{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Schmid Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":23.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8881353,"projectId":9687819,"letterContent":"The Adafruit Circuit Playground Express helps my students learn important STEM concepts by giving them a hands-on way to explore how technology works. Instead of only reading about ideas like inputs, outputs, and coding, students can program the device and immediately see their code come to life through lights, sounds, and motion.\r\nFor example, students learn about cause-and-effect relationships in coding by writing programs that control the board's LED lights or respond to button presses. They also explore sensors and data by using the built-in temperature, light, and motion sensors to understand how computers collect information from the environment. Students test their code, notice when something doesn't work, and then revise their program to improve it. This process helps them practice persistence and logical thinking while building confidence in their ability to create with technology.\r\n\r\nThe most exciting part for my students about the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express is the ability to interact directly with the technology they are programming. Instead of just writing code on a screen, students can press buttons, tilt the board, make sounds, and watch the colorful LED lights respond to the programs they create.\r\nThis interaction makes learning feel more like experimentation and discovery. Students love seeing their code immediately affect the device—whether that means lighting up a pattern of LEDs, triggering sounds, or creating a reaction when the board is shaken or moved. It gives them a sense of ownership because they can physically test and explore the projects they build.\r\nThe hands-on interaction helps students feel like real creators and engineers. They get excited knowing that the code they write can control a real device, and that excitement keeps them motivated to try new ideas, test different solutions, and keep improving their projects.\r\n\r\nMany of my students have really warmed to using the Adafruit Circuit Playground Express, especially because they enjoy learning through hands-on experiences. In general, students in my classroom prefer projects where they can actively build, test, and experiment. This hands-on approach has helped many students stay engaged and curious. They enjoy working through challenges, testing their code, and collaborating with classmates to improve their projects. Overall, the technology has created an environment where students feel comfortable exploring, making mistakes, and learning through experimentation.","fullyFundedDate":1758586566333,"projectUrl":"project/making-leds-come-alive-with-sensor-data/9687819/","projectTitle":"Making LEDs Come Alive With Sensor Data and Code","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8881353_orig.jpg?crop=556,556,x12,y44&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1669830246130","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8881353"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5803","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":181,"numTeachers":14,"percentFrplEligible":93,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":95,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":4,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"12.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":76.2,"schoolId":5803,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Schmid Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Schmid Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/schmid-elementary-school/5803"}
Join the 105 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Schmid Elementary School is
an urban public school
in Chicago, Illinois that is part of Chicago Public School District 299.
It serves 181 students
in grades Pre-K - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 12.9:1.
Its teachers have had 31 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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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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
99%
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.
Schmid Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Mar 18, 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.
Schmid Elementary School
$20,012
raised using DonorsChoose
31
projects
funded
19
teachers
funded
105
donors
1
project
for
basic supplies
4
projects for
technology
6
projects for
books
1
project
for
art supplies
Schmid Elementary School has received support from
80 individuals from Illinois and
25 individuals out-of-state.
