Rough Rock Community School

Rough Rock Community School
Address
RRTP #PTT HC 61 Box 1480

Chinle, Arizona
86503

United States
Coordinates36°24′53″N 109°51′20″W / 36.414660°N 109.855648°W / 36.414660; -109.855648
Information
EstablishedJuly 1966 (1966-07)
SuperintendentMarty Roessel
CEEB code030049
PrincipalRonald Thompson
GradesK-12
Enrollment214 (2023–2024)[1]
Color(s)Maroon and gold[2]
MascotSun Devils
Websitewww.roughrock.k12.az.us

Rough Rock Community School, Inc. (RRCS) is a tribal K-12 school in Rough Rock, Arizona, with a Chinle postal address. Operated by the Navajo Nation, it is funded by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). As of 2011, the school had approximately 440 day and residential students. These include 166 high school students in grades 9 through 12.

History

Founded by Robert Roessel Sr. and Ruth Roessel (Navajo), the school opened in 1966 as the Rough Rock Demonstration School (RRDS).[3][4]

In response to Native American activists' efforts to take control of their children's educations, that was the first school for which the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) contracted with a tribal nation to operate it; the Navajo Nation were the first to operate a BIA school.[3] The Navajo changed the curriculum to reflect their own culture, history, and traditions, or code of ethics, in addition to general academic coursework related to United States culture and other topics.[5]

In 1994 Rough Rock incorporated as a nonprofit and changed its name to Community School, as it was not a demonstration school anymore.[6]

Construction

In the early 21st century, projects were constructed to replace BIA facilities at the school. A 20,333-square-foot (1,889.0 m2) K–8 dormitory with capacity for 86 students was built in 2010. A new K–8 academic building, and two additional dormitories were built in 2011. The project was the first replacement school project funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Rough Rock Community School". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
  2. ^ "Rough Rock Community Schools :: AIA Online". aiaonline.org.
  3. ^ a b "Prominent Navajo educator Ruth Roessel dies". Associated Press. Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, Arizona). p. 3. Clipping from Newspapers.com
  4. ^ Severns, Maggie (November 25, 2015). "How Washington created some of the worst schools in America". Politico.
  5. ^ Donovan, Bill (November 16, 2017). "50 Years Ago: Gorman defends Rough Rock school". Navajo Times.
  6. ^ "About Us". Rough Rock Community School. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "Echo Hawk to Speak at Opening of Rough Rock Community School Replacement Buildings (press release). Bureau of Indian Affairs. August 11, 2011.

Further reading

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