Soldotna Elementary School has a long history of outstanding academic achievement supported by a special focus on literacy and music. Music classes, band and choir support the other curriculums while emphasizing the arts. Special help for students includes "After the Bell", remedial Title 1, a huge cadre of parent volunteers, Foster Grandparents, and many dedicated educators. Soldotna Elementary School, located in downtown Soldotna, Alaska, was originally constructed in 1960 and has had six additions, with the most recent (including a complete remodel of the original structure) being completed in 1987. Soldotna is on the Kenai Peninsula, at the junction of the Sterling and Kenai Spur Highways. It lies ten miles inland from Cook Inlet and borders the Kenai River. Because of this proximity to water, educators facilitate many "hands on" related environmental experiences for student learning. Being "in town" allows for a wide variety of learning trips in the Soldotna downtown community to foster experiencial learning while allowing parents to also visit their students during the day or eat lunch with them.