Excelsior Middle School in Byron, California on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Excelsior Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":7.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8929018,"projectId":8686628,"letterContent":"Thanks to a generous donation to our STEM classroom, students had the unique opportunity to dive into an engaging, hands-on lesson centered around paper airplanes. They began by researching various aerodynamic principles, such as lift, drag, and thrust, and how these factors influence the flight of an object. Students then designed and tested their own paper airplanes, experimenting with different folds, materials, and wing shapes to see which combination would fly the furthest or most efficiently. This activity provided them with a deeper understanding of scientific experimentation, the importance of trial and error, and how to analyze results based on real-world conditions. \r\n\r\nThrough the process of building, testing, and iterating, students not only improved their critical thinking and problem-solving skills but also learned to document their findings in a structured lab report. Writing the report helped them reflect on their experiments and organize their observations clearly. They discovered the significance of recording data and analyzing it to make conclusions about what worked and what didn't. Ultimately, this lesson gave them valuable experience in conducting scientific research and improved their ability to communicate their findings, preparing them for future STEM challenges.","fullyFundedDate":1731525282706,"projectUrl":"project/gift-of-stem/8686628/","projectTitle":"Gift of STEM","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Cook","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8929018"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_4083","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":423,"numTeachers":29,"percentFrplEligible":32,"percentAsian":7,"percentBlack":8,"percentWhite":50,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":25,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"14.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":92.3,"schoolId":4083,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Excelsior Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Excelsior Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/byron-union-school-district/excelsior-middle-school/4083"}

About this school

Excelsior Middle School is a rural public school in Byron, California that is part of Byron Union School District. It serves 423 students in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.6:1. Its teachers have had 14 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Public School

Grades 6 - 8

423 Students

29 Teachers

14301 Byron Hwy

Byron, CA 94514 View local requests

http://www.excelsiormiddleschool.us

Evidence-based impact

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

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Excelsior Middle School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Colbert

Mrs. Cook

Mrs. Nobriga

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.

See how DonorsChoose works

Excelsior Middle School Demographics

32%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

40%

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.

Excelsior Middle School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 4, 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.