{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Frank C Leal Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":7.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9653162,"projectId":8644572,"letterContent":"I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your generous donation of a class set of Mr. Popper's Penguins to my third grade classroom through Donors Choose. The students and I were absolutely thrilled to receive these beautiful new books and I can't thank you enough for making this possible.\r\n\r\nThe excitement in the classroom when we first opened the box of books was palpable! The students were so eager to begin reading the story, and they've already started treating their books with great care. We've discussed ways to preserve the books—like turning pages gently and not letting them get bent or damaged—and the students are committed to taking good care of their new treasures.\r\n\r\nFor many years, our class has had to rely on books that were nearly 50 years old. The pages were falling out, and many of the books were torn and tattered. To keep our new books usable for years to come, I was sure to cover each one with contact paper to help them last through the remainder of my teaching career (and hopefully beyond!). Having brand new books that we can all enjoy is such a blessing.\r\n\r\nHaving a new set of Mr. Popper's Penguins is a game-changer for our classroom. Now each student has their own copy to read, which makes a huge difference in how we can engage with the text. My students no longer have to share a book with a partner, which means they have their own personal connection to the story. This is especially important when we're working on activities that require finding text-based evidence and interacting with the text on a deeper level. One of the Common Core standards that is particularly difficult for third graders has to do with supporting their answers with reasoning from the text. This skill takes tons of practice, which we are afforded the chance to do with this class set of books. For example, when I asked my students why Mrs. Popper was concerned about Mr. Popper being home from work the whole winter, my students were able to answer with the following response: \"I know Mrs. Popper is concerned about finances because on p. 5 the text says, 'But what worries me is the money.'\" Having a new book for each student allows my class the chance to practice this challenging skill at their own pace. \r\n\r\nAfter finishing the story, we have an exciting culminating activity where the books come in very handy. The class puts on a student-run play based on Mr. Popper's Penguins, which they perform for their parents at Open House. The students take full ownership of the production—they cast the roles, design the sets and props, direct the performance, and even choose the costumes. Throughout this process, they frequently refer back to their copies of the story to pull ideas for the set design, develop costume concepts, and fine-tune the scenes. The students truly bring the story to life through their creativity and teamwork, and the books are an essential part of this project. \r\n\r\nThank you again for bringing such joy and excitement into our classroom. Your kindness has made a lasting impact on our learning, and we are so grateful for your support. The students and I will enjoy Mr. Popper's Penguins for years to come, and we'll always think of you when we read it!","fullyFundedDate":1729713500813,"projectUrl":"project/class-set-of-mr-poppers-penguins-books/8644572/","projectTitle":"Class Set of Mr. Popper's Penguins Books","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cheng","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9653162_orig.png?crop=366,366,x39,y54&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1725134576511","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9653162"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_26619","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":788,"numTeachers":28,"percentFrplEligible":28,"percentAsian":62,"percentBlack":3,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":18,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"28.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":93.0,"schoolId":26619,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Frank C Leal Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Frank C Leal Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/abc-unified-school-district/frank-c-leal-elementary-school/26619"}
Join the 43 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Frank C Leal Elementary School is
a suburban public school
in Cerritos, California that is part of ABC Unified School District.
It serves 788 students
in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 28.1:1.
Its teachers have had 16 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Public School
Grades Pre-K - 6
788 Students
28 Teachers
12920 Droxford StContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
Boost support for our school's classrooms. Share this page with friends and family who want to make a difference. If you're a teacher, sign up to get started!
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. Each classroom request for funding was created by a classroom teacher and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
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
83%
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.
Frank C Leal Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Dec 5, 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.
Frank C Leal Elementary School
$9,360
raised using DonorsChoose
16
projects
funded
9
teachers
funded
43
donors
1
project
for
basic supplies
4
projects for
technology
3
projects for
books
Frank C Leal Elementary School has received support from
40 individuals from California and
3 individuals out-of-state.