William Howard Taft High School in San Antonio, Texas on DonorsChoose

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Students take turns monitoring the temperature, checking water conditions with the API starter kit, and recording observations about fish behavior. Beyond academics, the tank has become a calming presence in the room. Several students choose to sit nearby during independent work because it helps them regulate their emotions and stay focused. Caring for the aquarium has also encouraged teamwork, patience, and accountability in ways that traditional lessons cannot.\r\n\r\nNext, students will begin tracking changes in the tank over time and connecting what they observe to broader ideas about environments and living systems. They will create simple observation logs, reflect on how care routines affect the fish, and discuss why consistency and responsibility matter. Thanks to your generosity, my students now have a meaningful, hands-on learning experience that supports both their academic growth and social-emotional well-being every single day.","fullyFundedDate":1762035174169,"projectUrl":"project/calm-currents-building-a-sensory-aquari/9850979/","projectTitle":"Calm Currents: Building a Sensory Aquarium for Science and SEL","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Tapia","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9454923_orig.png?crop=390,390,x1,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1708625744156","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrtapia-warrenhs"},{"teacherId":9454923,"projectId":9409814,"letterContent":"Since receiving these resources, my classroom has become an even more engaging and welcoming place for students to learn. The technology and tools from this project allow students to interact with science instead of just reading about it. Writing directly on tables with chalk markers has transformed group work and labs into active problem-solving sessions where students can think out loud, make mistakes, and revise together in real time. The indoor grow lights and aquarium lighting have turned our classroom into a living laboratory, giving students daily opportunities to observe growth, care for organisms, and connect lessons to real life.\r\n\r\nWhat excites students most is seeing science happen. Watching plants grow under the lamps or checking on the aquarium has become part of our daily routine and provides natural moments for discussion, responsibility, and reflection. These tools also support social-emotional learning by giving students calming, hands-on experiences in a safe classroom space.\r\n\r\nSome of my quieter students have especially thrived with this technology. 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About this school

William Howard Taft High School is an urban public school in San Antonio, Texas that is part of Northside Independent School District. It serves 2,719 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 17.0:1. Its teachers have had 15 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades 9 - 12

2,719 Students

160 Teachers

11600 Culebra Rd

San Antonio, TX 78253 View local requests

http://nisd.net

Direct, proactive support

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Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

William Howard Taft High School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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William Howard Taft High School Demographics

58%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

76%

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.

William Howard Taft High School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Feb 15, 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.