Is El Sol Elementary a good school?

El Sol Elementary ranks 856 th of 1486 Michigan elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

How many students attend El Sol Elementary?

In the 2023-24 school year, 358 students attended El Sol Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of El Sol Elementary?

Students at El Sol Elementary are 45% Hispanic, 38% White, 11% Two or more races, 5% African American.

El Sol Elementary

Summary:

El Sol Elementary is a public magnet elementary school in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serving 351 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school stands out for its high percentage of Hispanic students, lower academic performance compared to nearby schools, and significant challenges with chronic absenteeism and socioeconomic status.

El Sol Elementary has a majority Hispanic student population (56.41%), which is significantly higher than the nearby schools, which range from 2.2% to 13.6% Hispanic students. The school's test scores are generally lower than the state averages and nearby schools, such as Northglade Montessori School and Winchell Elementary School. Additionally, El Sol Elementary has experienced a concerning increase in chronic absenteeism, from 7.1% in 2020-2021 to 29.0% in 2022-2023, which is notably higher than the nearby schools.

Further analysis reveals that El Sol Elementary's statewide ranking has steadily declined over the years, and the school's performance gaps are particularly pronounced for its Hispanic students and English Language Learners. While the school has a relatively high per-student spending of $16,784, it also has a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, ranging from 62.65% to 70.94% over the past few years, significantly higher than the nearby schools. These factors suggest that El Sol Elementary faces significant challenges in supporting its diverse student population and improving academic outcomes.

Detail:

Public, Magnet K-5

604 W Vine St
Kalamazoo, MI 49007-1153

(269) 337-0230

District: Kalamazoo Public Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
856^th of 1,486 Michigan Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $16,784

Student/teacher ratio: 16.5

Number of students: 358

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:

44.7%

White:

38.0%

Two or more races:

11.5%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 54.2%

See top rated Michigan elementary schools

Compare El Sol Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details El Sol Elementary ranks worse than 57.6% of elementary schools in Michigan. It also ranks 5^th among 15 ranked elementary schools in the Kalamazoo Public Schools District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 39.54. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (44.7%), White (38%), two or more races (11.5%). (See more...)

Compare Details 54.2% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at El Sol Elementary is 16.5. 10 elementary schools in the Kalamazoo Public Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)

Compare El Sol Elementary employs 21.6 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at El Sol Elementary is $16,784. 11 elementary schools in the Kalamazoo Public Schools District spend more per student.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

El Sol Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks El Sol Elementary 856^th of 1486 Michigan public elementary schools. (See El Sol Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

English Language Learner students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

Kalamazoo Public Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Kalamazoo Public Schools 421^st of 610 Michigan school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for El Sol Elementary.

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Your rating for El Sol Elementary?

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Rank History for El Sol Elementary

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Rank History for all students at El Sol Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2011	18.56	1399^th	1552	9.9%
2012	20.02	1361^st	1566	13.1%
2013	22.04	1292^nd	1563	17.3%
2014	22.74	1250^th	1533	18.5%
2015	38.24	1029^th	1580	34.9%
2016	44.67	878^th	1548	43.3%
2017	36.78	918^th	1466	37.4%
2018	47.89	824^th	1448	43.1%
2019	55.95	578^th	1408	58.9%
2022	19.73	1081^st	1344	19.6%
2023	28.71	1008^th	1470	31.4%
2024	39.54	856^th	1486	42.4%

See the entire list of Michigan Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at El Sol Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2018	22.03	241^st	270	10.7%
2024	19.48	156^th	184	15.2%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at El Sol Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	37.28	937^th	1397	32.9%
2019	43.25	653^rd	1134	42.4%
2022	15.91	972^nd	1099	11.6%
2023	21.03	1099^th	1350	18.6%
2024	35.41	891^st	1381	35.5%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at El Sol Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	55.13	663^rd	1443	54.1%
2019	56.49	477^th	1171	59.3%
2022	8.65	1055^th	1106	4.6%
2023	17.07	1114^th	1321	15.7%
2024	28.29	984^th	1342	26.7%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at El Sol Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	37.03	950^th	1446	34.3%
2019	45.36	647^th	1196	45.9%
2022	31.45	787^th	1139	30.9%
2023	44.64	707^th	1334	47.0%
2024	43.79	725^th	1347	46.2%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at El Sol Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	41.26	128^th	222	42.3%
2019	53.92	33^rd	86	61.6%
2022	23.11	68^th	86	20.9%
2023	18.07	162^nd	188	13.8%
2024	28.86	148^th	201	26.4%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at El Sol Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	MI State Percentile
2018	88.42	87^th	1253	93.1%
2023	76.39	238^th	1198	80.1%
2024	85.21	130^th	1204	89.2%

