{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Van Nuys Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":8.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":365301,"projectId":9560817,"letterContent":"I am deeply grateful for the donation of full class sets of The Outsiders and A Long Walk to Water. These novels introduce my students to essential reading skills such as analyzing theme, tracing character development, summarizing, understanding symbolism, and citing textual evidence to support claims. Beyond academic skills, both texts open the door to powerful conversations about empathy, resilience, and understanding people whose lives are very different from their own. These are lessons that shape not only stronger readers, but kinder and more thoughtful young adults.\r\nIn our classroom, reading is an interactive and collaborative experience. Students read aloud and take note on plot structure, literary devices, and important themes. They created projects such as character maps, symbolism posters, and wanted posters. They also participate in structured discussions where they make predictions, ask questions, and debate interpretations. With every student holding their own copy, they can flip to specific pages during conversations, follow along more confidently during read-alouds, and practice close-reading strategies without feeling rushed or left behind. Having these books in hand has transformed reading from a logistical challenge into a shared journey we take together.\r\nSeveral students in particular have been especially energized by the new books. One quiet student who rarely participated has become one of the most eager voices during discussions of The Outsiders, relating strongly to Ponyboy's struggles with identity and belonging. Another student, an English learner, has been deeply moved by A Long Walk to Water and told me it was the first time a story made her \"feel stronger instead of confused.\" These moments—students seeing themselves in characters, asking deeper questions, and feeling proud of their reading—are only possible because they each have a book of their own. Your gift is already making an incredible difference in their confidence, engagement, and love of reading.","fullyFundedDate":1755746889918,"projectUrl":"project/novel-study-the-outsiders-a-long-walk/9560817/","projectTitle":"Novel Study: The Outsiders & A Long Walk to Water","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Huynh","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-1_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/365301"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_7172","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":803,"numTeachers":43,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":5,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":86,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"18.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":91.2,"schoolId":7172,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Van Nuys Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Van Nuys Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/los-angeles-unified-school-district/van-nuys-middle-school/7172"}
Join the 431 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Van Nuys Middle School is
an urban public school
in SHERMAN OAKS, California that is part of Los Angeles Unified School District.
It serves 803 students
in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 18.7:1.
Its teachers have had 60 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Boost support for our school's classrooms. Share this page with friends and family who want to make a difference. If you're a teacher, sign up to get started!
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.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
91%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Van Nuys Middle 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.
Van Nuys Middle School
$33,976
raised using DonorsChoose
60
projects
funded
31
teachers
funded
431
donors
2
projects
for
basic supplies
5
projects for
technology
11
projects for
books
3
projects
for
art supplies
Van Nuys Middle School has received support from
393 individuals from California and
38 individuals out-of-state.