Northwestern New Mexico is widely known as the Four Corners region, and for locals, it is also known as the Checkerboard area--a patchwork of sections owned by the federal government, private citizens, and the Navajo reservation. Oil and gas fields are spread out along the arid mesas, but below is fertile farmland, irrigated by the San Juan River. Situated among the farms is a Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) school, the Nenahnezad Community School for K-6 students. Poverty is a way of life for Nenahnezad students, and many come from homes on the reservation with no running water or electricity. Most of the 180 students live in campus dormitories during the week. It is common for young Navajo parents to move into the region for a short-term position in the nearby town of Farmington, or to work in the coal mines, and to leave within a year or two. Student turnover at Nenahnezad is close to 50% each year. This article examines how the school went from a low-performing school to one of the top-ranked ones using NWEA data and programming.