See the entire list of Best Michigan Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Michigan Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 4.8)

75%

25%

Reviews:

by a parent
Monday, April 30, 2018

Even if this school performs below average, half of the day my son is completely immersed in the Spanish language. By grade 5 he will speak the language fluently with a true understanding of the language and culture of the fastest growing demographic in America. I see nothing but benefits from being bilingual in such a thorough manner. Close Quote

by a parent
Friday, May 26, 2017

Great school with lots of cultural, ethnic, racial, and economic diversity. Considering the high rates of ESL students, the test scores are actually pretty impressive. But more importantly, the children are offered something no other elementary school - public or private - can offer a dual language immersion program with half of the student body as native speakers. Close Quote

by a student
Thursday, June 4, 2015

El sol elementary is a great bilingual school. It teaches students great life lessons, in both spanish and english.

Written by a former student of theirs. G.D Close Quote

by a teacher
Thursday, March 22, 2012

El Sol is a dual-language immersion school (English and Spanish). Our MEAP scores rank above many other Kalamazoo schools. Come visit us and see the wonderful staff and students. Close Quote

Enrollment information for El Sol Elementary

Compare

Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Total
2009	25	36	80	0	1	n/a	n/a	142
2010	38	36	0	143	2	n/a	n/a	219
2011	44	45	0	169	1	0	0	259
2012	42	38	0	186	1	0	3	270
2013	45	25	0	224	1	0	9	304
2014	56	24	0	218	1	0	11	310
2015	67	26	0	211	2	0	12	318
2016	71	32	0	220	1	0	9	333
2017	78	34	0	215	0	0	10	337
2018	83	22	0	206	4	0	12	327
2019	87	26	1	210	5	0	11	340
2020	83	16	1	243	1	0	20	364
2021	75	19	1	229	2	0	14	340
2022	73	12	1	227	1	0	23	337
2023	108	12	1	198	1	0	31	351
2024	136	18	1	160	2	0	41	358

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at El Sol Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	142	8.4	16.9	78.9
2010	219	12.5	17.5	82.2
2011	259	16.3	15.8	78
2012	270	18.3	14.7	78.1
2013	304	21.6	14.0	83.6
2014	310	23.5	13.1	77.7
2015	318	23.0	13.8	71.7
2016	333	21.0	15.8	55.3
2017	337	21.4	15.7	65.9
2018	327	21.9	14.9	66.7
2019	340	21.8	15.5	69.1
2020	364	23.1	15.7	65.7
2021	340	21.4	15.8	62.6
2022	337	19.9	16.9	63.8
2023	351	19.8	17.7	70.9
2024	358	21.6	16.5	54.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio El Sol Elementary

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2009	142	8.4	16.9	78.9
2010	219	12.5	17.5	82.2
2011	259	16.3	15.8	78
2012	270	18.3	14.7	78.1
2013	304	21.6	14.0	83.6
2014	310	23.5	13.1	77.7
2015	318	23.0	13.8	71.7
2016	333	21.0	15.8	55.3
2017	337	21.4	15.7	65.9
2018	327	21.9	14.9	66.7
2019	340	21.8	15.5	69.1
2020	364	23.1	15.7	65.7
2021	340	21.4	15.8	62.6
2022	337	19.9	16.9	63.8
2023	351	19.8	17.7	70.9
2024	358	21.6	16.5	54.2

