Villareal Elementary School in Olmito, Texas on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Villareal Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":26.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9939117,"projectId":9422219,"letterContent":"We are using the new classroom supplies every single day across all subject areas. Pencils and erasers are used during daily writing, math practice, and assessments, while folders help students stay organized with their reading responses, notes, and ongoing projects. Glue sticks are especially important during interactive notebooks, vocabulary activities, and hands-on projects where students cut, sort, and assemble their learning. One meaningful moment was seeing students begin a writing assignment immediately without stopping to ask for a pencil or worrying about whether they had the supplies they needed. Because of these resources, learning time is maximized and students are able to focus fully on their work.\r\nWhen students first received the materials, they were excited and relieved. Many students were proud to have their own supplies and immediately began organizing their folders and using their new pencils. Some students shared that they often worry about losing supplies or not having what they need, and having access to these materials helped them feel prepared and confident. The overall classroom atmosphere became more positive, as students felt supported and ready to learn without stress or embarrassment.\r\nThanks to our donors, students now have a strong foundation for learning, and the next steps involve continuing meaningful, uninterrupted instruction. Students are currently working on daily writing assignments, reading responses, and hands-on projects that require consistent access to these basic tools. Because these essential supplies are readily available, students can stay engaged, take academic risks, and complete their work with confidence. Your generosity has allowed us to create an equitable classroom where all students can focus on learning rather than worrying about basic materials. We are deeply grateful for your support and for helping our students succeed every day.","fullyFundedDate":1760712352935,"projectUrl":"project/stock-our-success-supplies-for-bright-m/9422219/","projectTitle":"Stock Our Success: Supplies for Bright Minds!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cuellar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9939117_orig.png?crop=142,142,x57,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750445374894","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9939117"},{"teacherId":9939117,"projectId":9599349,"letterContent":"We are using the lamps daily during reading, writing, and small-group instruction. One of my favorite moments was during independent reading time—students chose their spots, turned on the lamps, and immediately settled in with their books. The softer lighting helped create a calm, focused environment where students felt comfortable and engaged. It truly transformed our classroom into a cozy learning space.\r\nWhen students first saw the lamps, they were so excited. Many of them said things like, \"It feels like home in here!\" Several students shared that the harsh overhead lights used to bother their eyes or make it hard to focus. As soon as the lamps were turned on, they noticed how much more relaxed and comfortable the classroom felt.\r\nNext, we are using this cozy environment to support deeper reading comprehension and thoughtful writing. Students are currently working on extended reading responses and personal narratives, and the lamps help create a safe, calm space where they can think, reflect, and write with confidence. This environment encourages students to stay engaged longer and take greater ownership of their learning.","fullyFundedDate":1760105913530,"projectUrl":"project/organized-minds-brighter-learning/9599349/","projectTitle":"Organized Minds, Brighter Learning!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cuellar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9939117_orig.png?crop=142,142,x57,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750445374894","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9939117"},{"teacherId":9939117,"projectId":9422249,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support! Your contribution has made a huge difference in creating a calmer and more comfortable learning environment for my students. The new lighting has completely transformed our classroom atmosphere — it now feels warm, welcoming, and relaxing.\r\n\r\nMy students often comment on how much they love the cozy vibe and how it helps them stay focused and calm throughout the day. It's amazing to see how something as simple as improved lighting can make such a big impact on their mood, attention, and overall learning experience.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has truly brightened our classroom — in more ways than one. Thank you for helping me create a space where students feel happy, safe, and ready to learn each day.","fullyFundedDate":1750773651782,"projectUrl":"project/let-there-be-lightbut-make-it-cozy/9422249/","projectTitle":"Let There Be Light—But Make It Cozy!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cuellar","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9939117_orig.png?crop=142,142,x57,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1750445374894","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9939117"},{"teacherId":6843902,"projectId":8136784,"letterContent":"Your gracious donation of these beautiful interactive books fostered so much learning for my students! Early childhood book learning awareness focuses on introducing young children to the concept of books and how they work. This includes understanding the different parts of a book, such as the cover, spine, and pages, title page, illustrations as well as how to handle and care for books. Additionally, children learn about the relationship between spoken and printed words, recognizing that words have meaning and are read in a specific order (left to right, top to bottom).\r\nReading in my classroom looks like a whole group carpet read aloud story time. I read these beautiful pop up story books to the kiddos! As I read, we pause to discuss together out loud things like the elements of the story, print awareness, word and sentence identification, illustrations for context clues, etc. \r\nStudents also have access to these beautiful books in their library play center corner where they can use the books by themselves or with classmates to practice storytelling, reading, turning pages, discovery, predictions, etc. \r\nStudents who are more on the shy side, or introverted are the ones who most enjoy being able to look and discover these beautiful books. I always catch them smiling when playing with these pop up books and creating their own dialogue to the story! They are a very good resource to help them with building oral language skills.","fullyFundedDate":1713367451582,"projectUrl":"project/create-a-love-for-books-in-a-clean-organ/8136784/","projectTitle":"Create a Love for Books in a Clean Organized Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Watson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6843902_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y484&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754401736065","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6843902"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_8088","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":452,"numTeachers":25,"percentFrplEligible":77,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":5,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":94,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"18.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":73.7,"schoolId":8088,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Villareal Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Villareal Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/texas/los-fresnos-consolidated-independent-school-district/villareal-elementary-school/8088"}

About this school

Villareal Elementary School is a suburban public school in Olmito, Texas that is part of Los Fresnos Consolidated Independent School District. It serves 452 students in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 18.1:1. Its teachers have had 10 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 5

452 Students

25 Teachers

7700 E Lakeside Blvd

Olmito, TX 78575 View local requests

http://ves.lfcisd.net

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Villareal Elementary School to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Villareal Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for public school teachers.

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.

See how DonorsChoose works

Villareal Elementary School Demographics

77%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

94%

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.

Villareal Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Feb 9, 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.