Summary:
The city of Tohatchi, New Mexico is home to 3 schools - 2 elementary schools and 1 high school - that serve a predominantly Native American student population facing significant economic challenges. While the schools show some signs of improvement, they continue to struggle academically, with low statewide rankings and high rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
Tohatchi High has consistently ranked in the bottom quarter of New Mexico high schools, with a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. In contrast, Tohatchi Elementary has shown steady improvement in its statewide ranking, moving from 320th out of 396 New Mexico elementary schools in 2018-2019 to 292nd out of 435 in 2022-2023. The school also boasts the best student-teacher ratio among the 3 schools, at 17 students per teacher, which is the 6th best ratio in the Gallup-McKinley City Schools district.
The standout school in the area is Ch'ooshgai Community School, which has a 100% Native American student population and an exceptionally high free and reduced lunch rate of 98.48%, indicating a high level of economic disadvantage among the student body. This school's unique demographics and economic challenges highlight the need for culturally relevant education and targeted support to address the underlying issues facing the Tohatchi community.
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