Mount Vernon High School is 60 percent Latino. Its graduation rate is 80%, slightly lower than the state average of 84%.
Ramon Rivera teaches mariachi song and dance at MVHS, helping connect kids with their culture. Mr Rivera was recently named Washington Music Teach of The Year.
"I'm teaching them self-esteem in my class and teaching them leadership and teaching them they are loved and cared for and the world is a better place because of them" he said.