Desert Mirage High School in Thermal, California on DonorsChoose

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In addition to these, I also really appreciate the hand soap you gave us because the soap helps us clean up after the lab, some chemicals are irritants, and ensuring we have a good quality soap ensures that kids leave the lab clean and safe. \r\n\r\nCurrently, my chemistry kids complete the pumpkin explosion project with calcium carbide, and we did a quick intro to chemical equations for this lab activity; and it was quite literally \"the bomb!\" Now was are getting ready to learn some of the periodic trends of the elements, and have the flame test lab prepared for the next week. The flame test lab is wonderful because students get to see physical properties of various ionic compounds and also dive into the various lab apparatus that are important in chemistry.","fullyFundedDate":1754022996109,"projectUrl":"project/chem-tastic-a-project-for-a-new-dm-teac/9425230/","projectTitle":"Chem-tastic: A Project For A New DM Teacher!","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Debbie Hernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8040874_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1763507810915","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8040874"},{"teacherId":9609314,"projectId":9499768,"letterContent":"I would like to extend our sincerest gratitude for your generous support in funding aprons and inks for our art class. 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Thank you for believing in the power of art education and for helping our students grow as artists.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt appreciation","fullyFundedDate":1756225472539,"projectUrl":"project/aprons-ink-plates-equipping-young-ar/9499768/","projectTitle":"Aprons, Ink & Plates: Equipping Young Artists for Printmaking Success","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Espinoza","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9609314_orig.jpg?crop=2298,2298,x779,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1721974913278","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9609314"},{"teacherId":9173109,"projectId":9076608,"letterContent":"When my students first saw the new resources, they were so excited. The Legos immediately grabbed their attention, and they jumped right into building and sharing ideas. The clay was another big hit—they loved rolling, shaping, and creating with it. Even the snacks brought lots of smiles and laughter. Our student store has also been a highlight, giving students the chance to \"shop\" and make choices, which ties right into our life skills lessons.\r\n\r\nI've also been able to use the laminator and laminating sheets to create durable classroom materials and resources for my students. For example, I made a student point system where they can earn points for participation, teamwork, and positive behavior. The students are very interested and motivated—they love joining in, enjoying the activities, and working toward the different incentives. Seeing them take ownership of their learning in this way has been amazing.\r\n\r\nNext, we'll be continuing to use these resources to build both academic and life skills. The laminated materials will support ongoing lessons, while the student store and incentives will encourage responsibility and independence. With the Legos and clay, students will keep practicing creativity, fine motor skills, and collaboration. 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About this school

Desert Mirage High School is a rural public school in Thermal, California that is part of Coachella Valley Unified School District. It serves 1,974 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 24.7:1. Its teachers have had 62 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 9 - 12

1,974 Students

80 Teachers

86-150 Avenue 66

Thermal, CA 92274 View local requests

http://www.cvusd.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

Desert Mirage High School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Ms. ARAIDA FLORES

Dr. Debbie Hernandez

Ms. Espinoza

Coach Gustavo Sandoval

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Desert Mirage High School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

98%

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.

Desert Mirage High 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.