Several years ago, the leaders of Niños de México noticed the children were not being well educated in the public school system. There were several problems with teachers and non-educational field trips as well. It was determined it was time to start a school.

Funds were donated, construction was made, and today Niños de México operates a bilingual K-12 school. The school is better able to address the spiritual and educational needs of the children. Remarkable improvements are being seen. The students are currently testing above average according to required government evaluations and exceeding far beyond expectations.

The school is divided into four areas:

1. Kindergarten

The children that come to Niños de México almost always have special needs. Many of them cannot read or even recognize letters or numbers. As a part of the school, Lilia Vazquez teaches the kindergarten–many of the younger or uneducated children at Niños. When the children leave the kindergarten, sometimes after only a few months, they are excited about learning and ready to enter the Primary classroom and interact with other students. LIlia has been on our school staff since August 2005.

2. Primary

The Primary classroom is for grades one through six. Matthew Carmicheal is the principal of the Primary and oversees the education of those children. Niños uses “School of Tomorrow” home schooling curriculum for the Primary grades. The children have workbooks (called Paces) in each of the major subjects. They work at their own pace with goals to complete each day. They grade their own work but are kept accountable by monitors and the principal. Once they complete a Pace, they must pass a test before moving on to the next level workbook. Niños’ students are taught English and Spanish as part of the curriculum.

Twice a week the students have Physical Education, and the other days, they have a recess time to “stretch.”

3. Secondary

The Secondary classroom is for grades seven through nine. Daniel Rangel is the principal of the Secondary and oversees the education of those children. Niños has adapted and uses the “Open School” curriculum published by the Mexican government and designed to educate adults who wish to receive education. The students have a series of workbooks (many in English) in each of the major subjects. They work at their own pace with goals to complete each day. Once they complete the Secondary curriculum they can move immediately into high school. They do grade their own work but are kept accountable by monitors and the principal.

Twice a week the students have Physical Education.

4. High School

The high school classroom is for grades ten through twelve. Aglahe Zamora is the principal of the high school and oversees the education of those students. Niños has adapted and uses the “Open School” curriculum published by the Mexican government and designed to educate adults who wish to receive education. The students have a series of workbooks in each of the major subjects. They work at their own pace with goals to complete each day. At designated times during the year, they take government tests at the Niños school facility. Once they pass each test, they keep advancing until they receive their high school diploma. Then they can attend the university if they choose.