Mobility of Native American Students Can Pose Challenges to Achievement

Ricky Comes Flying reads over a question as he takes an exam in his pre-algebra class at North Middle School in Rapid City, S.D.

—Seth A. McConnell for Education Week

Educators hope classroom initiatives help overcome impact of turnover.

By Mary Ann Zehr

Rapid City, S.D.

In her eight years as North Middle School’s principal, Jeanne Burckhard has been able to point with pride to better attendance, fewer discipline problems, and a program to ensure that low-income students don’t go hungry on weekends, so they’re better able to learn on Monday mornings.

But she continues to be frustrated by an obstacle to achievement that seems particularly pronounced among the Native American students who make up 61 percent of the school’s enrollment: high mobility.

The turnover rate for North Middle students last year was 50 percent overall—meaning that half the school’s 468 students came or went after the start of the school year. Many of...