{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Apollo Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":16.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10398693,"projectId":9993962,"letterContent":"Wood roads and buildings in our preschool classroom provide a hands-on, engaging way for children to learn through play. As students build roads, connect structures, and create their own little communities, they are developing important cognitive skills like problem-solving, planning, and spatial awareness. They begin to understand how things fit together, how to make adjustments when something doesn't work, and how to think creatively to bring their ideas to life. These experiences support early math concepts such as shape recognition, measurement, and patterns, all while feeling like play rather than structured instruction.\r\n\r\nIn addition to cognitive growth, wood roads and buildings encourage social-emotional development. When children work together in this area, they practice sharing materials, taking turns, and communicating their ideas with peers. They learn how to collaborate, negotiate roles, and solve conflicts, which are essential skills for both the classroom and beyond. This type of cooperative play also builds confidence, as children take pride in their creations and feel a sense of accomplishment when they complete a project together.\r\n\r\nFinally, this area supports language development and real-world connections. As children describe what they are building, create stories around their structures, or pretend to be part of the community they've made, they are expanding their vocabulary and expressive language skills. They often connect their play to real-life experiences, such as roads they travel on or buildings they recognize, helping them make meaningful connections between school and the world around them. Overall, wood roads and buildings create a rich learning environment where children grow academically, socially, and creatively. Thank you again, it truly makes a difference!","fullyFundedDate":1769191960258,"projectUrl":"project/community-building/9993962/","projectTitle":"Community Building","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Greer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10398693"},{"teacherId":227177,"projectId":9806182,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to the 100 days of school project. It is one of my favorite things to do in kindergarten. In my room on the 100th day of school, Devious 99 shows up and has kidnapped Zero the Hero. Without Zero we are unable to celebrate the number 100. As a result, students have to complete 5 missions, and they gain clues as to where to find Zero. Each mission is designed to fit all the needs and skill levels of all students in my class regardless of academic and/or social challenges. At the end of the activities, we combine the clues to find out where Zero is located. When we find him, he is happy to help us make 100 and has left us \"100 days of school bags\" to help us celebrate at home. Each bag contains a magnifying glass, spy notebook and pencil which encourages learning outside of our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1762267546151,"projectUrl":"project/i-spy-100-days-of-school/9806182/","projectTitle":"I Spy 100 Days of School","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sharp","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp227177_orig.jpg?crop=2544,2544,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759323941581","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/227177"},{"teacherId":227177,"projectId":9588205,"letterContent":"This project has brought new excitement to our room by incorporating light with learning. In the pictures, you can see the students arranging the alphabet on the light tables. It provides a new way to see and interact with letters. \r\nAt playtime, my students are also able to create masterpieces through drawing and tracing. The light table lets students take pictures of any kind and trace them onto a blank piece of paper. It helps them with illustrating their published books while practicing their fine motor skills.\r\nThank you so much for your generous donations for this project. This class is really enjoying becoming more creative and imaginative each day!","fullyFundedDate":1759158372127,"projectUrl":"project/light-up-our-learning/9588205/","projectTitle":"Light Up Our Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Sharp","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp227177_orig.jpg?crop=2544,2544,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759323941581","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/227177"},{"teacherId":6016999,"projectId":9727984,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the incubators and brooding boxes for all three of our second grade classes.\r\nWe haven't used them yet, but we're so excited to receive them as our old ones did not work properly. We will be using them in April with our lifecycle unit. We will be hatching chicks and hope to have many due to the new equipment.\r\nWe appreciate your generosity and are very thankful for your willingness to help us bring these meaningful experiences to our students. This is one of the things that students talk about for years to come as being their favorite thing in second grade.","fullyFundedDate":1758944919653,"projectUrl":"project/hatching-chicks/9727984/","projectTitle":"Hatching Chicks","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Olson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6016999_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1565576377972","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6016999"},{"teacherId":3215794,"projectId":9371789,"letterContent":"I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am for your contributions to this project. My students absolutely love our new classroom look and I feel overjoyed walking in every morning. The students can't wait for reading time when they can use the new flexible seating and sprawl out on the cozy campfire rug. The chair pouches have made such a difference with organization as well. We now have a specific spot for things that in previous years weren't as easily accessible. Finally, the new kidney bean table has made meeting with small groups and individual students so much easier. It's also been the best space saver!! I quietly overheard another teacher say how warm and inviting our room was. That was my goal. To make the room a place we can feel at home.","fullyFundedDate":1751470519604,"projectUrl":"project/complete-classroom-reset/9371789/","projectTitle":"Complete Classroom Reset!!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Norton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3215794"},{"teacherId":4489094,"projectId":9332498,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations to support our u shaped table. This table has truly changed our small groups in such a positive way. With this table I am able to pull small groups and individuals in to focus on skills that they are needing to strengthen. So far this school year we have been able to work in small groups on name writing, letter identification, and number writing. The students are enjoying being able to see each other and hold group chats over how their names are similar and different, comparing numbers, and coaching each other when they see a classmate confused. The addition of the u shaped table to our classroom is also helping to support a positive classroom climate where the students have been able to work more closely together. Thank you again for your donation we really love our new table.","fullyFundedDate":1752068282468,"projectUrl":"project/creating-engaging-and-interactive-small/9332498/","projectTitle":"Creating Engaging and Interactive Small Groups","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Murray","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4489094"},{"teacherId":3195609,"projectId":9125161,"letterContent":"The Tonies listening station has been a game changer in my classroom! I've been able to use these as a learning station mainly for kindergarten and first grade, however I've also been able to use this station for some special friends that visit my classroom. \r\n\r\nSeveral students with special needs come from a self-contained classroom to join their 4th and 5th grade peers during music class. Most of these students have a functioning cognitive level closer to 5 years old than their actual age of about 10. Having a learning station that is suited to their cognitive level has given them so much joy! These friends have been able to enjoy whole class work, group work, and now they are able to have engaging and successful independent work time like their peers as well!","fullyFundedDate":1742922623664,"projectUrl":"project/tonies-to-tonalities-creating-a-screen-/9125161/","projectTitle":"Tonies to Tonalities: Creating a Screen-Free Music Listening Center","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Reick","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3195609_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x510,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1699295183593","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3195609"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_24989","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":341,"numTeachers":21,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":89,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":1,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"16.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":83.3,"schoolId":24989,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Apollo Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Apollo Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/mercer-county-sd-404/apollo-elementary-school/24989"}
Join the 150 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Apollo Elementary School is
a rural public school
in Aledo, Illinois that is part of Mercer County Sd 404.
It serves 341 students
in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 16.2:1.
Its teachers have had 34 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
Public School
Title 1
Data about Title 1 status comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
Grades K - 5
341 Students
21 Teachers
801 SW 9th StContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
Boost support for this school! Share this page with friends, family, alumni, and fellow supporters. Every connection helps teachers get the supplies they need and shows how much your community cares about its students.
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Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
3%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Apollo Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated May 12, 2026
DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students
in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.
Apollo Elementary School
$19,640
raised using DonorsChoose
34
projects
funded
15
teachers
funded
150
donors
3
projects
for
basic supplies
4
projects for
technology
2
projects for
books
1
project
for
art supplies
Apollo Elementary School has received support from
125 individuals from Illinois and
25 individuals out-of-state.
