Hawthorne Elementary School in San Luis Obispo, California on DonorsChoose

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The voice buttons are especially exciting—we're using them to record personalized messages and learning goals, which gives students another way to connect with their progress and celebrate success.\r\n\r\nThanks to your support, our classroom is not only more joyful and engaging, but also more effective in helping students stay motivated and invested in their learning journey.","fullyFundedDate":1753128063125,"projectUrl":"project/small-prizes-big-motivation/9472888/","projectTitle":"Small Prizes, Big Motivation","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Alvarez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp787413_orig.jpg?crop=1960,1960,x0,y339&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1723584853551","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/787413"},{"teacherId":787413,"projectId":9237728,"letterContent":"On behalf of our students, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your generous donation, which allowed us to purchase a variety of phonics games and activities to use during our Reading Academy.\r\nThanks to your support, our classrooms are now filled with engaging, hands-on resources that make learning phonics both fun and effective. These new tools are already making a noticeable difference—our students are more enthusiastic than ever about reading and learning. As teachers, we are thrilled to have creative ways to support early literacy development.\r\nYour kindness is helping to lay a strong foundation for our young learners, giving them the skills and confidence they need to become lifelong readers. 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Your contribution has made a meaningful difference in creating a positive and inviting setting, and we hugely appreciate your kindness and support.\r\nI was looking forward to the delivery of the chairs. I was thrilled to see the four large boxes with my name on it. I opened them right away, anxious for the students to see them. The smiles on their faces were a joy for me. They were so excited, and the chairs were used right away. Some students enjoyed reading in the sunshine, while others enjoyed sitting comfortably in the room. I am certain that the seats will be used for many years to come.\r\nOn behalf of the myself and the students, thank you once again for your generosity. 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About this school

Hawthorne Elementary School is an urban public school in San Luis Obispo, California that is part of San Luis Coastal Unified School District. It serves 415 students in grades Pre-K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 24.4:1. Its teachers have had 12 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

415 Students

17 Teachers

2125 Story St

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 View local requests

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

Give to this school

Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Hawthorne Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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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.

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Hawthorne Elementary School Demographics

66%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

43%

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.

Hawthorne Elementary 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.