Youth Programs
Education & Cultural Awareness
Native American Education Program
Educating the Native American children in the classroom is a core part of St. Joseph’s Indian School’s mission to partner with Native American children and families to educate for life — mind, body, heart and spirit.
St. Joseph’s Indian School’s education philosophy is student-centered. Through a variety of instructional methods, we strive to develop a love for learning; instill habits of mind and heart; and promote culture and faith.
Children attending St. Joseph’s benefit from individualized care plans that follow nationally approved and accredited techniques. Friends who support St. Joseph’s help provide for every aspect of each child’s physical, emotional, spiritual and educational needs.
Our program splits our 200+ students into two groups — elementary and high school.
Elementary
Children in elementary grades one through eight attend classes at St. Joseph’s Elementary School on campus. Children benefit from small class sizes (approximately 12 students per classroom) and one-on-one attention.
High School
After eighth grade, students can enroll in St. Joseph’s High School Program. With capacity to care for 50 Lakota (Sioux) high school students, St. Joseph’s partners with Chamberlain High School to give our students a multitude of opportunities to participate in sports, fine arts and extra-curricular activities. In addition, they still live on St. Joseph’s campus with our specially trained houseparents.
According to the South Dakota Department of Education, just 52% of Native American students completed high school on-time during the 2024-25 school year. In contrast, St. Joseph’s Indian School sees a graduation rate of approximately 96%. This alarming difference solidifies the importance of education starting in elementary years. Children at St. Joseph’s are encouraged to be passionate about their education through special awards, recognition and fun activities.
Integrating the children’s Native American heritage into their classroom experience also plays an important role in their healing and growth. Native American Studies is a required course for all St. Joseph’s students; in this course, children find themselves immersed in culture by learning the Lakota language, traditional stories and more.
Additionally, Native American beliefs and philosophies are incorporated into core education classes like math, science and language arts through careful lesson planning and the WoLakota program. Embracing diversity and cultural understanding lends a new perspective, which can be beneficial to students and staff of any background.
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Education & Lakota Culture
Lakota Language
Preserving and sharing the Lakota culture is a core part of our mission at St. Joseph’s Indian School and traditional Lakota language is a vital part of that effort.
Religious Education
Though St. Joseph’s Indian School is affiliated with the Catholic Church through the Priests of the Sacred Heart, we welcome children of all faiths, recognizing the dignity of each human person created in God’s image.
Cultural Trip
St. Joseph’s incoming eighth-grade class participates in a week-long cultural trip to Native American sites of cultural, spiritual and historical significance in South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming.
