The focus of the achievement gap seems to be less about racial and ethnic distinctions and more about disparities in socioeconomic status. Students from affluent and secure backgrounds have a running head start on students mired in poverty. Few young people in the United States live in more challenging conditions than the children of the eastern Coachella Valley in southern California. Many parents work hard to make ends meet by working the fields of vegetables and fruits, while others have nonskilled jobs in the hospitality industry. Despite their background and low standardized test scores, elementary school students of the valley display a positive attitude and a desire to learn. (Contains 6 figures.)