Samuel Vaughn Elementary School in Ceres, California on DonorsChoose

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My goal was for these students to learn to teach others how to play the various games, ensuring that valuable math learning would occur by playing the games as designed. Today, nine of my 23 students have completed every math fact level, which is a record high at this point in the year!\r\n\r\nThe games then became utilized as both a reward and a support. I could not believe the motivation this caused for students to pass more math fact levels just so they could enjoy the reward of more game time; this was far more effective than candy and prizes. Students are rewarded by being able to play math games first thing in the morning instead of taking a math fact test. Struggling students are supported and delighted, as playing math games to help them learn a difficult concept has been far more engaging than continuing to use traditional methods in a small group setting. With the games, the struggling students don't even realize that they are learning by playing, so the pressure to meet expectations is diminished.\r\n\r\nNot only have students gained an amazing amount of math confidence and a love for math through the use of this generous donation, but students have also gained critical social skills and have learned to have productive math discussions. I was not anticipating this bonus with a higher level of math discourse. These math games have changed so many little learner's lives for the better and will continue to be a part of my student's daily activities for as long as they are with me! Thank you so very much!","fullyFundedDate":1731990166580,"projectUrl":"project/lets-love-math/8841804/","projectTitle":"Let's Love Math!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Thompson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9784465_orig.jpg?crop=418,418,x0,y8&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727631824696","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9784465"},{"teacherId":2944101,"projectId":8666528,"letterContent":"Thanks to your support, students have loved doing small group reading time. They love to read around the room and choose their choice seating. Students have gained confidence in independently reading and love this time of day. In fact, they ask me every day, \"Mrs. Johnson, can we do small group reading time?\"\r\n\r\n In help with your donation, majority of the class grew one whole grade level in reading this semester. They are learning to read and enjoy the option to choose where to sit around the room. Currently, we are reading the novel The One and Only Ivan and learning facts about different inventors. Kids have been motivated to work hard on their reading, because they get to choose their seating as a reward. \r\n\r\nThe Grey reclining chairs and the wobble stools keep students focused on their reading. The third graders in room 10 are practicing reading and you helped unlock the magic of a comfy place to read. One day, we did flashlight reading in which we turned the lights off, used flashlights, and read around the room. Being a great reader unlocks so many possibilities for our students.","fullyFundedDate":1726777313203,"projectUrl":"project/the-fulfillment-of-reading/8666528/","projectTitle":"The Fulfillment of Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Johnson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2944101_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1575733887734","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/thirdgradefroggies"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_61231","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":582,"numTeachers":25,"percentFrplEligible":76,"percentAsian":12,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":11,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":71,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"23.3:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":88.9,"schoolId":61231,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Samuel Vaughn Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Samuel Vaughn Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/ceres-unified-school-district/samuel-vaughn-elementary-school/61231"}

About this school

Samuel Vaughn Elementary School is a suburban public school in Ceres, California that is part of Ceres Unified School District. It serves 582 students in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 23.3:1. Its teachers have had 9 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 6

582 Students

25 Teachers

3618 Helen Perry Rd

Ceres, CA 95307 View local requests

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

Samuel Vaughn Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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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.

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Samuel Vaughn Elementary School Demographics

76%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

84%

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.

Samuel Vaughn 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.