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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Sequoyah High School has experienced a heightened interest from parents and students over the winter break, which has resulted in another jump in enrollment at SHS.

"We are receiving calls every day about enrolling at Sequoyah," said Louie Jackson, dean of students.

During the winter break and first week back at school, SHS accepted 30 new students pushing it's total count to nearly 350 students. During that same time period, SHS lost 8 students, 5 of which were mid-term graduates.

In September, when the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) took a head count, the total population of Sequoyah students was 329 which was an increase of 30 students from the previous year's enrollment of 299. The net gain from September is 21 students or 6.4%, which is a very large growth spurt for Sequoyah, according to Tony Pivec, SHS superintendent.

Although, SHS will accept students at any time during the school year, the staff recommends entering at semester breaks so that academic credits are not lost during a transfer from a traditional six or seven class period day to the block schedule program that Sequoyah uses.

"For our students, the block schedule offers more opportunities," said Gina Stanley, Sequoyah principal. "A student who attends SHS from freshman to senior year, can earn 32 credits, while a traditional 6 or 7 period day only allows for 24 or 28."

"We know we're getting some great kids, as our admission guidelines require a 2.0 GPA and letters of recommendation from the students former principal, counselor, and teacher," Jackson said.

"The growth in our student body speaks to the quality of our staff and our school in general," said Tony Pivec, SHS superintendent. "We have a wonderful staff in all areas. Teachers, food service, residential, facilities, security, and support, they're all great."

For more information or to request an application for Sequoyah High School, please call 918-456-0631 or visit the SHS web site.

Sequoyah High School "Home of the Indians!"             Sequoyah High School, an Indian boarding school, originated in 1871, when the Cherokee National Council passed an act setting up an orphan asylum to take care of many orphans that came out of the Civil War. Sequoyah High School's approximate 300 enrollment represents 42 tribes and 14 different states. Students are eligible to attend if they are members of federally recognized Indian tribes or one-fourth blood descendants of such members.