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for El Sol Elementary

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$1,609 (12.9%)	$10,901 (87.1%)	$12,510
2020	$1,710 (13.1%)	$11,356 (86.9%)	$13,066
2021	$1,740 (12.5%)	$12,131 (87.5%)	$13,871
2022	$2,689 (17.7%)	$12,471 (82.3%)	$15,160
2023	$2,703 (16.1%)	$14,081 (83.9%)	$16,784

Data source: Michigan Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on El Sol Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 578^th of 1408 Elementary schools	Ranks 1008^th of 1470 Elementary schools	27.5%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (El Sol Elementary)	56.6	33.9	22.7%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Kalamazoo Public Schools)	36.6	31.1	5.5%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	45.1	40.9	4.2%
3rd Grade Math (El Sol Elementary)	50.9	27.4	23.5%
3rd Grade Math (Kalamazoo Public Schools)	37.5	28.9	8.6%
3rd Grade Math (Michigan)	46.7	42.9	3.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (El Sol Elementary)	52	35.1	16.9%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Kalamazoo Public Schools)	37.9	35.3	2.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	45.8	44.3	1.5%
4th Grade Math (El Sol Elementary)	35.8	29.8	6%
4th Grade Math (Kalamazoo Public Schools)	33.1	27.7	5.4%
4th Grade Math (Michigan)	41.8	38.6	3.2%
5th Grade English Language Arts (El Sol Elementary)	52.5	42	10.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Kalamazoo Public Schools)	37.5	34.1	3.4%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Michigan)	46.2	43.9	2.3%
5th Grade Math (El Sol Elementary)	36.6	7.7	28.9%
5th Grade Math (Kalamazoo Public Schools)	27.3	18.8	8.5%
5th Grade Math (Michigan)	34.8	31.5	3.3%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	340	351	3.2%
African American	26	12	53.8%
American Indian	5	1	80%
Asian	1	1
Hispanic	210	198	5.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	87	108	24.1%
Two or More Races	11	31	181.8%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	69.1%	70.9%	1.8%

