Wyoming’s Public Schools Deserve to Be Celebrated, Not Overshadowed

Across Wyoming, the heart of our state’s education system beats steadily in our public schools. These are the places where students of every background are welcome to learn, grow, and prepare for the future, guided by dedicated education professionals and supported by communities that believe in the power of public education.

That’s why it raised eyebrows this month when U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon joined State Superintendent of Public Instruction Megan Degenfelder not at one of these schools, but at Jackson Hole Classical Academy — a private institution with sky-high tuition and a student–teacher ratio few families could dream of. The visit was part of a national “Returning Education to the States” tour, but it missed a crucial opportunity to highlight what’s working in Wyoming’s public schools—and why they deserve the spotlight.

Jackson Hole Classical Academy is not a public school. It is a private institution where tuition exceeds $33,000 per year for K–4 students. The school serves just roughly 100 students in grades K–12, with a student–teacher ratio of 4-to-1. Does that sound like a school most Wyoming families could afford? Does that sound like Wyoming at all?

When Wyoming’s top education official and the U.S. Secretary of Education chose to showcase the most exclusive private school in our state, it sends a troubling message. It suggests that the best examples of Wyoming education are reserved only for the wealthiest families and in private settings. That is simply not true.

The real story of Wyoming education is being written every day in public schools across our state, where dedicated educators and innovative programs are making a difference for thousands of students. Degenfelder and McMahon could have chosen to visit any of the great schools throughout our state. For example, they could have highlighted:

• The 20 school districts across Wyoming that participate in Gov. Gordon’s RIDE initiative, which emphasizes student-centered, work-based learning, and has produced amazing results with project-based education.
• Dual language immersion programs in communities such as Gillette, Laramie, and Jackson, where students gain the skills to succeed in a global economy.
• Self-contained gifted-and-talented programs in Casper and Cheyenne that help nurture and challenge Wyoming’s brightest students.

These – and numerous more like them – are the classrooms that reflect the reality of Wyoming education. These are the programs that deserve to be recognized on the national stage.

And yet, the reality is sobering. The State of Wyoming hasn’t fully funded education according to our state constitution in more than 15 years. Instead, public schools are told that Wyoming spends “too much” per pupil, even as educators stretch limited resources to give students the best possible opportunities.

Imagine what Wyoming’s public schools could accomplish if we had that level of investment for every student the way that the Jackson Hole Classical Academy does. Imagine how far our students could go if we supported our educators with the same resources available in elite private classrooms.

Make no doubt about it: Wyoming’s public schools are strong, innovative, and deeply rooted in our communities. They serve all children, regardless of income, background, or ZIP code. They are worth celebrating. They are worth our investment.

By choosing instead to spotlight the most exclusive private school in the state, Superintendent Degenfelder misrepresented the daily experience of Wyoming’s students, families, teachers, and support staff. If we genuinely want to showcase what’s best about Wyoming education, let’s start by telling the real story.

Public schools, not private academies, are the heart of education in our great state.