CHEROKEE IMMERSION ES-TAHLEQUAH

Charter School 112 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 8th

School Overview

The Cherokee Immersion Charter School (Tsalagi Digalvwi) in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, is a unique educational institution dedicated to the preservation and revitalization of the Cherokee language. Established by the Cherokee Nation, the school provides an immersive environment where students, beginning in their early formative years, are taught almost exclusively in the Cherokee language. By integrating traditional cultural values with standard academic curriculum, the school aims to create a generation of fluent speakers who are deeply connected to their heritage and identity.

Beyond its academic mission, the school serves as a critical cultural hub for the Cherokee Nation. It operates on the philosophy that language is the foundation of culture; therefore, by normalizing Cherokee as a daily living language, the school ensures the survival of the tribe's oral traditions, history, and community customs. As a charter school, it represents a pioneering model in Indigenous education, demonstrating how language immersion can successfully bridge the gap between historical preservation and modern educational standards.

112

Total Students

8.1

Full-Time Teachers

13.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

N/A

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for CHEROKEE IMMERSION ES-TAHLEQUAH
Demographic	Student Count
Hispanic	8
Two or More	4
American Indian	100

American Indian
100 (89.3%)
Hispanic
8 (7.1%)
Two or More
4 (3.6%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	CHEROKEE IMMERSION CHARTER ES
Phone:	(918)207-4900
Website:	http://cwyschools.org
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 8th
Total Students:	112
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	8.1
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	13.8
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	0
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	0

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 13

Kindergarten 18

Grade 1 18

Grade 2 11

Grade 3 12

Grade 4 6

Grade 5 10

Grade 6 13

Grade 7 9

Grade 8 2