Education Census - 1990
Deanna #1 @1 (1-1@tlink.ness.com)
Thu, 1 Dec 1994 08:07:00 -0400
To all,
In some ways, more encouraging news, than the Gang post, in others...
AP & Stillwater NewsPress, 11/20/94, p.10A
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TRIBAL OFFICIALS CALL CENSUS REPORT ACCURATE
A new study that shows improving high school and college graduation
rates among American Indians reflects a shift in attitudes, tribal officials
say.
The report, based on 1990 U.S. Census Bureau data on 329 tribes, says
the Creek, Choctaw and Cherokee tribes have the highest number of high school
graduates among the 10 largest tribes, with 73.2 %, 71.9 %, and 68.2 %
respectively.
That's close to the National average of 75.2 %.
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"In the past, more Indian children were afraid to move away from
reservations to obtain an education," said Teri Poust, an attorney for the
Poarch Creeks in Alabama.
The study "brings to light what the Choctaws are doing along with
other tribes, to show we are getting better," said Tony Messenger, vocational
development director for the Choctaw Nation in Durant.
But, Messenger cautioned that the report's figures are from 1989 and
are "substantially lower" than they are now.
The number of Choctaw high school graduates has risen considerably
since the 1980 census was taken, when the percentage was 55-60 %, Messenger
said.
The report says the Choctaw tribe has the highest number of college
graduates among the 10 largest tribes, with 13.3 %. The rate among the
Cherokees is 11.1 %.
"The figure is pretty close," Messenger said. "I would say within 3-5
%" of the number of Choctaw college graduates in Oklahoma. But he called the
census figures "good and bad."
"In does in one aspect say that we still fall below the national
norm," Messenger said, noting that tribes get funding to help boost graduation
rates. "If we do reach those goals, are we going to lose funding?"
Among other findings:
- The Cherokee tribe is the largest with 369,035 people, according to census
figures.
- The Navajo tribe is second, with 225,298. The Creeks are tenth, with 45,872
members.
- The Navajo had the largest percentage of poor families at 47.3 %. The
percentage of Creek families was among the lowest, at 19 %.
- The Iroquois, with $27,025 a year, had the highest median family income
among the 10 largest tribes. The Creek had the second highest at $25,388,
followed by the Cherokee, with $24,907, and Choctaw, with $24,467.
[text deleted]
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Be Well All - John Berry