{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Bessemer City Central Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":65.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":534864,"projectId":8515608,"letterContent":"Words alone are not enough to cover what this project has meant to my students. The first shipments included books related to STEM careers. Kids have read about the science and math behind such ideas as video games, bioengineering, and even fashion design. One of my female Latino students confided that she dreamed of becoming an astronaut. The next shipment contained exactly what she needed - biographies of Mae Jemison and Sally Ride. Her eyes lit up. Since then she has really improved in mathematics and is approaching grade level in reading as she knows how important these skills are in her future.\r\nAs mentioned in my presentation, these students needed opportunities to practice their group communication and problem solving skills. When the boxes arrived, I explained that a group of kind strangers wanted to support them in exploring their career options. As part of this support, they were going to be given the opportunity to work on small projects that would require them to use creativity and collaboration. I sat the boxes on the floor and they excitedly opened the materials. With \"oohs and awws\" they quickly assembled the pieces. Since that day, they have begged to use the STEM bins rather than go outside to recess. Their abilities to brainstorm, design and redesign have greatly improved their ability to communicate.\r\nThe next phase of the project was to create designs that met specific criteria. At Christmas, we created Christmas Trees, and on St. Patrick's Day they created leprechaun traps. With their imaginations as the inspiration and a few guidelines, they created spectacular designs.\r\nThe immediate gifts were the smiles, giggles, laughter and cooperation coming from the students. One day, their dreams will come true when they achieve their career goals. And for that rainbow's end, I believe we will never find its end.","fullyFundedDate":1732311997308,"projectUrl":"project/sharing-student-to-stem-star/8515608/","projectTitle":"Sharing: Student to STEM Star","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Rhonda Fancher","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp534864_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753301393150","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/534864"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_2688","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":390,"numTeachers":25,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":23,"percentWhite":42,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":24,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"3 - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"15.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":34.5,"schoolId":2688,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Bessemer City Central Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Bessemer City Central Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/north-carolina/gaston-county-school-district/bessemer-city-central-elementary-school/2688"}
Join the 87 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Bessemer City Central Elementary School is
a suburban public school
in Bessemer City, North Carolina that is part of Gaston County School District.
It serves 390 students
in grades 3 - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 15.6:1.
Its teachers have had 20 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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Bessemer City Central Elementary School Demographics
95%
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
47%
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.
Bessemer City Central Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Dec 5, 2025
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.
Bessemer City Central Elementary School
$7,447
raised using DonorsChoose
20
projects
funded
9
teachers
funded
87
donors
2
projects for
technology
5
projects for
books
Bessemer City Central Elementary School has received support from
30 individuals from North Carolina and
57 individuals out-of-state.