Wyoming Names 12 Schools Patriot Schools
The Wyoming Department of Education recognized 12 schools statewide as the inaugural class of Wyoming Patriot Schools.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Secondary Education
Live Poll
Do you think local schools are doing enough to teach students civic engagement?
The Wyoming Department of Education recognized 12 schools statewide as inaugural Wyoming Patriot Schools, including Tongue River Middle School in Ranchester and Sheridan High School. The honor recognizes schools for fostering civic engagement.
Why it matters
The recognitions come from the Wyoming Patriot Schools Program, developed under Superintendent Megan Degenfelder's civics and patriotism initiative. Schools must reapply each year to keep the designation, which ties recognition to ongoing civic programming.
Twelve schools statewide were recognized in the program's first year, the first such class of Wyoming Patriot Schools. Applications for the next cycle open each August and close in September, and schools must reapply annually.
The players
Wyoming Department of Education
The state agency that administers public K-12 education in Wyoming and oversees the Patriot Schools recognition program.
Megan Degenfelder
Wyoming's state superintendent of public instruction, who championed the civics and patriotism initiative behind the program.
The details
The program was developed with the Wyoming Department of Education Citizenship Stakeholder Cabinet and the Wyoming Semiquincentennial Task Force. Interested schools can download the program guidebook from the Wyoming Patriot Schools website to prepare applications.
Timeline
Applications for Wyoming Patriot School status open each August and close in September.
Recognitions were announced on Veterans' Day, November 11, 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
The recognitions were announced on Veterans' Day, placing the first Wyoming Patriot School class within the state's annual civics calendar. The program's inaugural designations set the baseline for how later annual cycles will be compared.
Families in Wyoming can check whether their school has applied or plans to apply, since applications run each August and September. Schools must reapply annually to keep the designation, so the recognition reflects ongoing civic programming rather than a one-time honor.
The takeaway
Schools that want recognition can begin preparing early by reviewing the program guidebook, since the recognition requires yearly reapplication and reflects sustained civic engagement.
What happens next
Wyoming Patriot School applications open again in August, with the next recognition cycle announced on Veterans' Day.
Further reading
Explore more on Secondary Education across Wyoming schools.
Live Poll
Do you think local schools are doing enough to teach students civic engagement?
