{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Curtis High School","outOfStateSupporters":30.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8790998,"projectId":9852612,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom has been filled with both energy and joy. The snacks from Help Fuel Minds and Hearts: Snacks for Our Students have quickly become an essential part of our daily routine. As a Title I school, many of our students come to class hungry and unable to focus, which makes learning especially difficult. Having healthy snacks available has changed that—students are now able to concentrate during lessons and group projects. \r\nWhen the snacks first arrived, the students' faces lit up with excitement. They couldn't believe that people outside our school cared enough to provide something so thoughtful. The room buzzed with gratitude and happiness as they explored the snack options. It was a powerful reminder that kindness can make learning feel even more special.","fullyFundedDate":1763134716215,"projectUrl":"project/help-fuel-minds-and-hearts-snacks-for-o/9852612/","projectTitle":"Help Fuel Minds and Hearts: Snacks for Our Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Holzer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8790998"},{"teacherId":7829549,"projectId":9605401,"letterContent":"Thank you for donating to my \"Coding Fashion\" fundraiser. The Brother SE-700 embroidery machine provided an awesome opportunity for my students to use their coding skills to make something they could touch and see off screen--from a quilt of felt squares to take home canvas bags.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, I saw this project push my students to care more about the details of their design. When their designs were just executed on the screen, many students were just messing around, and, I realized, not really understanding the output. Asking them to make a design that would be embroidered made them care more about their product. It also highlighted areas of struggle that I didn't recognize before, such as the importance of the sequence of their code, and using coordinates and size to position their designs.\r\n\r\nMany of my students had never seen a sewing machine in use before! One of them though, was particularly engaged because a sewing machine was a part of every home in his home country of Bangladesh. He made one of the most popular designs--a \"Roblox man face\"--that has attracted a lot of admiration from students. He's working on another design for a kitchen towel as a birthday present for his mother.\r\n\r\nThank you again! This machine should provide years of use and inspiration for the students of Curtis High School.","fullyFundedDate":1755553130679,"projectUrl":"project/coding-fashion/9605401/","projectTitle":"Coding Fashion!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. McCoy","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7829549"},{"teacherId":5979864,"projectId":9483369,"letterContent":"Thank you from the bottom of my heart for funding our project. It is hard to fully capture the energy in the band room when my freshmen students saw the brand-new method books. For many, this is their first year in high school band, and holding a crisp, clean book—without torn pages or pencil marks from students who graduated years ago—gave them an immediate sense of pride and professionalism. There was a literal buzz of excitement as they flipped through the pages, seeing the songs and exercises they would soon be mastering.\r\n\r\nWe dove into using the books that very same day. They are the foundation of our daily rehearsals, guiding us through everything from proper posture and breathing to reading our first notes and rhythms. \r\n\r\nThese books are our roadmap for the entire year. Now that we have established our fundamental skills, our next step is to tackle more complex rhythms and begin learning our first full-band concert piece. The skills they are building daily in these method books are the exact skills they will need to confidently perform at our upcoming winter concert. Your donation wasn't just about paper and ink; it was about giving these students the tools to build an ensemble, find their musical voice, and start their high school careers with success.","fullyFundedDate":1760755054416,"projectUrl":"project/beginning-band-method-books/9483369/","projectTitle":"Beginning Band Method Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5979864_orig.png?crop=606,606,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731006117531","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/curtishsmusic"},{"teacherId":5979864,"projectId":9819020,"letterContent":"The recent acquisition of a new set of professional-quality timpani mallets has made an immediate and significant impact on our Symphonic and Concert Band programs. Previously, our students worked with old, heavily worn mallets that produced muffled, indistinct tones.