West Prairie Middle School in Colchester, Illinois on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"West Prairie Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":31.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10298762,"projectId":9796526,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our students at West Prairie Junior/Senior High School are stepping into a whole new role—not just as learners, but as creators, storytellers, and leaders.\r\n\r\nWith the addition of the GoPro HERO13 Black Creator Edition and RODE Wireless Go II microphone system, our Cyclone Media Lab is coming to life in ways we could only imagine before. These tools are already transforming how students engage with their learning across classrooms.\r\n\r\nIn our STEM classes, students are producing vlog-style presentations that capture their understanding of energy transfer and chemical reactions. Instead of simply completing a lab report, they are now explaining their thinking on camera—demonstrating processes, narrating results, and making their learning visible. This shift has deepened both their conceptual understanding and their ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.\r\n\r\nEven more exciting is the cross-curricular impact. In partnership with our English classes, students are developing co-curricular vlog projects that blend scientific thinking with storytelling. They are scripting, filming, revising, and publishing content that reflects both analytical thinking and creative expression. For many of our students—especially those in a rural setting with limited access to professional media tools—this is a powerful and empowering experience.\r\n\r\nWe are seeing students take pride in their work in new ways. They are collaborating more, revising more thoughtfully, and pushing themselves to produce high-quality content because they know their work has a real audience. They are not just completing assignments—they are creating something meaningful.\r\n\r\nYour support is helping us build more than a media lab. You are helping us build confidence, voice, and opportunity. You are giving students the chance to see themselves as capable communicators, innovators, and contributors to their community.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in our students and for helping us unleash their curiosity through digital storytelling.","fullyFundedDate":1764184358366,"projectUrl":"project/lens-of-a-learner-unleashing-curiosity/9796526/","projectTitle":"Lens of a Learner: Unleashing Curiosity Through Digital Storytelling","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Benson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10298762_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763495939951","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10298762"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_30492","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":172,"numTeachers":16,"percentFrplEligible":56,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":76,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":0,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"5 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"10.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":68.3,"schoolId":30492,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about West Prairie Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"West Prairie Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/west-prairie-community-school-district-103/west-prairie-middle-school/30492"}

About this school

West Prairie Middle School is a public school in Colchester, Illinois that is part of West Prairie Community School District 103. It serves 172 students in grades 5 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 10.8:1. Its teachers have had 15 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades 5 - 8

172 Students

16 Teachers

600 S Hun St

Colchester, IL 62326 View local requests

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at West Prairie Middle 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

West Prairie Middle School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mr. Benson

Mr. Okoh

Mr. Snyder

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

West Prairie Middle School Demographics

56%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

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.

West Prairie Middle School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated May 12, 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.