FHBC meets with Education officials to discuss plans for improvement after low ranking Fort Hall schools
The Fort Hall Business Council during a meeting with Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield (third from left) and White House Indian Education Initiative representatives Jason Cummins and Adon Gonzales.
FORT HALL — The 2021-2022 Ranking Report released from the Idaho State Department of Education in February for all Idaho schools ranked Fort Hall Reservation schools as some of the lowest performing schools.
Fort Hall Elementary received 6/100 composite points and Chief Taghee Elementary Academy received 3/100 composite points. In 2018 Fort Hall Elementary was ranked at 5/100 and Chief Taghee was 26/100.
The composite scores for Kindergarten through 8th grade are based on ISAT/IDAA proficiency rates and student growth in ELA and math, English language growth towards proficiency, and student engagement survey results.
Tribal socioeconomic status, geographical, demographic, disabilities, homelessness and racial diversity are factors not considered in the rankings, but in comparison, the highest-ranking schools are located in urban areas, with primarily white students. Chief Taghee has a student population that is 100% American Indian, and Fort Hall Elementary has 84% American Indian student population with 12% Hispanic or Latino.
The Idaho State Department of Education has released their 2022 Accountability and Reporting Report. The Federal government requires the State of Idaho to rank all schools every three years to evaluate and identity the lowest-preforming schools, and those schools can receive additional funding and support services. The scores also indicate the improvement or the decline in school rankings during the three years between evaluations.
The Fort Hall Business Council and Tribal Education Department staff recently met with Debbie Critchfield, Idaho State Superintendent of Public Instruction and the White House Indian Education Initiative representatives Jason Cummins and Adon Gonzales. The low reservation scores were discussed with plans to prioritize community engagement and parental involvement as strategies to improve academic performance.
“We are not receiving the highest level of education for our Tribal students,” said Fort Hall Business Council Chairman Nathan Small. “It is time for our leadership to step in and get more involved in what is happening within our schools. We expect more from the state, and we want parents and community members to be aware of how our schools are performing.”
Over 600 schools were ranked, including charter and traditional public schools, but did not include Bureau of Indian Education schools such as Sho-Ban Jr./Sr. High School.
Other composite scores for local public schools off reservation: IT Stoddard Elementary 43/100; Tyhee Elementary 53/100; Stalker Elementary 29/100; Hawthorne Middle 31/100; Mountain View Middle 23/100; Highland High 55/100; Blackfoot High School 29/100; Pocatello High 73/100; J.R. Simplot Elementary 29/100; Century High 73/100; William Thomas Middle 5/100 and American Falls High 26/100.
The other reservation schools which received low ranking are the Lakeside Elementary School and the Lakeside Jr. High in Plummer-Worley, on the Coeur d’Alene reservation.
The Idaho Constitution mandates that schools maintain a general, uniform, and thorough system of public, free common schools for all Idaho citizens.
For more information go to the sde.idaho.gov/assessment/accountability and go to accountability Framework and School Identification tab.
