{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Vestal Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":48.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":4053957,"projectId":9315890,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for the supplies! The art project turned out great however I only have one picture of the results. The kids loved the way they got to experiment with paints and their favorite word. It was truly inspirational! I will be doing this project again! Even my principal loved the turn out!\r\nI did get this idea from a commercial in Portland Oregon. It was a commercial that focuses on mental health and how it can be messy but acknowledging your challenges will be beneficial to not only you but the people around you. It was a great community builder and excited to see what this year class comes up with!","fullyFundedDate":1746539145342,"projectUrl":"project/going-pollock-with-words/9315890/","projectTitle":"Going Pollock With Words","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4053957_orig.jpg?crop=360,360,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1565230752868","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4053957"},{"teacherId":9889794,"projectId":9276180,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your donations to our classroom. I waited until the beginning of the school year to break out the new materials, so seeing them get to experience these additions to our classroom on the first day was exciting. I got to loop up to 5th grade with many of my 4th grade students, so I have quite a few who are in the same room this year. I think these things helped them feel like they were coming into a new classroom! \r\n\r\nStudents are loving the new books. Many of them now complain when independent reading time is over. They are enjoying these stories so much that they don't want to put their books away. The addition of the lamps has also been a huge benefit. Our overhead florescent lights are very intense, so the classroom is a much more enjoyable place to be with warmer lighting. Students have told me our classroom is cozy now, which I love! They enjoy being in our space which helps them to learn and grow!\r\n\r\nI appreciate your thoughtfulness and generosity to my classroom. You have made an impact on these students and their school experience!","fullyFundedDate":1745958060259,"projectUrl":"project/5th-grade-classroom-refresh/9276180/","projectTitle":"5th Grade Classroom Refresh","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Anna","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-8_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9889794"},{"teacherId":4053957,"projectId":9105839,"letterContent":"With much appreciation, my classroom is now equipped with not only the skills of using an actual dictionary and thesaurus, they have the opportunity to edit their writing and check their spelling! What an amazing gift this is for our classroom community. We also donated some of the extra books to other classrooms in our school! I came up with a game to see who can find a word the fastest. It is a great way to practice looking up the words. The thesauruses are great as well. The students are really into finding other words that have the same meaning-This helps grow vocabulary and makes their writing more eloquent and entertaining!","fullyFundedDate":1739375886505,"projectUrl":"project/2-words-dictionarythesaurus-equals-many/9105839/","projectTitle":"2 Words-Dictionary/Thesaurus Equals Many Words","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4053957_orig.jpg?crop=360,360,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1565230752868","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4053957"},{"teacherId":5812989,"projectId":9050452,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donations to our classroom! Through the items we received, we have been able to set up centers, rotations, to increase student independence.\r\nThese resources were a welcome addition to our centers, creating multiple engaging rotations that the students have enjoyed exploring!\r\nWe are very excited to be able to use these resources to begin in planning engaging and exciting center rotations for our students in the coming school year!\r\nThank you again for your generous gift to our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1739375884069,"projectUrl":"project/make-our-learning-fun/9050452/","projectTitle":"Make Our Learning Fun!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Nicole","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5812989_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1650226382641","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-takalo"},{"teacherId":9937218,"projectId":9147127,"letterContent":"Repainting the school blacktop has had such a positive impact on both students and families at our school. The revitalized surface has renewed the playground into a more inviting, organized, and engaging space for children. Brightly painted lines for hopscotch, four square, and basketball courts have encouraged more physical activity and imaginative play during recess, helping students develop motor skills, cooperation, and social interaction. I've had a number of students, parents and teachers alike approach me with positive words about the new paint.\r\n\r\nFor families, the upgraded blacktop serves as a symbol of the school's commitment to providing a safe, vibrant, and inclusive space for their children. The new paint also supports community events, making the blacktop a more welcoming space for gatherings, family nights, and after-school programs. Overall, this simple yet impactful project has strengthened the connection between home and school by creating a more dynamic and enjoyable environment for everyone.","fullyFundedDate":1741542097451,"projectUrl":"project/playground-make-over/9147127/","projectTitle":"Playground Make-Over!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Wood","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9937218"},{"teacherId":4053957,"projectId":8635859,"letterContent":"Thank you for giving our classroom the opportunity to better understand the world around us. The maps are beautiful and are easily read due to the size and how they are able to adjust during different subjects. \r\n\r\nWe are studying the American Revolutions so the World map is a huge support when understanding the layout of travel and where the sides are located.\r\n\r\nAnother subject that we are studying is local Oregon Tribes since Time Immemorial. This social studies unit is very place based knowledge so the Oregon map is crucial for students to understand the vast amount of Indigenous land we are on.\r\n\r\nLastly, we are using the US map for our Science unit which is based on Earth Science : The Ever Changing Earth. Students will understand how the Missoula floods help create our own beautiful Columbia Gorge and how erosion changes the earth around us!\r\nActually, last but not least-the markers!! Kiddos love new markers and are taking great care of them!","fullyFundedDate":1733284492838,"projectUrl":"project/maps-and-markers-and-making-community/8635859/","projectTitle":"Maps and Markers and Making Community","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gina","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp4053957_orig.jpg?crop=360,360,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1565230752868","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/4053957"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_88255","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":257,"numTeachers":26,"percentFrplEligible":65,"percentAsian":8,"percentBlack":10,"percentWhite":42,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":19,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"9.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":51.5,"schoolId":88255,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Vestal Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Vestal Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/oregon/portland-public-schools/vestal-elementary-school/88255"}

Vestal Elementary School

Join the 421 supporters who believe in this school.

About this school

Vestal Elementary School is an urban public school in Portland, Oregon that is part of Portland Public Schools. It serves 257 students in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 9.9:1. Its teachers have had 84 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 5

257 Students

26 Teachers

161 NE 82nd Ave

Portland, OR 97220 View local requests

http://www.pps.net/schools/vestal

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Vestal Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Ms. Anna

Mrs. Fitzpatrick-Bjorn

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Vestal Elementary School Demographics

65%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

38%

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.

Vestal Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 15, 2025

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.

Vestal Elementary School

$49,083

raised using DonorsChoose

projects funded

teachers funded

421

donors

projects for basic supplies

projects for technology

projects for books

projects for art supplies

Vestal Elementary School has received support from 217 individuals from Oregon and 204 individuals out-of-state.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Vestal Elementary School

About this school

Equity Focus School

Vestal Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

Vestal Elementary School Demographics

Vestal Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 15, 2025

Vestal Elementary School

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.