Associated Press - May 21, 2009 12:55 PM ET

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jim McBride is reaching out to tribal leaders to try to improve education on the Wind River Indian Reservation.

McBride says he won't give up on educating the reservation's children despite low test scores and graduation rates, and high rates of substance abuse.

Recently McBride met with Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho leaders to discuss three poorly performing school districts on the reservation.

Nearly every tested grade in the reservation communities of Arapahoe, Fort Washakie (WASH'-ah-kee) and Ethete (EE'-thuh-tee) has been scoring well below average in reading, writing, math and science.

The schools also have some of Wyoming's lowest high school graduation rates.

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