Ranchos Middle School in Madera, California on DonorsChoose

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They designed and built **bridges that had to span 20 inches**, requiring them to think carefully about structure, stability, materials, and how to improve their designs when something did not work as planned. They have also created **Rube Goldberg machines**, where they had to combine creativity, problem-solving, and engineering to build a working chain reaction. Students have also been designing and testing **planes**, making adjustments based on how their designs perform.\r\n\r\nOne of my favorite things to see has been the level of persistence these projects bring out in students. When a bridge does not hold, a Rube Goldberg machine stops halfway through, or a plane does not fly the way they expected, they have to determine why, make changes, and try again. Those moments are helping students understand that engineering is not about getting something perfect on the first attempt—it is about testing ideas, learning from the results, and continually improving.\r\n\r\nAnd we are just getting started! Our next step is to continue using these materials for additional MESA engineering projects and challenges throughout the year. Students will continue building, testing, redesigning, collaborating, and developing the problem-solving skills that are at the heart of STEM.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our MESA students and helping make these experiences possible. Your support has provided much more than equipment—it has given students opportunities to be engineers, innovators, problem-solvers, and creators in our classroom. We are incredibly grateful for your generosity and the opportunities you have provided our students!","fullyFundedDate":1778265313639,"projectUrl":"project/build-test-innovate-stem-equipment-fo/10243797/","projectTitle":"Build, Test, Innovate: STEM Equipment for MESA","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Colwell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9828069_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x392,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1737750288744","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9828069"},{"teacherId":4372973,"projectId":9928872,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity of helping fund the sewing supplies for my classroom. I have 3 classes that are learning how to sew by hand. Using the supplies provided, I was able to teach them how to thread a need, tie knots, and learn three different sewing stitches. With this knowledge, they've created 2 sewing projects and are working on sewing monsters that local kindergartners designed. We will be traveling to the school that the kinders attend to give each of them their monster stuffed animal. \r\nThe students have enjoyed sewing and some have learned a hobby that they now do on their own at home! Thank you for helping me provide these life skills to my students!","fullyFundedDate":1771010486753,"projectUrl":"project/sewing-supplies/9928872/","projectTitle":"Sewing Supplies!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Moore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4372973_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1490243411099","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4372973"},{"teacherId":9828069,"projectId":9881080,"letterContent":"Your generous donation has directly supported our MESA engineering builds, including our Cargo Plane challenge, MESA Machine (Rube Goldberg), Crime Scene Investigation lab, and Moon Base design project.\r\n\r\nStudents used the balsa wood and cutting mats to construct structural components for their cargo planes and lunar habitats, learning precision, load distribution, and structural stability. The sandpaper allowed them to refine joints and strengthen designs before testing.\r\n\r\nIn our MESA Machine (Rube Goldberg) project, materials like pulleys, ping pong balls, balloons, resistance bands, straws, and building bricks helped students design complex chain-reaction systems that demonstrate force, motion, and energy transfer. Students tested repeatedly, adjusting angles and tension to improve reliability.\r\n\r\nWhen the supplies arrived, students were excited to work with authentic materials. They immediately began brainstorming improvements and creative solutions. During one cargo plane test, when a structure failed under load, students quickly analyzed weak points and redesigned — demonstrating resilience and true engineering thinking.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, students are not just completing assignments — they are designing, testing, problem-solving, and thinking like engineers.","fullyFundedDate":1763578294452,"projectUrl":"project/makers-in-motion-hands-on-stem-challeng/9881080/","projectTitle":"Makers in Motion: Hands-On STEM Challenges","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Colwell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9828069_orig.jpg?crop=2208,2208,x392,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1737750288744","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9828069"},{"teacherId":4372973,"projectId":9928849,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my classroom by purchasing canvases and scissors for my students to use. We used the canvases for our embroidery project. They picked a design for the holiday season then recreated that design on their canvas by using various embroidery stitches. The scissors have been used for numerous assignments and projects already. We will use them primarily to cut paper since we don't want to use our sewing scissors for paper. \r\nThank you again for your generosity and kindness. Your help and support is truly appreciated.","fullyFundedDate":1764524785071,"projectUrl":"project/scissors-canvases/9928849/","projectTitle":"Scissors & Canvases","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Moore","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp4372973_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1490243411099","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4372973"},{"teacherId":9828069,"projectId":9534492,"letterContent":"I want to extend my sincere gratitude for your generous support of our STEM classroom. Your donations have truly transformed our learning environment into a space filled with creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Because of your kindness, my students have had the opportunity to take on exciting engineering challenges that bring science and design to life in meaningful ways.\r\n\r\nThis year, we've built cargo planes that can carry weight, self-launching planes that soar across the room, spider web bridges designed for maximum strength, self-moving cars powered by creative energy, and even moon bases built to withstand meteor impacts. Each project has sparked incredible teamwork, problem-solving, and perseverance. It's been amazing to watch students experiment, make adjustments, and celebrate when their designs finally work.\r\n\r\nThe new building materials—and especially the robotics charge hub—have helped make all of this possible. Having the right tools has given students the freedom to explore ideas without frustration and to see themselves as true engineers and innovators. One of my favorite moments was seeing a student who usually hangs back take the lead in explaining how her group redesigned their bridge to handle more weight. These moments of confidence and discovery are exactly what your generosity inspires.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the power of hands-on learning and for helping me create a classroom where curiosity drives success. 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Then they were able to use the mannequins and play dough to display their outfit creations. \r\nThey truly enjoyed the creativity they could express in the assignments and loved being able to use the mannequins like actual designers use. 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About this school

Ranchos Middle School is a rural public school in Madera, California that is part of Golden Valley Unified School District. It serves 503 students in grades 7 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 35.9:1. Its teachers have had 24 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 7 - 8

503 Students

14 Teachers

12455 Road 35 1/2

Madera, CA 93636 View local requests

http://www.gvusd.org

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Ranchos Middle School to request what their students need.

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Ranchos Middle School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Colwell

Mr. Igoe

Mrs. Moore

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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.

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Ranchos Middle School Demographics

50%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

59%

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.

Ranchos Middle School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Aug 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.