Native American students make up a small fraction of the U.S. public school population. As of Fall 2022, only about 449,000 American Indian and Alaska Native students were enrolled, accounting for less than 1% of all students nationwide (NCES). Despite this small representation, these students face some of the most persistent educational challenges in the country.
One of the most concerning figures is the dropout rate. In 2022, nearly one in ten Native youth between the ages of 16 and 24 had left school without completing a high school program. This is the highest dropout rate of any racial or ethnic group in the United States (NCES). These numbers highlight the long-standing systemic barriers in Native American education, from underfunded schools to the lack of culturally relevant support systems.
This resource explores the history of Native American education in America, the ongoing issues students face, and the efforts being made to change the narrative. From the legacy of assimilation policies to today’s push for tribal sovereignty in education, we’ll examine:
- How the roots of American Indian education still shape present-day outcomes
- Key Native American education issues today, including access, equity, and representation
- What the data tells us about American Indians and education
- How community-led programs like Dreamstarter are driving real change and restoring hope
Understanding Native American Education
Native American education refers to the full range of educational experiences, opportunities, and challenges faced by Indigenous youth in the United States. This includes both formal instruction in public, private, and tribal schools, as well as informal learning shaped by culture, language, and community values.
It is important to recognize that Native students are not a monolithic group. There are more than 500 federally and state-recognized tribes, each with distinct traditions, histories, and perspectives on education. Indigenous students speak dozens of Native languages, come from both rural and urban areas, and are educated in a variety of school settings, including reservation-based schools and large public districts.
Today, approximately 640,000 Native students live in the U.S., and more than 72% of them attend public schools. This means the vast majority of Native youth are navigating mainstream education systems that often lack Indigenous representation in teaching staff, culturally relevant curriculum, or community-led decision-making.
Understanding this complex landscape is essential for creating equitable educational opportunities that respect and uplift the identities of Native learners.
A Legacy of Systemic Barriers
The challenges facing Native students today did not emerge overnight. They are rooted in a long history of federal policies that sought to erase Indigenous identities through forced assimilation, boarding schools, and cultural suppression. For generations, Native children were removed from their families and communities to attend government-run schools that punished them for speaking their language or practicing their traditions.
Key federal investigations, including the Meriam Report (1928) and the Kennedy Report (1969), documented the damaging effects of these policies and exposed widespread neglect, underfunding, and disregard for tribal voices in education. Yet despite these findings, many of the same structural issues persist.
This legacy has led to long-standing consequences that continue today, including distrust in educational institutions, intergenerational trauma, and a severe lack of Native representation in the classroom. These realities show up in persistent achievement gaps. Native students continue to face the highest dropout rates in the country. And while 1% of students identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, only 0.5% of teachers share that background.
These enduring inequities are among the most urgent Native American education issues today, and addressing them requires a deeper understanding of history and a commitment to long-term change.
Where Native Students Learn Today
Native students are educated in a range of settings, each with its own strengths and challenges. The three primary school types serving Native youth today are:
- Public Schools
- Over 70% of Native students attend public schools operated by local or state education agencies. These schools often lack Native-specific curriculum or culturally responsive teaching, and Native students in these environments may experience isolation or underrepresentation.
- Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) Schools
- The Bureau of Indian Education oversees a network of federally operated schools located primarily on reservations. While BIE schools are intended to serve Native communities directly, they have long faced issues such as inconsistent funding, staffing shortages, and outdated infrastructure.
- Tribally Controlled Schools
- Tribes also operate their own schools through tribal governments or education departments. These schools offer greater self-determination and are often more responsive to cultural values, language preservation, and community priorities. However, they still face challenges with securing sustainable Native American education funding.
Understanding the structure of these school types is essential for identifying where support is most needed and how Native students experience education differently depending on their learning environment.
Why Native Education Matters
Education is more than a path to academic achievement. For Native communities, it is a powerful tool for cultural survival, sovereignty, and healing.
When education centers Native values, languages, and histories, it becomes a space for preserving tribal identity. Teaching Native languages, for example, not only strengthens cultural knowledge but also connects young people to their elders and communities in meaningful ways. Schools that include Indigenous stories, traditions, and perspectives help students grow up rooted in their heritage.
Culturally grounded education also plays a vital role in promoting tribal sovereignty and self-determination. When Native communities have greater control over curriculum, leadership, and teaching practices, they can shape education systems that reflect their priorities and prepare students to lead their nations forward.
Representation is equally important. Native students are more likely to thrive when they see themselves reflected in their teachers, curriculum, and school leadership. Building a future with more Native educators and culturally responsive schools helps strengthen identity and promote lasting success.
Ultimately, Native American education supports more than individual achievement. It contributes to intergenerational healing, restores pride in heritage, and lays the foundation for healthier, more empowered communities.
Barriers to Native American Educational Equity
Despite progress in policy and awareness, Native students continue to face systemic barriers that limit their access to quality education. These challenges are rooted in present-day inequalities, not just historical harm, and they impact academic outcomes across all grade levels.
