The Duquesne City School District (DCSD) is located in Duquesne, Pennsylvania and serves a population of 5,534 residents within 1.92 square miles (2016). The median household income for the residents of the Duquesne community is $21,495, compared to $55,000 nationally, and the median household value is $36,000, compared to $184,000 nationally (2016). More than 40% of residents live in poverty. This is nearly three times the national average of 14%.

Despite these challenges, DCSD has continued to thrive, specifically in the areas of STEAM and maker learning. Over the past four years, Duquesne Elementary School (DES) has repurposed storage rooms, closets, and older classrooms to create two maker spaces, a media center, and a coding and robotics classroom.

Today, the school continues to transform to better serve its students in grades PreK-6.  DES has repainted its walls, incorporating more color, and allowed teachers to use flexible seating in their classrooms and common spaces.  Multiple grants from Donors Choose, the Grable Foundation, the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, and PNC Bank have supported this work.