Ch'ooshgai Community School

Located just a quarter-mile east of Highway 491 in Tohatchi, New Mexico, Ch'ooshgai Community School serves as an essential educational hub within a remote rural setting in the greater Gallup region. Operating as an active, single-school public district, it delivers tailored instruction for students spanning from Kindergarten through 8th grade. The school fosters a tight-knit and culturally cohesive learning environment, enrolling 208 students—comprising 109 female and 99 male learners—all of whom represent American Indian backgrounds. This distinct demographic reflects the deep heritage and community ties that define the school’s daily academic and social life.

To support its student body across these foundational grade levels, Ch'ooshgai Community School maintains a robust staffing model designed to provide intensive individualized care. The district employs 50 full-time equivalent teachers complemented by 5.5 instructional aides and nearly 62 support staff members, culminating in a total staff context of 117 full-time equivalent professionals. This unusually low student-to-educator ratio ensures comprehensive academic guidance and holistic support as children progress from early childhood education into middle school. For families, community members, and educational researchers, the district offers a compelling model of small-scale, highly supported public instruction within rural Indigenous communities.