The Arapahoe School's Dropout Prevention Demonstration Program was funded in 2001 to reduce the dropout rate of students attending Arapahoe School and going on to high school. Arapahoe School is a K-8 school district, located in the village of Arapahoe on the Wind River Indian Reservation in West Central Wyoming. Wind River is geographically the second largest reservation in the nation, encompassing 3,500 square miles and 2.3 million acres. It is home to approximately 4,000 Northern Arapaho and 2,000 Eastern Shoshone. Arapahoe School enrolls approximately 380 Arapaho students. Statistics show that of our students who complete the 8th grade, only 60% go on to high school. Of that 60% who go to high school, 89% drop out prior to graduation.

The uniqueness of this project is twofold. We are (1) conducting research which identifies the relationship between our students' exposure to violence; the social, emotional, and mental consequences of that exposure; and how those consequences impact learning and dropout rates so that we can develop strategies for improved academic performance to keep our students in school, and (2) we are conducting an on-going evaluation, data collection, and dropout tracking as a means to increase the quality of services provided to our students.

Our project was funded for one year. Due to a late start-up, we were able to carry on the project for two years.

Project activities (in addition to the research/evaluation component) center around the Dream Catcher Center, named by the students. The Dream Catcher Center includes after school, summer, weekend, family, evening and community events. After school activities include an hour of academics such as reading and writing while focusing on the Arapaho culture and an hour of recreation. A math component is being implemented during the academic hour beginning in December. Summer, weekend, family and community activities include family field trips, pow wows, Sundance, picnics, basketball games, baseball games, camping trips, swimming, beading classes and many activities that pertain to the Arapaho culture and recreation.

The Dropout Prevention staff includes:
Jenny Paskett - Project Director
Claudette Duran - Recreational/Cultural Director
Lea Donze - Master Teacher