The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in English language arts. The lowest is 11% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ft. Washakie Elementary
Ft. Washakie Elementary sits in the heart of the Wind River Indian Reservation, serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade as part of Fremont County School District #21. The community of Fort Washakie is the headquarters of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, and the school itself is a central civic institution. The Eastern Shoshone Cultural Center is housed inside the school building, which gives the school a cultural role that extends beyond academics. The surrounding community is rural and spread out along the highway in the foothills of the Wind River Range, with no traditional downtown or concentrated commercial corridor. Walkability is limited by the dispersed settlement pattern.
The student body is almost entirely American Indian or Alaska Native, reflecting the community it serves. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which aligns with the broader economic picture of Fort Washakie, where publicly reported poverty rates are high and median household income is low. The community has been experiencing population decline rather than growth, and no major new housing developments were identified. The local economy is driven primarily by tribal government, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service clinic, and the school district itself, rather than private industry.
On state assessments through Wyoming's WY-TOPP, the school's results are low across all tested grades and subjects. In English language arts, proficiency rates hover in the low twenties across grades three through six. Math results are lower still, with the earliest tested grades showing some students reaching proficiency but fifth and sixth grade results falling to near zero. Science, tested only in fourth grade, shows the lowest proficiency among the three subjects. Full participation was achieved across all tested grades and subjects, which means the results reflect the entire eligible student population rather than a partial sample. Positioned relative to districts in Fremont County, the school's overall proficiency sits well below the midpoint. A parent considering this school may want to ask the administration directly about what instructional supports and interventions are in place, and what the trajectory looks like over time, since multi-year trend data was not available to assess whether results are improving, holding steady, or declining.
Several categories of information that would help round out the picture are missing. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report, and that gap reflects the grade band rather than an omission. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not reported, so the size of those populations and the services they receive cannot be characterized here. No chronic absenteeism figures were available, and no discipline, course access, staffing, or attendance data was provided. No housing market data specific to this area was included in the available materials, which limits what can be said about the cost of living for families considering a move. Program offerings beyond what is described in the locale brief were not reported, though the school's integration of the Eastern Shoshone Cultural Center suggests cultural and language programming may be part of the school's identity in ways the data does not capture directly.
At the district level, publicly reported information indicates that Fremont County School District #21 secured a substantial grant for a new high school building, and construction was still underway as the most recent school year began. This is a major capital investment that will reshape the upper-grade experience, though it does not directly affect the elementary grades served by this school. The same district also operates the Wyoming e Academy of Virtual Education, an online high school based in Fort Washakie, which expands options for families once students move beyond sixth grade.
For a family evaluating Ft. Washakie Elementary, the defining characteristics are its deep roots in Eastern Shoshone community life, its small size, and its cultural embeddedness. The academic results are a clear area of concern, and the absence of trend data makes it difficult to judge whether current efforts are moving outcomes. The school sits in a community facing real economic challenges, with limited private-sector employment and a declining population. What the data cannot show is the full extent of cultural programming, community involvement, or local initiatives that may shape a child's experience in ways proficiency rates alone never capture. A parent would do well to visit, speak with staff, and ask specifically about academic improvement plans and support services before deciding.
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