Mescalero Apache Schools Explained

Mescalero Apache Schools (MAS), also known as Mescalero Apache School, is a tribal K-12 school in unincorporated Otero County, New Mexico, associated with the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). It is of the Mescalero Apache tribe.

It is outside of the Mescalero census-designated place although it has a Mescalero post office address.^[1]

In 2011 it had about 500 students.^[2]

History

In 1954 the tribe asked for the school to be placed in the Otero County school system.^[3]

By 2009 there was an epidemic of suicides among young people on the reservation.^[4] By September 2009, Mescalero Apache School established a suicide crisis center.^[5] Additionally the U.S. Department of Education in 2010 gave the school $48,000 for suicide prevention programs.^[6]

Curriculum

Every student in elementary and middle school must take classes in the Apache language, and every high school student must take at least one year of Apache language classes. In the early 1990s the school introduced Apache language classes.^[2]

External links

• Mescalero Apache Schools

33.2254°N -105.7429°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Home. Mescalero Apache Schools. 2021-07-29. 249 White Mountain Drive Mescalero, NM 88340.
   Compare to: Web site: 2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Mescalero CDP, NM. U.S. Census Bureau. 2021-07-29. - Pages: 1, 2, and 3
2. Web site: Romo. Rene. Mescalero Apaches work to save language. Native Times. 2011-11-09. 2021-07-29.
3. News: Too Early Turnover of Indian Affairs May Be Harmful, Say Apaches. Alamogordo Daily News. 1954-12-05. 5. - Clipping from Newspapers.com.
4. Web site: 8:30am — Mescalero Mourns 4th Suicide in 2 Months. Albuquerque Journal. 2009-10-07. 2021-07-29.
5. Web site: 8:15am — Crisis Center To Address Mescalero Suicides. Albuquerque Journal. 2009-09-16. 2021-07-29.
6. Web site: Mescalero Schools Get Suicide Prevention Funds. Albuquerque Journal. 2010-04-21. 2021-07-29.