Walnut Grove School in Patterson, California on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Walnut Grove School","outOfStateSupporters":44.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9087164,"projectId":9852260,"letterContent":"We recently completed a novel study on The Giver, and it gave students the chance to build both analytical and creative skills. Throughout the unit, students practiced identifying themes like individuality, memory, and choice, while also learning how authors use symbolism and perspective to shape meaning. We focused on close reading, making inferences, and supporting ideas with textual evidence. These are skills that help students become more thoughtful and confident readers.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is very interactive. Students do not just read silently. They discuss ideas in small groups, respond to prompts in journals, and ask questions as they go. We also pause to reflect on key moments in the story and connect them to real-world issues, which helps deepen their understanding and engagement.\r\n\r\nAs a culminating project, students created alternate book covers that reflected their interpretation of the story's themes and messages. This allowed them to think creatively while still grounding their work in the text. We also watched the film adaptation, which sparked great conversations about how stories can be interpreted differently across formats.","fullyFundedDate":1762203895488,"projectUrl":"project/unlocking-minds-with-the-giver/9852260/","projectTitle":"Unlocking Minds With the Giver","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Vargas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9087164_orig.jpg?crop=1414,1414,x353,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1761105365997","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9087164"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_100442","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":728,"numTeachers":35,"percentFrplEligible":63,"percentAsian":2,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":5,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":85,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"20.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":56.0,"schoolId":100442,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Walnut Grove School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Walnut Grove School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/california/patterson-joint-unified-school-district/walnut-grove-school/100442"}

About this school

Walnut Grove School is a rural public school in Patterson, California that is part of Patterson Joint Unified School District. It serves 728 students in grades K - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 20.8:1. Its teachers have had 13 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 8

728 Students

35 Teachers

775 N Hartley St

Patterson, CA 95363 View local requests

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Walnut Grove 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

Walnut Grove School Teachers on DonorsChoose

See more teachers from Walnut Grove School

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

Walnut Grove School Demographics

63%

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.

Walnut Grove School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated May 13, 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.