{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Desmet Elementary School #20","outOfStateSupporters":35.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7270560,"projectId":9898858,"letterContent":"Thank you for providing our classroom with a new KitchenAid mixer. Your generosity has made a tremendous difference in our annual gingerbread house engineering project. Each year, students design their own templates, calculate measurements, and build houses using dough we make completely from scratch. The new mixer allows us to prepare large batches efficiently and evenly, creating sturdy pieces that bake consistently and hold their shape. Instead of troubleshooting cracked walls or uneven dough, students can focus on precision, design, and structural problem-solving.\r\n\r\nWhen the mixer arrived, students were immediately excited. They gathered around as we unboxed it, noticing its size and professional feel. Many had only seen a mixer like this at home or on television, so having one in our classroom made the project feel official and important. Watching the first batch mix smoothly set a confident tone for the entire experience. They felt proud and supported, knowing others had invested in their learning.\r\n\r\nNext, students will test structural strength by comparing wall thickness and icing techniques, then reflect on how closely their finished houses match their original blueprints. This project will lead to a larger engineering unit focused on stability and design. Your support has strengthened hands-on learning and inspired our students to think like true builders and problem-solvers.","fullyFundedDate":1763341610340,"projectUrl":"project/engineering-at-its-finest-gingerbread-h/9898858/","projectTitle":"Engineering at Its Finest: Gingerbread House Construction","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bateman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7270560"},{"teacherId":7270560,"projectId":8722629,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the opportunity to bring hands-on math and science projects into my middle school classroom. Your generous support has allowed my students to deepen their understanding of key scientific concepts and sharpen their critical thinking skills in a way that is both exciting and meaningful.\r\n\r\nThanks to your funding, we've explored topics like the laws of motion, simple machines, gravity, and friction. One of the biggest highlights was our use of the K'NEX roller coaster kits. Students collaborated in small groups to build functioning roller coasters, applying their knowledge to identify key components such as potential and kinetic energy, acceleration, and the role of friction. Watching their ideas come to life and seeing their faces light up when the coaster successfully ran the track was an unforgettable experience.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, the rocket launcher you helped us purchase has been a powerful tool for learning. We designed and launched 2 liter bottle rockets while discussing concepts such as thrust, air resistance, trajectory, and Newton's Third Law of Motion. These launches not only sparked enthusiasm, but also served as real-time experiments where students gathered data, made predictions, and reflected on outcomes.\r\n\r\nYour support has made our classroom come alive with curiosity and discovery. I can't thank you enough for believing in the value of hands-on learning and investing in our future scientists, engineers, and innovators. You've helped create a space where students are excited to learn, explore, and think critically about the world around them.","fullyFundedDate":1725232941727,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-middle-school-students-throug/8722629/","projectTitle":"Empowering Middle School Students Through Real-World Math and STEM Integration","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bateman","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7270560"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_78600","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":129,"numTeachers":8,"percentFrplEligible":70,"percentAsian":4,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":85,"percentIndigenous":2,"percentLatinx":2,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"16.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":64.3,"schoolId":78600,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Desmet Elementary School #20 on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Desmet Elementary School #20","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/montana/desmet-school-district-20/desmet-elementary-school/78600"}
Join the 14 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Desmet Elementary School #20 is
an urban public school
in Missoula, Montana that is part of Desmet School District 20.
It serves 129 students
in grades K - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 16.1:1.
Its teachers have had 16 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Share and help support Desmet Elementary School #20
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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
8%
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.
Desmet Elementary School #20 Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Feb 19, 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.
Desmet Elementary School #20
$7,057
raised using DonorsChoose
16
projects
funded
12
teachers
funded
14
donors
4
projects for
technology
8
projects for
books
Desmet Elementary School #20 has received support from
9 individuals from Montana and
5 individuals out-of-state.
