San Quintin School is about 40 kilometers from downtown Puerto Vallarta in the Sierra Madre Mountains. In early 2007 I started mentoring this small school with 23-30 students from Kindergarten thru 6th grade.

In a short 5 years San Quintin Escuela had improved from a very rural, mountain, small village facility into the 23rd ranked academic school out of 1,100 school in the State of Nayarit, Mexico. Loads of friends primarily from the U.S. have donated school supplies, Spanish library books, toys and money. It is mandatory for anyone who visits to bring things of value (their determination) for the kids and/or school.

We now have 5 computers and internet connection. Tuition/fees/etc. thru the rural Conafe School System is free thru the 6th grade. But to continue past Primary grades the parents are liable for all expenses. This past year we have paid this for the two 6th grade students from last year's San Quinten class to Bucerias, the closest Public School available and within a reasonable bus ride each day. These expenses include tuition, bus fare, mandatory uniforms, books, school supplies, etc.

Many parents earn in the neighborhood of 200 pesos per day, so normally sending their children past 6th grade is impossible as they are needed to go into the work force to add income for the normally large families.

Our two students from last year's 6th grade class were ranked 2nd and 30th respectively in the entire State of Nayarit, and both have received Certificates of Academic Achievement in this year's 7th grade. These are the best case scenario because some of the student have fallen by the wayside - but these students are going into the work force with a far better knowledge of math, language and science that in any previous years.