Dividing into three groups, staff checked out school programs and, in particular, the extensive reading and computer labs available to students. The School Road Tour staff split into four teams to cover all sites. Watonga High School has computers with Internet access in every classroom, a much-utilized computer lab and videoconferencing classes. In addition, the school is losing teachers because of low salary. Eagle Alternative Academy is in the high school and features work-study programs and child care.
Several students pay to transfer in from other districts.
Watonga Elementary School features a cooperative effort to provide HeadStart programs for the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. Principal Geraldine Weber lamented a loss in enrollment in recent years because of the decline in oil industry jobs. Tests must now be given in March rather than April in order that the testing company can have results back to schools by May 1. Watonga Middle School also features computers in each classroom, as well as a technology education lab, a library media lab and a computer instruction lab. Concerns were expressed about the new middle-level mathematics certification and fewer options being available for graduation.