Del Lago Elementary School in Mission Viejo, California on DonorsChoose

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They've helped with hand-watering, refilling watering cans, planting seeds/plants, problem-solving pest-control issues, and weeding.\r\n\r\nWe're so excited to continue moving this project forward, and we've scheduled a plumber to install a backflow preventer, which will help us complete a drip-irrigation system. We're also building a garden shed, which will help us store gardening materials and improve teacher access to instructional materials for the garden. This project will continue to grow for years to come. 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In our classroom, we use these resources in two ways: sometimes I place specific materials out with a clear academic goal in mind—like using translucent lines and curves to form letters, sorting colored counters by different attributes, or strengthening spatial awareness skills by replicating pictures with blocks. Other times, I simply set out a tray of colorful stones, shells, or translucent shapes and let the children explore freely. In both scenarios, the result is the same: they are deeply focused, collaborating with one another, and genuinely enjoying the process of discovery.\r\n\r\nThe moment my students first saw the light table glowing in our classroom, their eyes lit up with pure wonder. It turned ordinary activities into something magical—suddenly, sorting and tracing felt like play, not work. Even our quietest learners were drawn in, eager to touch, arrange, and experiment. 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About this school

Del Lago Elementary School is a suburban public school in Mission Viejo, California that is part of Saddleback Valley Unified School District. It serves 359 students in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 18.0:1. Its teachers have had 29 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades Pre-K - 6

359 Students

20 Teachers

27181 Entidad

Mission Viejo, CA 92691 View local requests

Direct, proactive support

Empower teachers at Del Lago 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

Del Lago 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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Del Lago Elementary School Demographics

52%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

57%

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.

Del Lago Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Jul 7, 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.