ROUGH ROCK COMMUNITY SCHOOL
ABOUT RRCS
Dear Community Members, Government Officials, Parents of Rough Rock Community School, and Students,
Greetings to all!
On behalf of the Rough Rock Community School Board, I extend a warm welcome to each of you. Our school is vibrant and thriving in the community, dedicated to the holistic development of our students.
At Rough Rock Community School, we are incredibly proud of our excellent teaching staff and administrators who are deeply committed to the success and well-being of our students. Our caring staff members work tirelessly to support and guide each student, ensuring they receive the best educational experience possible.
We place a strong emphasis on Navajo Language and Culture, recognizing the importance of our students maintaining their Navajo identity, language, and cultural heritage. This focus is integral to our mission and is reflected in all aspects of our curriculum and school activities.
Our school meets all requirements set forth by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and the Navajo Nation Department of Diné Education (NNDODE). We are pleased to report that our test scores have been on the rise over the past two years, a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire school community.
We encourage parents to enroll their children at Rough Rock Community School, where they will receive a comprehensive education that honors their cultural heritage while preparing them for future success.
Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact our outstanding staff. We are here to assist you and look forward to welcoming you and your children to our school.
Sincerely,
President Wayne Clement
Our Philosophy
Our students are at the core of everything we do, therefore we value:
-
Respect for self and others;
-
Resiliency and reliability;
-
Dine history, culture and language;
-
Continuous improvement;
-
Service to stakeholders
The school believes that each student will obtain the SI’AHNAAGEI BIK’EH HOZHOON WAY of life as they graduate from Rough Rock Community School, Inc. By nurturing the unique talents of each student and promoting social responsibility of following the Navajo KE” of life, students will be able to utilize the knowledge, skills, and social conscious to be successful in the Navajo and global society.
Our History
During the early 1960s, the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) discussed the idea of a school that would help the Navajo people maintain and preserve their culture and heritage, and obtain a quality education at the same time. As a result of this discussion, the Rough Rock Demonstration School (RRDS) was founded in 1965. The BIA funded the RRDS. The school, however, was controlled locally. The involvement of Navajo parents and the all-Navajo leadership of the school was the most significant area in which the RRDS was pioneering, according to Robert A. Roessel, Jr., Rough Rock Demonstration School’s first director. Families from the local and surrounding areas began sending their children to the RRDS in 1966 when the school opened its doors.
Several public laws, passed in the 1970s, changed the status of the RRDS. The first change was due to Public Law 93-638, called the Indian Self Determination Act. It provided Indian Tribes with the ability to contract for services formerly carried out by a federal agency. Under the provisions of this law, the RRDS became a Contract School in 1978.
The second change occurred when the RRDS applied for and received Grant status under Public Law 100-297. Since the RRDS was no longer a demonstration project, the name of the school was changed from Rough Rock Demonstration School to Rough Rock Community School, Inc. having gone through the incorporation process in 1994.