Elkhorn Elementary School in Castroville, California on DonorsChoose

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These stories celebrate all body types, encourage healthy and respectful relationships with food, and help children understand that their worth is not defined by weight, size, or appearance. Just as importantly, these books reflect my students' lived experiences and help reduce the stigma surrounding food insecurity.\r\n\r\nThis project supports our efforts to prevent disordered eating behaviors and to counteract the damaging messages many children already internalize about their bodies. Through these stories, students are learning self-compassion, empathy, and respect—for themselves and for others. Your support is helping create a classroom rooted in safety, belonging, and emotional wellness. 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Thanks to your contribution, we were able to bring educational board games into our classroom and provide a hands-on, interactive learning experience that will truly make a difference for my second-grade students.\r\nFor many of my students traditional curricula have been a difficult fit. These young learners come to school full of curiosity and a desire to explore, but without engaging, hands-on activities, it can be all too easy for them to lose focus or feel discouraged. The games we are introducing into the classroom are not just fun; they are essential tools that will spark joy and motivation, and ultimately help my students succeed academically and socially.\r\nThe educational board games we've selected are centered around key skills such as social-emotional learning (SEL), literacy, numeracy, and real-life problem-solving. These areas are particularly important for my students, many of whom face challenges outside of school that make it even harder to excel in traditional settings. \r\nWhat excites me most about this initiative is that these games offer more than just academic growth. They have helped build confidence and foster a love for learning that will stay with my students far beyond the classroom. Many of them do not have access to enriching resources at home, so the games we have introduced have opened new doors of opportunity and help them grow in ways they might not have thought possible.\r\nYour investment in this project has not only provided these children with an exciting and engaging learning environment but also give them the tools to build strong foundations for their futures. Together, we are making school a place where they look forward to coming every day, a place where learning becomes an adventure.\r\nThank you again for believing in these children and helping to create a brighter future for them. Your support will leave a lasting impact, and I cannot wait to see the positive change these games will bring to our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1760652565630,"projectUrl":"project/smart-games-for-little-learners-boostin/9766900/","projectTitle":"Smart Games for Little Learners: Boosting Skills & Smiles","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. de Mott","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-4_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/room-a7"},{"teacherId":3454109,"projectId":9133319,"letterContent":"Thank you for your donations!!!! On behalf of all my students, I would like to thank you for the chair, snacks, and fun tape.\r\n\r\nChildren in first grade are developing organizational skills and friendships that will last them a lifetime.\r\n\r\nThanks to your generous donation, we will be able to keep our classroom neat and organized! With your donation, we have now kept our papers and materials safe and neat where they should be. My students will continue working hard to reach their goals in life. Again, we thank you for your generosity! \r\n\r\nSincerely","fullyFundedDate":1747148853538,"projectUrl":"project/my-classroom-is-a-safe-space-for-many-st/9133319/","projectTitle":"My Classroom is a Safe Space for Many Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fernandez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp3454109_orig.jpg?crop=312,312,x811,y416&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1569969074512","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/3454109"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_90574","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":586,"numTeachers":31,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":8,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":89,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"18.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":75.3,"schoolId":90574,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Elkhorn Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Elkhorn Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/north-monterey-county-unified-school-district/elkhorn-elementary-school/90574"}

About this school

Elkhorn Elementary School is a rural public school in Castroville, California that is part of North Monterey County Unified School District. It serves 586 students in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 18.9:1. Its teachers have had 57 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

586 Students

31 Teachers

2235 Elkhorn Rd

Castroville, CA 95012 View local requests

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Elkhorn Elementary 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

Elkhorn Elementary 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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Elkhorn Elementary School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

89%

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.

Elkhorn Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Feb 22, 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.