Transforming Schooling for the Mexican Immigrant Community: Integrating Christ's Love and Academic Excellence

Abstract Escuela Luz del Mundo (ELM) or “Light of the World School” was a progressive Christian middle school that served a high poverty, Mexican immigrant community in Albuquerque, New Mexico USA for seven years. In this study, the two distinguishing features of ELM are examined: Academic excellence and how Christ’s love was revealed at the school. These features are explored using the qualitative research methodology of ethnography. Literature is reviewed that illustrates the historic legacy in the United States of students living in poverty and students of color being denied access to high quality educational opportunities. At ELM, school personnel worked against this legacy by integrating Christ’s love and academic excellence.