\r\n\r\nThese new mallets allow our percussionists to achieve true clarity, articulation, and tonal warmth from the instruments. This has dramatically expanded our bands' expressive and dynamic range, elevating the musicality of the entire ensemble. Furthermore, our students are now learning the critical skill of selecting specific mallets for different musical colors, directly enhancing their education and our overall performance quality.","fullyFundedDate":1760693533746,"projectUrl":"project/timpani-mallets/9819020/","projectTitle":"Timpani Mallets","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5979864_orig.png?crop=606,606,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731006117531","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/curtishsmusic"},{"teacherId":9519008,"projectId":9437428,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your kindness and support with our organization project! Students have already begun building their laboratory portfolios using the materials provided through your generous donations. Because of your thoughtful contribution, we've had a smooth and successful start to the school year. Your support has made a meaningful impact in our classroom, helping students develop essential life skills. We are truly grateful for your generosity, it's making a real difference. Thank you!!","fullyFundedDate":1751384046644,"projectUrl":"project/organization-in-the-science-classroom/9437428/","projectTitle":"Organization in the Science Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ahmed","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9519008"},{"teacherId":9372549,"projectId":9619889,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous contribution to our classroom! Your support has made a meaningful impact on our social studies learning—and yes, the snacks were a huge hit too!\r\n\r\nWhen the materials and snacks arrived, my students were thrilled. One student said, \"This feels like a real history class now!\" With access to these tools, they were able to dive deeper into research, collaborate more effectively, and present their work with pride.\r\n\r\nHaving snacks available during longer projects and discussions has also made a noticeable difference. They've helped keep energy levels up and minds focused—especially during group work and end-of-day lessons. It's a small thing that made a big difference in our classroom environment.\r\n\r\n\r\nYour support has gone beyond just supplies—you've given my students the tools (and fuel!) they need to be curious, engaged, and excited about learning. Thank you for believing in our classroom and making such a lasting difference.","fullyFundedDate":1758807430558,"projectUrl":"project/back-to-school/9619889/","projectTitle":"Back to School!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. N Ahmed","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9372549_orig.jpg?crop=1747,1747,x1518,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755542402624","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9372549"},{"teacherId":5979864,"projectId":9678854,"letterContent":"Beyond convenience, it supports better supervision and smoother transitions. Instead of dispersing students throughout the building to carry equipment, a rack centralizes transportation to one controlled movement. This minimizes hallway congestion, protects school property, and reduces noise disruptions during the school day.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, having a dependable method to quickly mobilize seating empowers the music program to participate in more school and community events. It strengthens performance readiness and demonstrates professionalism when setting up for concerts, award ceremonies, or assemblies in the auditorium.\r\n\r\nOverall, a chair rack is not just a storage accessory—it is a necessary infrastructure upgrade that enhances safety, efficiency, and visibility of the music program across the school.","fullyFundedDate":1758547262506,"projectUrl":"project/move-the-chairs-make-the-show/9678854/","projectTitle":"Move the Chairs, Make the Show","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5979864_orig.png?crop=606,606,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731006117531","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/curtishsmusic"},{"teacherId":5979864,"projectId":9384437,"letterContent":"We're thrilled to share how they've already enriched our music classroom, particularly for our woodwind students. Reeds are absolutely crucial for single-reed instruments like the clarinet and saxophone, and for double-reed instruments like the oboe and bassoon. These small pieces of cane (or sometimes synthetic material) vibrate when air is blown across or through them, which creates the sound inside the instrument's body. Without a properly functioning reed, the instrument is silent—it's the voice of the woodwind. Our new supplies of high-quality reeds and care kits are allowing students to experiment with different reed strengths and properly maintain their equipment, which is leading to noticeably richer tones and more consistent playing.","fullyFundedDate":1752586515723,"projectUrl":"project/reeds-for-playing/9384437/","projectTitle":"Reeds for Playing","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Smith","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5979864_orig.png?crop=606,606,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731006117531","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/curtishsmusic"},{"teacherId":9916712,"projectId":9099563,"letterContent":"When our Sunspotter arrived, my astronomy club students could hardly believe that they were going to be able to safely observe the Sun directly with a hands-on instrument. Many of them had only ever seen solar images online, so unpacking the device felt like opening a real piece of a professional observatory. Several students immediately gathered around it, trying to figure out how the optics worked, while others were already guessing how many sunspots we might find on our first clear day.