{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Maryland Avenue Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":11.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8191921,"projectId":9526733,"letterContent":"Our after-school STEM club is in full swing and the new resources you helped fund have truly brought our Cardboard Arcade to life! Each week, our 2nd and 3rd grade engineers gather after school to design, build and problem solve their way through the Engineering Design Process. While they want to instantly build and play their games, they have learned so much about the importance of planning, creating, testing, improving and reflecting. Today they gave each other feedback on their games and it was incredible to see the students use this feedback to improve their games. They are learning so much and probably don't even realize how much learning is happening because they are having so much fun!\r\n\r\nThe materials you provided are always being used in our Maker Space where students can freely access these materials to build their game. The books we start off each session with inspire students and emphasize the qualities of being a maker, failing as a part of the process, how to \"build\" an idea, and what it means to be an engineer. The connections made from these books to the real world of building a cardboard arcade in STEM class are priceless.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite moments with these students is when they watched \"Caine's Arcade\", a YouTube video on a real life boy their age who designed a cardboard arcade. Watch it if you get a chance! We used this video to kick off the idea of a cardboard arcade and how we might create one. After the video, students asked if they were going to do what Caine did and when I shared the news that they were, they clapped and cheered! But what I really loved, was watching their creative minds go to work drawing the sketch of their game idea and then walking around our Maker Space to see what materials were available to them to begin building. They absolutely love the Maker Space materials-clay was the most popular followed by masking tape...they love to use masking tape. \r\n\r\nOur next steps are to refine the games while applying what we've learned about resilience and problem-solving. Students are now learning to evaluate their designs, make improvements, and prepare their final displays for our big Cardboard Arcade Grand Opening on November 19th. Thanks to your generosity, they are not only learning STEM concepts but also developing confidence, perseverance, and a love of innovation that will last far beyond this project.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving our young engineers the tools to dream big, design boldly, and discover the joy of creating something from scratch. Your support has made a lasting impact on both their learning and their sense of possibility.","fullyFundedDate":1754344618945,"projectUrl":"project/future-engineers-wanted-apply-after-sch/9526733/","projectTitle":"Future Engineers Wanted: Apply After School!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Ciampa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8191921"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_36899","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":485,"numTeachers":20,"percentFrplEligible":53,"percentAsian":7,"percentBlack":8,"percentWhite":36,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":35,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"24.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":88.7,"schoolId":36899,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Maryland Avenue Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Maryland Avenue Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/la-mesa-spring-valley-school-district/maryland-avenue-elementary-school/36899"}
Join the 97 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Maryland Avenue Elementary School is
a suburban public school
in La Mesa, California that is part of La Mesa Spring Valley School District.
It serves 485 students
in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 24.2:1.
Its teachers have had 24 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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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
50%
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.
Maryland Avenue Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Dec 5, 2025
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Maryland Avenue Elementary School
$12,026
raised using DonorsChoose
24
projects
funded
15
teachers
funded
97
donors
2
projects
for
basic supplies
2
projects for
technology
3
projects for
books
2
projects
for
art supplies
Maryland Avenue Elementary School has received support from
86 individuals from California and
11 individuals out-of-state.