The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate the opening of its new school.
The $148.5 million school campus is a key factor in the educational growth and future of Choctaw students, tribal leaders believe. The new and improved Choctaw Central High School marks the completion of the tribe’s largest education investment in history.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by tribal leaders, educators, students, and others wanting to witness the school’s opening. Following the ceremony, visitors were given a tour of the state-of-the-art facilities that Choctaw students will enjoy for years to come.
“This is truly one of the proudest days in the history of our tribe,” Tribal Chief Cyrus Ben said. “For many years, we all knew it was time to build a new campus. We knew we needed a campus that would match the potential of our students. Today, that campus has become a reality.”
“Standing here and seeing this beautiful school filled with hope and opportunity is more than I ever imagined when we broke ground in 2023,” Ben continued. “This campus represents our belief that every Choctaw child deserves the very best education possible, and it stands as a promise to future generations that we will continue investing in their success.”
The project was fully funded by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians through the largest 105(l) lease program construction project to date and took roughly two and a half years to complete. According to the U.S. Department of Interior, the 105(l) program allows tribes to be reimbursed by the federal government for construction, operation, and maintenance costs. The project is the also the largest construction effort in the tribe’s history and, according to tribal officials, reflects their “unwavering commitment to education.”
Included on the 287,000-square-foot Choctaw Central middle and high school campus is a two-story academic building, the Choctaw Career & Technical Education building, a 1,765-seat arena, track and field stadium, library and media center, student dormitory, bus barn, guard station, chiller plant, and other supporting facilities.
The campus will host students in grades 7 through 12 as a part of the Choctaw Tribal School system – the nation’s largest controlled and consolidated tribal school system. The tribe estimates to have an average of 800 students each year where they hope to continue their guiding principle into the future: “Alla Momat Ikkana Chih,” translated to “All Children Will Learn.”