Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, North Carolina on DonorsChoose

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What excited them most was the opportunity to take ownership of their learning—collecting clues, forming hypotheses, and defending their conclusions like true forensic scientists. Students who are typically quiet or hesitant during traditional lessons became more engaged and confident during these activities, actively participating and contributing to group discussions.\r\n\r\nI was especially encouraged to see students who previously struggled with focus become deeply invested in the learning process. Many students asked if we could do more activities like this in the future, and several even expressed interest in careers related to forensic science and criminal justice. Your support did more than enhance a lesson—it sparked curiosity, motivation, and a genuine excitement for learning.\r\n\r\nThank you again for believing in my students and investing in their education. Your generosity made a meaningful and lasting impact in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1759597621899,"projectUrl":"project/unlocking-the-mystery-engaging-forensic/9512142/","projectTitle":"Unlocking the Mystery: Engaging Forensic Science Resources for Active Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Fortun","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9331915"},{"teacherId":302626,"projectId":8381535,"letterContent":"Our students have enjoyed playing the classics as well as some new games in the library. Thank you so much for supporting our students as they learn to work together offline. I hope to have teachers bring their classes this year to partake in a whole group board game party. Not all 1400+ at once of course! \r\nSome of our students had never played Jenga or Twister and enjoyed the unplugged activity. 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Instead of being distracted by scraping sounds or worrying about scuff marks on the floor, they could jump right into their chemistry activities with focus and energy.\r\n\r\nOne of the first projects we tackled this year was a group lab investigation, and it was amazing to see how easily students moved their chairs around without noise or hesitation. The simple addition of these chair covers has helped create a calmer, more welcoming environment where collaboration feels more natural.\r\n\r\nNext, my students will be starting a series of hands-on experiments that require frequent movement around the lab tables. Thanks to this project, they'll be able to shift between groups and stations comfortably, allowing them to stay focused on learning rather than classroom distractions. Your generosity has truly improved both the atmosphere and the learning experience in our chemistry room, and we are so grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1750774670028,"projectUrl":"project/tennis-balls-for-a-better-classroom/9369167/","projectTitle":"Tennis Balls for a Better Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Fortun","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9331915"},{"teacherId":1189717,"projectId":9051639,"letterContent":"I wish you could have seen the students' faces when I brought in their new equipment. The coach was just as excited, if not more. The students and coach were so surprised that I would take the time to write a grant for new equipment for them to use. The students have come to expect so little and do not feel they are worthy of nice quality equipment. \r\n\r\nI wanted to change students' mindset about their worth. 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About this school

Ashbrook High School is an urban public school in Gastonia, North Carolina that is part of Gaston County School District. It serves 1,389 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 16.9:1. Its teachers have had 49 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 9 - 12

1,389 Students

82 Teachers

2222 S New Hope Rd

Gastonia, NC 28054 View local requests

http://www.gaston.k12.nc.us/ashbrook

Direct, proactive support

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Ashbrook High School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mr. Birnstihl

Mr. Captain Larry Thompson

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Ashbrook High School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

71%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Ashbrook High School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Feb 14, 2026

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