2. The Good News
● DPS graduation rate increased:
● From 61.3 percent in 2012-13
To 62.8 percent in 2013-14
● Overall dropout rate declined from
5 percent to 4.5 percent (Zubrzycki, J.,
2015)
The Bad News
● 39.5 percent of American Indian
students graduated in four years,
compared to 73.5 percent of
Denver’s students who identified
as white (Zubrzycki, J., 2015)
3. ECE Kinder First Second Third Fourth Fifth Total
American
Indian
1.5% 0% 1.2% 0% 2.1% 0% 2.6% 6
Asian 3% 3.2% 2.4% 2.1% 1.1% 0% 0% 10
Black (Not
Hispanic)
1.5% 1.1% 2.4% 2.1% 0% 1.3% 1.3% 8
Hispanic 87.9% 84.9% 89.3% 89.6% 91.6% 97.5% 92.3% 530
White, not
Hispanic
6.1% 10.8% 4.8% 6.3% 5.3% 1.3% 3.8% 33
The following chart shows the percentage of students by race reporting
category
● Native Americans have the highest poverty rate in the U.S.
● Native American Students score lower on standardized tests in reading
and mathematics
4. Tell me and I'll forget. Show me, and I may not remember.
Involve me, and I'll understand. - Tribe Unknown.
● The Native American student may feel like they do not
belong if they do not see signs of representation
● May have an attitude of US and Them not We
● May feel discouraged to succeed
5. Goals
To engage the Native American student in reading
● Having books that relate to their culture
To engage the Native American student in mathematics
● (Ethnomathematics) = Culture based mathematics
To teach cultural competency
● Start Culture Days
To decrease the dropout rates of Native American Students
● Track the student through DPS Infinite Campus
● On track to graduate
6. ● “I wish my teacher knew” writing sessions
● Why Native American Men keep their hair long
http://www.sott.net/article/234783-The-Truth-About-Hair-
and-Why-Indians-Would-Keep-Their-Hair-Long
● Possible Interventions for Native American Students
https://www.dpi.state.nd.us/title1/progress/menus/menunativ
eam.pdf
7. Thank You
Reference
Zubrzycki, J. (2015) Positive trends in Denver graduation, drop-out rates continue: But some question how prepared students are
for life post-high school. Retrieved from: http://co.chalkbeat.org/2015/01/26/denver-graduation-drop-out-rates-continue-
positive-trends/#.VT7FKCFViko
