Native American Studies

From its inception, Verde Valley School has been committed to the fundamental value of diversity and intercultural education. Among the school's earliest faculty and students were individuals who brought to the life of this community the variety - and depth - of their own experiences from cultures and countries far removed from mainstream American experience, whether Navajo or Czech, Hopi or Polish, Laguna or Guatemalan, Apache or Egyptian.

Ever since, VVS has drawn on the rich and diverse heritage of Native American peoples, including a steady stream of Indian students participating in the school's daily life and learning. The first field trips included the Four Corners region, where students and faculty spent time learning and working in Native communities. The tradition continues with several field trips to Indian reservations and anthropology course work which includes the history and culture of Native Americans.

The school continues to recruit talented native American students from several southwestern tribes and encourages tribal leaders and educators to help identify students of character and academic promise who would benefit from the VVS experience. A sizeable scholarship fund has been created to support talented Indian students at Verde Valley School.

Funded by the bequest of local philanthropists Francis and Helen Berry, the Berry Memorial Scholarship Fund at Verde Valley School provides tuition and room and board for qualified Native American students and support for related programs at VVS.