{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Thunder Ridge Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":30.4,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9240380,"projectId":9581611,"letterContent":"Thanks to this project, our 8th grade science students have been able to experience science and engineering in a truly hands-on, meaningful way through the use of a 3D printer. Rather than only designing on paper, students now see their ideas come to life as physical objects. During our egg drop engineering challenge, students designed and built an egg drop protection device using paper, straws, tape, string, and a gallon bag. Then using the 3D printer we printed a prototype sized like an ostrich egg that securely holds a normal egg inside. This allowed students to test scale, structure, and protection in a way that would not have been possible otherwise. The excitement continued with the creation of a trophy featuring a large printed egg on top, giving students a tangible celebration of their problem-solving and creativity.\r\n\r\nWhat has been most powerful about this technology is how it supports our classroom's emphasis on real-life connections and learning through connecting experiences in class to student's own background. The 3D printer allows us to quickly print, manipulate, and model ideas in multiple ways, helping students better understand concepts that can otherwise feel abstract. Students use printed fidgets to support focus and self-regulation, battery holders to safely explore circuits and magnetism, and custom models that connect directly to the phenomena we study. As we move into genetics and natural selection, students will use printed DNA structures and skeletal pieces to examine how traits are inherited and how physical features change over time. By turning ideas into objects students can touch, test, and revise, the 3D printer helps bridge the gap between classroom science and the real world, making learning more meaningful and accessible for all students.","fullyFundedDate":1759188104437,"projectUrl":"project/from-hypothesis-to-prototype-3d-printin/9581611/","projectTitle":"From Hypothesis to Prototype: 3D Printing in Science","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Pesavento","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9240380"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_59199","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1106,"numTeachers":74,"percentFrplEligible":40,"percentAsian":7,"percentBlack":10,"percentWhite":48,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":23,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"14.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":69.6,"schoolId":59199,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Thunder Ridge Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Thunder Ridge Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/colorado/cherry-creek-school-district-5/thunder-ridge-middle-school/59199"}
Join the 23 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Thunder Ridge Middle School is
a suburban public school
in Centennial, Colorado that is part of Cherry Creek School District 5.
It serves 1,106 students
in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.9:1.
Its teachers have had 107 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Public School
Grades 6 - 8
1,106 Students
74 Teachers
5250 S Picadilly StContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
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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
40%
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.
Thunder Ridge Middle School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Feb 11, 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.
Thunder Ridge Middle School
$82,578
raised using DonorsChoose
107
projects
funded
68
teachers
funded
23
donors
19
projects
for
basic supplies
31
projects for
technology
15
projects for
books
6
projects
for
art supplies
Thunder Ridge Middle School has received support from
16 individuals from Colorado and
7 individuals out-of-state.
