Rancho Cotate High School in Rohnert Park, California on DonorsChoose

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It created a moment where students could literally see their voices matter, which led to a thoughtful class discussion about visibility, power, and whose stories are often hidden.\r\nWhen the students first saw the bingo sets and blacklights, the reaction was immediate and joyful — gasps, laughter, and lots of \"Wait, we get to use those?!\" The blacklights especially felt exciting and unexpected, and students were instantly curious about how they would be used in learning.\r\n\r\nWhat stood out most was how quickly excitement turned into focus. Once they realized these tools were part of class — not just a reward — students were eager to participate, follow directions, and collaborate. The materials helped create an atmosphere where learning felt fun and meaningful.","fullyFundedDate":1759778703938,"projectUrl":"project/teens-deserve-to-have-fun-too/9794792/","projectTitle":"Teens Deserve To Have Fun Too!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Langton","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3332332_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1501826483264","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/langylang"},{"teacherId":9193484,"projectId":9726870,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity. My students come to school from all walks of life, and I teach at a Title 1 school, so there is a lot of need there. I work with students with learning disabilities, unhoused students, students whose parents can barely make ends meet, and students who are in our foster care system. Your donation allows them to have the comfort that there will be nutritious food for them at school. I appreciate your generosity, especially as a lot of Americans' food stamps were frozen, and you were such a light. Allowing a student to have a full belly could be the one thing stopping them from being as successful as they can be. You helped my students be able to focus since their needs were. being met and I cant thank you enough for your kindness.","fullyFundedDate":1758832512040,"projectUrl":"project/90-teenagers-will-eat-anything/9726870/","projectTitle":"90 Teenagers Will Eat Anything","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Teter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9193484"},{"teacherId":9193484,"projectId":9634248,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your absolute kindness and generosity. My students were constantly complaining about how much their backs hurt sitting on stools for 90 minutes straight. I went to my admin to see if there was any funding for new chairs. As you can imagine, there wasn't. So I took a leap of faith and posted the project on Donors Choose with the help of my fourth-period class. I told them not to get their hopes up since it was such an expensive project, and I had only one other project funded previously. Then I was notified of your extreme act of kindness. The reactions my students gave when I told them they were going to get their chairs was an excitement engraved in my memory forever. In a world of so much hate right now, thank you for being such a bright light. Keep up the good work! Thank you so much.","fullyFundedDate":1758832512856,"projectUrl":"project/save-us-we-need-chairs/9634248/","projectTitle":"Save Us! We Need Chairs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Teter","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9193484"},{"teacherId":3105163,"projectId":9576991,"letterContent":"We have been busy planning how to implement the terrariums into the classroom science exhibits. The students completed planting two of them and have several ideas for the third.\r\n\r\nThe first one is currently populated with succulents and is awaiting the addition of some beneficial insects to help support the mini ecosystem. The second terrarium has several tropical plants and the students have showed curiosity in the difference between the two completed systems.\r\n\r\nWe have established a rotation so all students who want to are able to tend them.\r\n\r\nAgain, we are very appreciative of your generous donation!","fullyFundedDate":1755702438826,"projectUrl":"project/ch-ch-ch-changes/9576991/","projectTitle":"Ch-ch-ch Changes...","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Yarbrough","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3105163_orig.jpg?crop=1502,1502,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723668108597","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3105163"},{"teacherId":3105163,"projectId":9303514,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting my class through your generous donation. We have just started using the paint with water boards in class during our mindfulness time and the students are loving them. I noticed a calmer and more focused group during these activities compared to other mindfulness times.\r\n\r\nThe first time I brought them out the students were a bit confused about painting with just water but once they got started they definitely got into the idea of the impermanence of the art. I think that allowed some of them to take a risk and try it, knowing it would disappear meant that it didn't have to be perfect.\r\n\r\nI am already thinking of using them during academic times to help the brainstorming process. \r\n\r\nAgain, thank you for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1754952423903,"projectUrl":"project/zen-and-the-art-of/9303514/","projectTitle":"Zen and the Art of...","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Yarbrough","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3105163_orig.jpg?crop=1502,1502,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723668108597","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3105163"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5230","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1674,"numTeachers":70,"percentFrplEligible":51,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":33,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":50,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"23.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":83.6,"schoolId":5230,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Rancho Cotate High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Rancho Cotate High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/cotati-rohnert-park-unified-school-district/rancho-cotate-high-school/5230"}

About this school

Rancho Cotate High School is a suburban public school in Rohnert Park, California that is part of Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District. It serves 1,674 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 23.9:1. Its teachers have had 22 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades 9 - 12

1,674 Students

70 Teachers

5450 Snyder Ln

Rohnert Park, CA 94928 View local requests

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Rancho Cotate High School to request what their students need.

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

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

Rancho Cotate High School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Every donation funds real needs — pencils, books, lab equipment, art supplies, and more — helping students learn and thrive. We ship supplies directly to the school, and you'll see exactly where each dollar goes.

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Rancho Cotate High School Demographics

51%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

55%

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.

Rancho Cotate High School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Jan 17, 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.