Florence Middle School in Florence, Texas on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Florence Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":23.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9934439,"projectId":9248859,"letterContent":"I want to express my deepest gratitude for your generous donation of art books. This collection has been an incredible asset to my classroom, allowing me to integrate art and reading in a truly meaningful way. The impact on my students has been remarkable, and I'm excited to share how your gift has helped them grow.\r\n\r\nMany of our donors love to read, but they might not realize how reading can enhance an art curriculum. Your donation has allowed me to teach my students that books are not just for story time; they are a vital tool for artists. The books have helped them learn how to use reading for research and inspiration, a crucial skill for any artist. Students now understand the context of their art projects, learning about the art movements and historical periods that influenced the artists they study. This has deepened their appreciation and understanding beyond simply replicating a picture. They've also learned to make connections between different artistic styles and to see the evolution of art history.\r\n\r\nIn my classroom, reading is an active part of the creative process. It's not just a quiet activity; it's a dynamic one. You'll find students collaborating, flipping through books together to find inspiration or look up details about a specific artist. They sit on the floor surrounded by books, sketching ideas directly from the pages, and discussing the different techniques they've discovered. They use the books to inform their creative decisions, which has made their artwork more thoughtful and intentional.\r\n\r\nThis project has resonated with all my students, but a few have truly blossomed. One student, who is a talented artist but has always been a reluctant reader, has been completely captivated by the books. They've been spending their free time with the books, tracing images of famous sculptures and trying to replicate them in clay. Another student, who struggles with finding a theme for their projects, has been especially drawn to the books about art movements. They've been exploring Surrealism and using the books as a guide to create their own dream-like compositions, which have been some of their most imaginative pieces yet.\r\n\r\nThank you once again for your incredible support. Your donation has not only provided my students with valuable resources but has also sparked their curiosity and expanded their creative horizons in ways I couldn't have imagined.","fullyFundedDate":1746785886180,"projectUrl":"project/a-canvas-of-words-building-readers-in-t/9248859/","projectTitle":"A Canvas of Words: Building Readers in the Art Room","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ortiz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9934439_orig.png?crop=550,550,x0,y73&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757077858062","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9934439"},{"teacherId":9934439,"projectId":9139454,"letterContent":"We are so incredibly grateful for your generous donation to our art classroom. The impact was immediate and powerful. When the boxes of supplies arrived, my students eyes lit up as they discovered the variety of paints, paintbrushes, and other materials we simply don't have the budget for. They were especially excited about the brand new easels that made them feel like real artists, allowing them to paint anywhere in the building, not just our classroom. This was a truly special moment, as many of them had never had the chance to work with such a diverse set of tools.\r\n\r\nWe immediately put the new resources to use with our \"Nature's Palette\" project. The students are now able to experiment with blending a wider range of colors and using different brush strokes to create texture, which was impossible with our old supplies. Your contribution helped our students create stunning work that was featured in the Annual School District Art Show, giving them an incredible sense of pride and accomplishment. Your contribution didn't just provide supplies; it unlocked new possibilities for hands-on learning and exploration.\r\n\r\nYour contribution has opened up so many new possibilities for our curriculum. The \"Nature's Palette\" project is just the beginning. The next steps for our students will involve using the new palette knives and sponges to explore abstract techniques and create non-traditional textures and forms. The students are already buzzing with ideas and can't wait to continue building on their skills. Thank you again for making such a meaningful difference in our students' lives and inspiring a new level of creativity in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1743092690292,"projectUrl":"project/reviving-expression-a-call-for-support/9139454/","projectTitle":"Reviving Expression: A call for support for our Art Program","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ortiz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9934439_orig.png?crop=550,550,x0,y73&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1757077858062","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9934439"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_11852","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":250,"numTeachers":19,"percentFrplEligible":76,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":39,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":57,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"13.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":76.5,"schoolId":11852,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Florence Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Florence Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/florence-independent-school-district/florence-middle-school/11852"}

About this school

Florence Middle School is a rural public school in Florence, Texas that is part of Florence Independent School District. It serves 250 students in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 13.2:1. Its teachers have had 3 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 6 - 8

250 Students

19 Teachers

718 S Patterson Ave

Florence, TX 76527 View local requests

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Florence Middle School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Ms. Ortiz

Coach Pena

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.

See how DonorsChoose works

Florence Middle School Demographics

76%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

57%

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.

Florence Middle 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.