- Poverty: More than one-third of Native children live in poverty. This economic hardship affects everything from access to school supplies and transportation to basic needs like food, sleep, and stable housing. All of which influence academic performance.
- Geographic isolation: Many Native communities are located in rural or remote areas, where schools may be far from students’ homes. Limited access to broadband, transportation, and extracurricular opportunities makes it harder for students to stay engaged and connected.
- Under-resourced schools: Schools serving Native youth often face staffing shortages, outdated facilities, and limited funding for materials and support staff. These gaps are especially common in schools near or on reservations.
- Limited early childhood access: High-quality early learning programs are essential for long-term academic success, yet many Native families lack access to affordable, culturally relevant preschool or childcare options.
Graduation rate disparity: Native students have the lowest high school graduation rate of any racial or ethnic group in the U.S. The national graduation rate for American Indian and Alaska Native students is 69%, compared to 81% for all students. Among the 8% of Native youth attending Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools, the average graduation rate drops even further to 53%.
These realities reflect what American Indian education statistics continue to show: a critical need for equitable policies, increased funding, and community-led solutions that address the unique needs of Native learners today.
Efforts to Strengthen Native Education
Across the country, Native communities, educators, and advocates are working to reshape education in ways that honor Indigenous identity and support long-term student success. These efforts focus on reclaiming cultural knowledge, increasing representation, and building systems that reflect Native values.
- Immersion language programs: Many tribes have launched K–12 language immersion schools to revitalize Native languages and ensure children grow up fluent in both their heritage language and English. These programs connect students with their cultural roots and improve academic outcomes by engaging them through culturally grounded instruction.
- Culturally responsive teaching: Schools and districts are increasingly adopting teaching practices that center Native perspectives, histories, and values. Lessons that reflect students’ lived experiences lead to stronger engagement and help foster pride in identity.
- Tribally led curriculum development: Tribal governments and education departments are creating curricula that align with both academic standards and cultural teachings. These programs often include Indigenous history, traditional ecological knowledge, and tribal governance structures, giving students a well-rounded and relevant education.
- Native educator training: Efforts to increase the number of Native teachers and school leaders are expanding. Programs focused on recruiting and training Indigenous educators help ensure students are taught by adults who understand their culture, language, and community context.
- Improved student supports: More schools are recognizing the need for wraparound services that support the whole child. This includes access to school counselors, mental health resources, tutoring, and mentorship opportunities. All tailored to meet the needs of Native youth.
At the heart of these efforts is the principle of tribal sovereignty. When tribes have the power to shape their own educational systems, they can create environments where students are not only academically prepared but also culturally empowered.
Empowering Native Youth Through the Dreamstarter Program
At Running Strong, our Dreamstarter program is creating space for Native youth and educators to lead, uplift, and reimagine education in their communities. Through a combination of grants, mentorship, and networking, Dreamstarter supports Indigenous changemakers as they develop solutions rooted in identity, healing, and hope.
Nizhóní Begay, a Dreamstarter and Stanford graduate from the Navajo Nation, is building college access pathways for Native youth through her initiative Pathways. As the only Indigenous student at her high school, she experienced firsthand the lack of representation in higher education. Now, through her work with the Lindy Waters III Foundation, she connects Native students with mentors and nontraditional college routes, aiming to inspire a new generation of Indigenous leaders.
The Dreamstarter Teacher program supports educators with $5,000 classroom grants. In the 2024–2025 school year, twelve teachers were selected. Brook LaFloe hosts Drum and Dance sessions that foster cultural pride and community. Analysa Allison organized Naat’áánii Day, where students met with college reps and Native professionals. Donald King brought Native authors, crafts, and tribal museum trips into his classroom to strengthen identity and engagement.
Past Dreamstarters continue to lead. Dr. Cristin Haase, a 2015 Dreamstarter, launched a mentorship program for aspiring Native dentists and now runs the American Indian/Alaska Native Health Professions Workshop, preparing students for careers in medicine, dentistry, and allied health fields.
Souksavanh Keovorabouth, a scholar from the Navajo Nation, advocates for Indigenous Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit visibility through education and research. Their work challenges erasure and empowers Native youth to take pride in their identities.
Dreamstarter proves that when Native youth are given resources and trust, they create change that reaches far beyond the classroom.
Building a Future Where Native Students Thrive
For generations, Native students have shown resilience, brilliance, and potential. What they have too often lacked is access to the tools, representation, and support they deserve. The Dreamstarter Teacher program is helping to change that by investing directly in educators who are committed to uplifting Native youth through culturally relevant and community-centered education.
Each year, selected teachers, librarians, and school staff receive up to $5,000 to fund classroom projects that honor Native identity and strengthen student engagement. These grants support everything from language preservation and traditional arts to mentorship programs and leadership development. Every project is designed by educators who understand the unique needs of their students.
Whether you’re an educator ready to apply or a supporter looking to make an impact, you can be part of this work. Your involvement helps create more inclusive schools, stronger communities, and a future where Native students not only succeed but also lead.
Native students have always had the potential; they just need the support.
