Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School

Skip to main content
Mobile Menu
About Us » School History

School History

Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School
History and Overview
The Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School began operation in 1975, originally as a K-3 school. In the
winter of 1975 after a student walkout from the local public school, the Lac Courte Oreilles School
transformed itself from a K-3 school to a K-12 system. In 1993, the school completed a five and one
half million-dollar addition and renovation project to the existing high school including a full
gymnasium and cafeteria. New construction funds were allocated for the elementary school, which
was completed in August of 1999. A separate middle school building was constructed shortly after.
Two state of the art playgrounds were installed in the 2018 and gymnasium renovations including a
new floor and bleachers were installed in 2019. Expansion of a 6 classroom building allocated to the
Waadookodaading Ojibwe Immersion track and a four classroom building to expand the middle
school were installed in the summer of 2021. Additional renovations and improvements took place
throughout the 2021-2022 School Year, paid for through the generosity of the Lac Courte Oreilles
Tribal Governing Board. These included repaid to structural deterioration in the bus barn, gymnasium
and high school, roof repair, weight room expansion, and electrical safety upgrades. In the summer of
2024 a two year, 19 million dollar HVAC upgrade took place which also included comprehensive
replacement of all lighting systems, installation of campus wide fire protection, and installation of 7
back up generators for the entire campus.
Our school service area covers 76,465 acres of the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Reservation, and the
surrounding local townships of Hayward, Couderay, Winter, Exeland and Radisson. An additional bus
route to the Bad River Ojibwe community was re-started in 2024. The LCO school merged with the
Waadookodaading Ojibwe Language Immersion program in 2014 which continues to operate on the
school grounds, utilizing transportation, food service, special education, counseling, IT and
maintenance services as part of the LCO/BIE program.
The Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School is a comprehensive academic, cultural and community based
education system designed to meet the needs of the Lac Courte Oreilles Community. Our curriculum
is constantly being revised and improved to better incorporate the wisdom and beauty of our Ojibwe
heritage. We continue to teach the skills necessary to live and be successful in today’s modern
technological society.
The basic educational curriculum offers courses in mathematics, science, English, social studies,
language arts, physical education, business education, art and music. Lac Courte Oreilles is also
recognized as a Project Lead the Way certified school. In 2022 we received a Department of
Education grant to establish a carpentry and woodworking department, which has allowed us to
revitalize our vocational options. Students are required to complete 25 units of credit to meet State of
Wisconsin graduation requirements. Of the 25 units of credit, 19 are required areas of coursework
including two years of Ojibwe language and two years of Ojibwe Culture. A one million dollar
Department of Education grant was awarded to the school in 2024 to strengthen the Ojibwemowin
department to include immersion options for students k-12 by the end of the grant cycle. Students are
also required to complete a tribal history course detailing the story of the Ojibwe, both past and
present.
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe School is fully accredited by Cognia Accreditation Association. We are
overseen by the Bureau of Indian Education, which provides the mandated framework for academic,
assessment, safety, and educator standards. As a tribally controlled school, the Tribal Governing
Board of the LCO tribe acts as our local school board.
Special programs include dual credit options with the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe College, Gifted and
Talented Programs, as well as membership in both the National Honor Society and the American
Indian Science and Engineering Society. Hunter Safety and Drivers Education are also taught within
the school day free of charge to students.
Co-curricular activities include high school and middle school volleyball, basketball, football, cross
country, and track and golf. Lac Courte Oreilles is a member of the Northern Lights Athletic
Conference. All athletes are required to adhere to WIAA standards and regulations.