"Clinton Elementary School has a very varied school population. Many students are recent refugees who have come to Nebraska from countries of war and unspeakable poverty. Other students who have never been outside their neighborhood and where traditional academic learning is difficult have been able to expand their world via the study of the arts."

"Every morning nearly 450 students walk through the doors of Clinton Elementary. It is a diverse group!! They range in ages from 3 to 11 (PreK-5). Twenty-seven percent of them are served by the English Language Learner (ELL) program. Another twenty-seven percent of them receive special education services. They speak 10 different native languages. They have different religions, different learning styles, and different life experiences. In spite of the incredible diversity in the Clinton population, however, there are an amazing number of similarities. Unfortunately, the greatest similarity is poverty. Ninety-two percent of these students receive free or reduced lunch. Because they have limited life experiences and opportunities to develop language, they also share a struggle to reach their academic potentials. In addition, they share a need for a unique approach to learning which connects their lives to the academic objectives being taught." ~Mark Lago (5th grade teacher)