Superintendent’s Chat

Richard McClements, Shonto Preparatory School

 

 

Recently, I came across some statistics involving the Navajo Reservation that I thought you might find interesting. This data comes from the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau.

 

  • Medium age – 23.8
  • Total population – 104, 565
  • Average household size – 3.78
  • Owner occupied housing units – 73.9%
  • Renter occupied housing units – 26.1%
  • Households with individuals under 18 years of age – 58.5%
  • Households with individuals over 65 years of age – 21.3%
  • Educational attainment of population 25 years and older:
    • Less than 9th grade – 24.9%
    • 9th to 12th grade, no diploma – 18.8%
    • High school graduate  (includes equivalency) – 25.3%
    • Some college, no degree – 17.3%
    • Associate degree – 5.2%
    • Bachelor’s degree – 5.3%
    • Graduate or professional degree – 3.1%
  • Marital status population 15 and older
    • Never married – 41%
    • Now married, except separated – 45%
    • Separated – 2.8%
    • Widowed – 5.7%
    • Divorced – 5.6%
  • Grandparents as caregivers – Grandparents living in household with one or more own grandchildren under 18 years of age – 60.7%
  • Language spoken in home
    • English only – 24.5%
    • Language other than English – 75.5%
      • Speak English very well – 31.2%
  • Employment status – population 16 years and older
    • In labor force – 44.2%
      • Employed – 33.1%
      • Unemployed – 11.1%
    • Not in labor force – 55.8%
  • Income in 1999
    • Less than $10,000 – 30.0%
    • $10,000 to 14,999 – 10.6%
    • $15,000 to 24,999 – 15.2%
    • $25,000 and higher – 45.2%
  • Poverty Status – 1999 – Families – 38.5%
  • Poverty Status – 1999 – Families with no husband present – 52.2%
  • Poverty status – 1999 – Individuals 18 and over – 41.9%
  • Poverty status – 1999 – Individuals 65 and over – 39%
  • Vehicles available
    • None – 20.4%
    • 1 – 41.9%
    • 2 – 2.5%
    • 3 or more – 12.3%
  • Housing lacking complete plumbing facilities – 33.8%
  • Housing lacking kitchen facilities – 30.2%
  • No telephone service – 62.7%
  • House heating fuel
    • Utility gas – 12.0%
    • LP gas – 19.8%
    • Electricity – 7.9%
    • Fuel oil, kerosene, etc – 0.3%
    • Coal or coke – 2.2%
    • Wood – 56.5%
    • Solar energy –
    • Other fuel – 0.9%
    • No fuel used – 0.4%

 

I would hope that every educator, parent, and student who reads this article will understand that one significant way to help improve the quality of life on the Reservation for all is through education.