GRANTS - The ethnic and economic demographics of the students in the Grants/Cibola County School District were compiled by Gloria Hale, director of Indian Education, for a report to the federal Indian Affairs Committee.

These figures were presented in a report to the school board at a recent meeting.

The district serves a population of 3,618 students from Pre-K to grade 12 in ten schools, including seven elementary schools, one middle school, one high school and one mid-high school.

Of the 3,618 students, 41.8 percent, or 1,514 are Native Americans from Laguna Pueblo, Acoma Pueblo, the Navajo Nation and other tribal representations.

Hispanic students represent 37.8 percent of the schools' population, or 1,370 pupils and Caucasians make up 18.3 percent or 674 students while African-Americans represent 1.1 percent or 42 students. Asians and other ethnic representations make up the balance of the student population.

Student attendance in 2007 was 94.68 percent and the graduation rate was 91.54 percent, with both rates beating the state average. Reduced lunch prices are granted to 73 percent of the students.

The district boasts 296 licensed educators supported by 290 staff, including maintenance, food service workers, transportation staff, educational assistants, custodians, technicians and clerical/secretarial staff.

The administrative staff includes the superintendent and assistant superintendent, ten principals, two assistant principals, the director of Special Education, the director of secondary schools, the director of budget and finance, the business manager, the director of personnel, the director of Federal Projects, the director of Indian Education and the director of athletics.

Administrative support staff includes the deans of students, the truancy officer, the testing and data coordinator, nursing and health services, education technology services, maintenance, transportation and food services.

Transportation in 2007 was approximately 2,107 miles per day, with 23.2 miles on unpaved roads.

The Indian Education Program within GCCS grew during the 2008-09 school year, according to the report. The New Mexico Public Education Department has continued funding of the three indigenous language programs, including Acoma Keres at Laguna-Acoma Junior/Senior High School, and Navajo at Mount Taylor and Milan Elementary Schools. The district continues to sustain funding for a K-6 Acoma Keres language program teacher at Cubero Elementary School.

Hale acquired funding for several Native language summer camps and an oral history project. Most recently the district received $25,853 to support grades 6-12 Native American Studies classes at Los Alamitos Middle School and Grants High School, funded by the NMPED Indian Education Exemplary Program.

The district currently employs three Native American school administrators, including two school principals and one director of Indian Education, 26 Native teachers and counselors and 18 Native educational assistants.

By Diane Fowler

Beacon staff writer