\r\n\r\nWe've been using the Sunspotter to start a long-term solar-activity tracking project. Students take turns setting up the device, aligning it, sketching the projected image of the Sun, and recording the number, size, and position of any sunspots they observe. One memorable moment came during our first session: a pair of students who had struggled with confidence earlier in the year were the first to clearly identify a sunspot group. They excitedly called the rest of the club over to see their discovery, and that sense of pride has carried into every meeting since.\r\n\r\nThis project has given my students a chance to practice real observational astronomy using equipment that makes them feel like scientists, not just learners. Their curiosity has grown, and so has their patience—they've learned that good science sometimes means waiting for the weather to cooperate!\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the opportunity to explore the Sun in such an engaging and authentic way. Your support has brought real science into their hands, and they are genuinely excited to keep learning.","fullyFundedDate":1746462395291,"projectUrl":"project/help-us-reach-for-the-stars-with-a-solar/9099563/","projectTitle":"Help Us Reach for the Stars with a Solar Telescope!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Jackson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9916712"},{"teacherId":7610160,"projectId":9274992,"letterContent":"Thank you for funding our project in May.\r\n\r\nDue to your donations, most students attended our afternoon Science Classes. They know that they will get a snack or two if they come to class.\r\n\r\nMost of them passed the State test.\r\n\r\nThanks a million to the donors,\r\n\r\nWe would like to thank you in advance for sponsoring our future Snack projects. Other students are stopping by my door to ask for a snack. Most of them don't really have food at home. At the end of the day, they are really hungry. \r\n\r\nThank you for your anticipated help,","fullyFundedDate":1747317393807,"projectUrl":"project/more-snacks-for-our-after-school-science/9274992/","projectTitle":"More Snacks for Our After School Science Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Savage","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7610160"},{"teacherId":9372549,"projectId":8843297,"letterContent":"I want to thank you so much for your donations. Each donation contributed to an amazing and engaging school year. Whether it was students seeing themselves on the walls with posters or enjoying a quick snack break during those hard study times. Every student truly appreciated the classroom supplies, especially the snacks. I also had enough pencils for 180 days for over 170 students. That was amazing! It was my 2nd year teaching and I felt so supported by all of you. I can not thank you enough for each and every single donation. It helped me and my students tremendously. Thank you again! :)","fullyFundedDate":1730141229072,"projectUrl":"project/ap-world-classroom-engagement/8843297/","projectTitle":"AP World Classroom Engagement","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. N Ahmed","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9372549_orig.jpg?crop=1747,1747,x1518,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755542402624","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9372549"},{"teacherId":9768968,"projectId":9196374,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our DonorsChoose project, \"Celebrate Resilience, and Inspire Future Generations in Reading.\" Because of your generosity, my AP African American Studies students now have access to powerful and engaging books that have truly transformed our classroom. My students were able to expand their reading of entire books and not simply excerpts and short quotes. \r\n\r\nThese resources have deepened their understanding of African American history and the Black experience, highlighting the resilience, achievements, and vital contributions of African Americans to our shared national story. Your support is not only helping students learn — it's inspiring them to think critically, empathize deeply, and envision a more just future.\r\n\r\nI am so grateful for your investment in their education. Thank you for making a lasting impact!","fullyFundedDate":1744290648522,"projectUrl":"project/celebrate-resilience-and-inspire-future/9196374/","projectTitle":"Celebrate Resilience, and Inspire Future Generations in Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Isaac","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9768968_orig.jpg?crop=2316,2316,x0,y386&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742579621095","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9768968"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_1196","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":2445,"numTeachers":142,"percentFrplEligible":80,"percentAsian":7,"percentBlack":29,"percentWhite":10,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":48,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"17.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":70.0,"schoolId":1196,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Curtis High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Curtis High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/new-york-city-dept-of-ed/curtis-high-school/1196"}