Schools Near El Sol Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				PSAT English Language Arts (2024)	PSAT Mathematics (2024)	M-Step English Language Arts (2024)					M-Step Math (2024)					M-Step Science (2024)		M-Step Social Studies (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	PSAT English Language Arts 8th Grade	PSAT Mathematics 8th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 3rd Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 4th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 5th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 6th Grade	M-Step English Language Arts 7th Grade	M-Step Math 3rd Grade	M-Step Math 4th Grade	M-Step Math 5th Grade	M-Step Math 6th Grade	M-Step Math 7th Grade	M-Step Science 5th Grade	M-Step Science 8th Grade	M-Step Social Studies 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
El Sol Elementary	Public, Magnet	K-5	604 W Vine St	Kalamazoo	49007	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 337-0230	358	22	16.5	54.2%	136 (38.0%)	18 (5.0%)	160 (44.7%)	1 (0.3%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (11.5%)	39.5	856^th of 1486 public elementary schools	42.4%		28.7	1008^th of 1470 public elementary schools	31.4%	152			38.3	39.7	45.5			37.5	25.0	23.2			37.5		17.9	$16,784	$2,703	$14,081
Woodward Elementary	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	606 Stuart Ave	Kalamazoo	49007	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 337-0810	233	18	12.9	88.0%	38 (16.3%)	140 (60.1%)	11 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	44 (18.9%)	8.8	1367^th of 1486 public elementary schools	8.0%					(n/a)			16.7	14.6	14.3			16.7					14.3			$21,257	$3,340	$17,917
Lincoln International Studies School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	912 N Burdick St	Kalamazoo	49007	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 337-0640	273	22	12.1	83.9%	47 (17.2%)	168 (61.5%)	17 (6.2%)	10 (3.7%)	4 (1.5%)	1 (0.4%)	26 (9.5%)	4.6	1474^th of 1486 public elementary schools	0.8%		6.4	1408^th of 1470 public elementary schools	4.2%	66				7.0				9.4	7.1							$20,353	$2,587	$17,767
ParkwoodUpjohn Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2321 S Park St	Kalamazoo	49001	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 337-0720	463	30	15.3	48.4%	243 (52.5%)	123 (26.6%)	26 (5.6%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	69 (14.9%)	61.5	530^th of 1486 public elementary schools	64.3%		46.3	748^th of 1470 public elementary schools	49.1%	218			52.1	48.7	59.1			54.8	28.9	24.7			45.2		33.3	$17,013	$2,814	$14,198
Washington Writers Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1919 Portage St	Kalamazoo	49001	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 337-0770	246	17	14.1	91.1%	34 (13.8%)	150 (61.0%)	15 (6.1%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (17.5%)	9.1	1363^rd of 1486 public elementary schools	8.3%					(n/a)			15.8		14.8			18.4					11.1			$18,226	$3,345	$14,881
Winchell Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	2316 Winchell Ave	Kalamazoo	49008	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(269) 337-0780	491	26	18.7	40.7%	268 (54.6%)	102 (20.8%)	28 (5.7%)	8 (1.6%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.6%)	81 (16.5%)	79.6	254^th of 1486 public elementary schools	82.9%		80.8	244^th of 1470 public elementary schools	83.4%	10			54.7	60.9	58.8			58.7	49.4	52.9			58.8		32.9	$14,705	$2,369	$12,336
Northglade Montessori School	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	1914 Cobb Ave	Kalamazoo	49007	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 337-0700	270	14	19.5	43.0%	142 (52.6%)	76 (28.1%)	7 (2.6%)	6 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	39 (14.4%)	77.1	299^th of 1486 public elementary schools	79.9%		63.7	496^th of 1470 public elementary schools	66.3%	197			52.4	70.0	54.3			42.9	56.0	45.7			60.0		37.1	$16,781	$2,879	$13,902
Edison Academy	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	831 Lake St	Kalamazoo	49001	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 337-0550	339	26	13.2	92.6%	45 (13.3%)	218 (64.3%)	26 (7.7%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (1.2%)	1 (0.3%)	45 (13.3%)	14	1259^th of 1486 public elementary schools	15.3%		7.9	1366^th of 1470 public elementary schools	7.1%	107			26.0	28.1	17.3			23.5	15.8	9.4			9.4			$18,692	$3,063	$15,628
Paramount Charter Academy	Public, Charter	PK, KG-8	3624 S Westnedge Ave	Kalamazoo	49008	Kalamazoo County	Paramount Charter Academy	Yes	No	No	Yes	(269) 553-6400	370	17	22.3	93.5%	92 (24.9%)	155 (41.9%)	46 (12.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	77 (20.8%)	19.2	1172^nd of 1486 public elementary schools	21.1%		19	1169^th of 1470 public elementary schools	20.5%	3	55.6	18.5	9.3	13.2	42.3	19.2	26.9	16.7	31.6	15.4	19.2	19.2	25.9	33.3		$18,833	$2,389	$16,444
Woods Lake ElementaryA Magnet Center For The Arts	Public, Magnet	PK, KG-5	3215 Oakland Dr	Kalamazoo	49008	Kalamazoo County	Kalamazoo Public Schools	No	Yes	No	Yes	(269) 337-0790	512	25	20.8	77.1%	137 (26.8%)	246 (48.0%)	55 (10.7%)	4 (0.8%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (13.1%)	18	1201^st of 1486 public elementary schools	19.2%		24	1090^th of 1470 public elementary schools	25.9%	111			16.9	17.4	31.9			20.9	14.0	18.2			27.6		12.4	$14,791	$2,792	$11,999

El Sol Elementary

El Sol Elementary:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Kalamazoo Public Schools:

Average Parent Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for El Sol Elementary

Rank History for all students at El Sol Elementary

Rank History for English Language Learner students at El Sol Elementary

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at El Sol Elementary

Rank History for Female students at El Sol Elementary

Rank History for Male students at El Sol Elementary

Rank History for Hispanic students at El Sol Elementary

Rank History for White students at El Sol Elementary

Review counts

Enrollment information for El Sol Elementary

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at El Sol Elementary

Student/Teacher Ratio El Sol Elementary

Per Pupil Expenditures for El Sol Elementary

Impact of COVID-19 on El Sol Elementary

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near El Sol Elementary

Frequently Asked Questions about El Sol Elementary

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