Pleasant Valley Middle School in Placerville, California on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Pleasant Valley Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":12.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9612232,"projectId":9996122,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our classroom! Because of you, our students now have a cozy, welcoming reading corner with new cushy chairs, and we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our small table to complete the space. From the moment the chairs arrived, students were immediately drawn to the area—several of them asked if they could read there during independent reading time, and it has quickly become a favorite spot in the room. Having a comfortable, inviting place to read has made a noticeable difference in helping students settle in, focus, and truly enjoy their books.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the filament for our 3D printer has opened up exciting new opportunities for hands-on learning. Students have been able to bring their ideas to life, connecting creativity with real-world problem solving. One highlight was watching students design and print small objects tied to our content, which sparked collaboration, perseverance, and pride in their work. Many students who don't always shine in traditional academic settings have found a new way to engage and feel successful.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, we're excited to continue building on these experiences. The reading corner will support ongoing literacy growth by giving students a comfortable space to dive deeper into independent reading, while the 3D printer will be used in upcoming projects that integrate design, critical thinking, and cross-curricular learning. Your generosity is not only providing materials, but also creating opportunities, boosting confidence, and helping students see themselves as readers, creators, and problem-solvers. Thank you for making a meaningful difference in our classroom!","fullyFundedDate":1769299872277,"projectUrl":"project/a-cozy-corner-for-readers-and-creators/9996122/","projectTitle":"A Cozy Corner for Readers and Creators","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mahoney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9612232_orig.jpg?crop=371,371,x0,y77&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724271049324","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrslisamahoney"},{"teacherId":9612232,"projectId":9197399,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in funding our 3D printer! My students are absolutely fascinated by this new technology, and it's already transforming the way they experience learning in our classroom.\r\n\r\nWhile many of my students have seen 3D printers online, few have ever seen one in action, let alone had one in their own classroom. Now, as they watch layers of filament build into real objects, history suddenly feels alive. When we studied ancient Mesopotamia, for example, we printed a model of a ziggurat so students could actually see and touch the architecture they had only viewed in pictures. They were amazed to realize how advanced those civilizations really were!\r\n\r\nEven though we're currently printing pre-designed objects, the experience has sparked endless curiosity and conversation. Students are asking thoughtful questions about how objects are created, how technology has evolved, and how innovations like this connect to the past. The excitement is contagious! It's amazing how one tool can make learning both hands-on and meaningful.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has given my students access to technology that inspires creativity and helps them better understand the world around them. Thank you for investing in their learning and for helping bring history to life in such an exciting way!","fullyFundedDate":1749834018798,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-learning-to-life-with-3d-printi/9197399/","projectTitle":"Bringing Learning to Life with 3D Printing","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Mahoney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9612232_orig.jpg?crop=371,371,x0,y77&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724271049324","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrslisamahoney"},{"teacherId":9630234,"projectId":9478192,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, my students are already putting our new garden resources to use in both the classroom and outdoors. One of our first projects was starting seed trays inside. Students researched which plants would thrive best in our garden beds and then carefully planted seeds in small starter pots. Later, they'll transplant them outside, giving them the full experience of seeing their work grow from seed to harvest.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials first arrived, the excitement was contagious. Students crowded around the boxes, eager to open them, and many immediately started imagining what we could grow. One student said, \"I've always wanted to plant something that I could actually eat later!\" That spark of curiosity has spread through the class, making science and sustainability feel real and relevant to them.\r\n\r\nThe next step in our project is building a rotation where students choose whether to work inside or out. Some groups will continue charting plant growth and keeping journals indoors, while others tend to the garden beds outside—watering, weeding, and caring for sprouts. Eventually, we'll bring the two groups together to share what they've learned, showing that both types of work are essential to the health of our garden.\r\n\r\nYour support has given my students not only tools but also a deeper sense of ownership and connection to learning. Thank you for helping us grow—both literally and figuratively!","fullyFundedDate":1753218192997,"projectUrl":"project/our-school-garden-and-garden-elective-pr/9478192/","projectTitle":"Our School Garden and Garden Elective Program","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Trumble","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9630234_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1752854603848","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9630234"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_55763","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":147,"numTeachers":8,"percentFrplEligible":41,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":68,"percentIndigenous":1,"percentLatinx":19,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"18.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":87.5,"schoolId":55763,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Pleasant Valley Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Pleasant Valley Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/gold-oak-union-school-district/pleasant-valley-middle-school/55763"}

About this school

Pleasant Valley Middle School is a rural public school in Placerville, California that is part of Gold Oak Union School District. It serves 147 students in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 18.4:1. Its teachers have had 7 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 6 - 8

147 Students

8 Teachers

4120 Pleasant Valley Rd

Placerville, CA 95667 View local requests

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Pleasant Valley Middle 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

Pleasant Valley Middle School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Mahoney

Mrs. Trumble

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for public school teachers.

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.

See how DonorsChoose works

Pleasant Valley Middle School Demographics

41%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

20%

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.

Pleasant Valley Middle School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Apr 10, 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.