About
St. Labre Indian School is empowering a generation of Native American children with a faith-based, tuition-free private education, enabling them to achieve a future that is Proud, Prosperous and Free.
Our Mission, Our Goal, Our Commitment:
To provide a safe, nurturing environment rooted in faith and honoring the Native American communities we serve.
To ensure every student has access to…the education, vocational training and life skills needed to succeed.
To promote wellbeing so that every child has the best mental, emotional and spiritual health.
To empower a confident generation of future leaders equipped to help overcome generational poverty and build stronger communities.
To create a future in which the Northern Cheyenne and Crow communities of Southeastern Montana are Proud, Prosperous and Free.
Proud in their identity, culture and achievements. Prosperous in opportunity, education, faith and meaningful work. Free to choose their own path, provide for their families and shape the future of their communities.
Your IMPACT
94% of our support comes from the generosity of donors. Every dollar helps provide a tuition-free, culturally enriched private education, nutritious meals and the essentials to help children achieve bright futures.
Over $5.8 million awarded in scholarships to students since 2005
95.2% of students graduate high school
81% of St. Labre graduates attend college or trade/technical school
The Heart Behind the Mission
Meet the educators, mentors and leaders who are helping students discover opportunity, purpose and hope through St. Labre's unique approach to education.
St. Labre Foundational Poles
Building bright and sustainable futures begins with an education that enriches the life of every child—through nutritious school meals, the S.N.A.C. program including the Weekend Backpack Program, access to mentorship programs, dorm housing, music, sports, vocational programs and more to help students grow and thrive.
Native American culture is an essential part of the curriculum at St. Labre. Courses in Native American literature, history and tribal government combined with instruction in Native American languages, beadwork and drumming honor our students’ heritage and strengthen their connection to their history.
Dedicated to enriching lives throughout the community, St. Labre offers community outreach programs, services for seniors, a work incentive program and a youth home for at-risk children.
Faith is at the heart of St. Labre’s mission. Guided by Catholic tradition, we encourage students to grow spiritually while honoring the rich cultures and traditions of the Native American communities we serve.
3 campuses for Native American children across Southeastern Montana.
All children deserve access to an education and the essentials to reach their God-given potential.
From preschool to high school, St. Labre provides a tuition-free private education to hundreds of students across three Southeastern Montana campuses.
Focused on academic excellence and integration of Native American culture, our leadership team is motivated by faith to serve our students, their families and communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
St. Labre Indian School Educational Association is a Roman Catholic institution that provides quality education and outreach services to Native American youth and their families. The St. Labre schools are: St. Labre elementary, middle and high schools at Ashland, Montana; Pretty Eagle Catholic Academy at St. Xavier, Montana; and St. Charles Mission School at Pryor, Montana.
Our main campus in Ashland is located just off of US Highway 212 in the southeastern corner of Montana. We are approximately 125 miles southeast of Billings, 75 miles south of Miles City, and 62 miles east of the Little Bighorn Battlefield. Our Pretty Eagle campus is located in St. Xavier, MT and our St. Charles mission School is located in Pryor, MT. You can contact St. Labre by calling (406) 784-4500. See our Maps and Directions.
Across our three campuses, St. Labre provides a nurturing educational environment for hundreds of children each year, varying from 525 to 600 children annually.
We do not operate a direct sponsorship program. Donations made to St. Labre provide equal benefits to all students.
St. Labre employs approximately 250 people, 66% of whom are Native American.
Primarily the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Indian Tribes. However there are also a significant number of Sioux families who reside in our service area.
Named after the French saint, Benedict Joseph Labre, St. Labre was founded in 1884 by a small group of Catholic Ursuline Sisters from Toledo, Ohio.
St. Labre's source of revenue is almost exclusively derived from private donations.
We have made a conscious decision not to accept most forms of federal funding available. We do this so that we can concentrate our efforts on the monumental task of providing a quality education. St. Labre, Pretty Eagle and St. Charles Schools are Catholic organizations within the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings which is already under a tremendous financial burden. Through the generosity of our many benefactors, we are able to operate our schools without Diocesan funds.
We greatly appreciate offers of time and talents. However, due to insurance and housing considerations, St. Labre is unable to accept outside volunteers at our schools at this time. We do however have volunteers from the Jesuit Volunteer Corps that assist us throughout each school year. If you are interested in volunteering for a wonderful Christian organization, please refer to the Jesuit Volunteer Corps for further information.
Jesuit Volunteer Corps:
Northwest
P.O. Box 3928
Portland, OR, 97208-3928
Yes, St. Labre Indian School is a 501(c) (3) corporation. All contributions are tax deductible (Sec. 170 IRC).
Yes. There is always a need for infant's, toddler's and children's clothing and toys. We ask that you send only new or good used items. We also welcome donations of books; however, because they must meet criteria set by the Montana Office of Public Instruction, we recommend that textbooks not be sent. We gratefully accept children's fiction, non-fiction, current reference books and even CD's! When sending gifts to St. Labre, we suggest that you include your name and address inside the box. Please send your donated items to St. Labre Indian School, 112 St. Labre Campus Drive, Attn: Clothing Room, Ashland, MT 59004.
A number of years ago, St. Labre was issued a special zip code: 59004, solely for the use of our benefactors. This separate postal code assures that your letters and donations receive special handling. The 59003 zip code is for the town of Ashland, Montana, where we maintain post office boxes for other types of mail.
We're incredibly proud of our St. Labre students and, therefore, do not use stock photos in our communications, promotional materials or on St. Labre digital platforms. All photos are of current and/or former St. Labre students who were enrolled at the time the photo was taken. To protect student privacy, photos accompanying select stories may not be of the individual student mentioned in a post, email, ad or correspondence.
As a school that is 94% donor-funded, we are able to provide tuition-free education to 100% of our students. This ensures every child has access to education, stability and support, regardless of financial circumstances.