{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"PS 181 Brooklyn","outOfStateSupporters":38.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7792280,"projectId":10016406,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding the new organizational shelving for our STEM lab! This shelf finally provides a secure, dedicated home for our two MakerBot Sketch 3D printers. For our young learners, 3D printing bridges the gap between abstract digital concepts and physical reality. Instead of just consuming technology, students use computer-aided design to actively engineer solutions, developing crucial spatial reasoning and applied math skills in the process.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting aspect of this new setup is the visibility. Displaying Hudson and Bronx safely at the perfect height allows students to gather around and watch their digital blueprints become physical objects, layer by layer. This organization has turned a previously cluttered corner into a professional-feeling makerspace, streamlining our workflow from laptop design to final prototype.\r\n\r\nThis setup has been especially profound for diverse learners who sometimes struggle with traditional, paper-based tasks. The hands-on, visual nature of 3D printing allows them to demonstrate mastery of scientific principles in a tactile way. Having this organized space gives them a real sense of ownership over the equipment, and I've watched students who usually hesitate in class eagerly step up to lead intricate design projects. Thank you for investing in inclusive, hands-on learning!","fullyFundedDate":1770437721693,"projectUrl":"project/organize-print-inspire/10016406/","projectTitle":"Organize. Print. Inspire!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. B","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/lbenasaraf"},{"teacherId":7792280,"projectId":9323401,"letterContent":"It was an exciting day last spring when our packages arrived! the students were thrilled to receive the hamster habitat and supplies, as well as the butterfly habitat and caterpillars as a product of your generous donation. \r\n\r\nMy students utilized the resources you donated to upgrade their hamster to a larger and more humane habitat. DJ loves her new home and can be found exploring every nook and cranny of her new digs. \r\n\r\nThe students also utilized the butterfly habitat and caterpillars this spring as they watched the caterpillars grow, change, and fly! We gathered the school community for a butterfly release event that was enjoyed by all. \r\n\r\nLooking forward to providing many more exciting scientific opportunities for my students with help from donors like you!","fullyFundedDate":1746785601381,"projectUrl":"project/float-like-a-butterfly-spin-like-a-hams/9323401/","projectTitle":"Float Like a Butterfly, Spin Like a Hamster!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. B","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/lbenasaraf"},{"teacherId":2490093,"projectId":8939917,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for benefitting the OT students at 181 with these most wonderful and supportive sensory tools! The word puzzles and sight words sentence puzzles are fun and intriguing games that promote literacy! The students have been utilizing these to practice their letter-sound correspondence, and word/ sentence building. Research shows that children learn best through play. I have already seen how much more successful the students are at building words and sentences accurately, when they do so with these supports! The noticeable improvement in students' success as a result of these games, has inspired me to think about how these puzzles can be utilized class-wide, to encourage class-wide literacy success.\r\nThe Lakeshore behavior cards have facilitated improvements in behavior that previous verbal prompts and visual cues did not achieve. The visuals on these cards, and the wisdom in their design for encouraging student participation, exceeded my expectations. Specifically, the stop sign, ear (for \"listen\") sign, and \"point to\" signs have been invaluable at redirecting students back to their tasks, and helping them follow classroom directions.\r\nThe weighted lap pad has been helping students sit on their rug spot in class, and perform their fine motor tasks in a more self-regulated way. The weight allows better proximal stability for increased mobility of the limbs during fine-motor work such as writing. \r\nLast, the gator golf has been a really fun way to practice visual-motor coordination, while being the wonderful visual to remind students of their \"alligator fingers\" for proper pencil grasp. \r\nThank you so much for making this all possible!","fullyFundedDate":1743271329361,"projectUrl":"project/alligator-fingers/8939917/","projectTitle":"Alligator Fingers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Handler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2490093_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449357887660","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/goldy-handler"},{"teacherId":2490093,"projectId":9167699,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing my students with the Buttons Pizzaz kit. It is now one of our most utilized tools in occupational therapy. Although we have used busy boards with clothing fasteners before, these did not facilitate the hand & finger strength and buttons skills that this tool makes possible. The large felt button holes, and user friendly buttons, make buttoning easy to understand and learn. The added challenge of replicating the patterns on pattern cards, makes the activity motivating. The students love earning points on their positive reinforcement (prize) charts for copying the patterns while buttoning the pieces.\r\nAdditionally, the weighted lap pad and lap buddy are providing comfort both emotionally and physically. The students can focus on their work while enjoying the soothing and uplifting input of a sensory \"blanket\" (as they like to call it) on their lap. The students pretend to befriend the weighted puppy, as part of their sensory integration activities. \r\n\r\nYour contribution to our project made our OT sessions complete and extraordinarily special. There is no comparison between having the tools the students need to succeed, and making do with whatever's available. Thank you for doing so much for the OT students.","fullyFundedDate":1742815306981,"projectUrl":"project/button-we-cant-weight/9167699/","projectTitle":"But(ton), We Can't \"Weight\"!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Handler","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2490093_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1449357887660","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/goldy-handler"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_621","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":569,"numTeachers":47,"percentFrplEligible":82,"percentAsian":1,"percentBlack":80,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":2,"percentLatinx":10,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":1,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"12.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":61.2,"schoolId":621,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about PS 181 Brooklyn on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"PS 181 Brooklyn","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/new-york-city-dept-of-ed/ps-181-john-steptoe/621"}
Join the 931 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
PS 181 Brooklyn is
an urban public school
in Brooklyn, New York that is part of New York City Dept Of Ed.
It serves 569 students
in grades Pre-K - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 12.1:1.
Its teachers have had 442 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
Public School
Title 1
Data about Title 1 status comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
Grades Pre-K - 8
569 Students
47 Teachers
1023 New York AveContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
Boost support for this school! Share this page with friends, family, alumni, and fellow supporters. Every connection helps teachers get the supplies they need and shows how much your community cares about its students.
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Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.
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
93%
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.
PS 181 Brooklyn Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated May 25, 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.
PS 181 Brooklyn
$212,327
raised using DonorsChoose
442
projects
funded
53
teachers
funded
931
donors
22
projects
for
basic supplies
31
projects for
technology
22
projects for
books
8
projects
for
art supplies
PS 181 Brooklyn has received support from
570 individuals from New York and
361 individuals out-of-state.
