steps toward higher achievement". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. p. 1A, 6A. - Clipping of first and of second page (detail view #1 and detail view #2) at Newspapers.com.

43°08′27″N 100°54′03″W / 43.1408°N 100.9007°W / 43.1408; -100.9007


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