Mission Hills High School in San Marcos, California on DonorsChoose

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Thank you for investing in their growth and helping them see themselves as the journalists and changemakers of tomorrow!","fullyFundedDate":1755721990749,"projectUrl":"project/upfront-in-journalism/9521288/","projectTitle":"Upfront in Journalism","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kniseley","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp3753643_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1494624729681","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-kniseley"},{"teacherId":7714240,"projectId":8819896,"letterContent":"Students are using the resources to highlight their work, assignments, titles of projects and daily activities. The students are using flashcards to memorize vocabulary words within the chapter or text being read and using the metal ring to hold them together. The highlighters are needed every single day in class in Spanish and in their other classes as well. In a future project the students will be working on will be writing a paragraph about their family and friends using descriptive adjectives and present tense verbs. They are to highlight all of the verb conjugations in the present tense and to identify adjectives. \r\n\r\nThe current assignment students are working on (as provided within the pictures) is reading a small article on Puerto Rico and the music and culture within the country. Students use their highlighter to identify cognates and make the reading / article easier to read.\r\n\r\nUpon receiving the materials, the students were very surprised and happy to have their own personal pouches, pencils, flashcards and metal ring to hold everything together.\r\n\r\nOnce again, thank you so much for the donations and the supplies received. We are creating a culture of organization within the classroom which transfers into the real world and everyday life of society.","fullyFundedDate":1737593686261,"projectUrl":"project/unzip-your-organization-station/8819896/","projectTitle":"Unzip Your Organization Station","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Salinas","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7714240_orig.jpg?crop=2306,2306,x17,y1045&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1610772122622","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7714240"},{"teacherId":9822009,"projectId":8913410,"letterContent":"We would like to express our deepest gratitude for your generous contribution to our project focused on supporting the mental health and well-being of our students. Thanks to your donation, we have been able to provide them with a variety of tools designed to reduce stress, enhance focus, and encourage mindfulness.\r\nAs you know, mental health has become an increasingly important concern for students in today's fast-paced, often overwhelming academic environment. \r\nThe materials you helped fund—colored pencils, mindful coloring books, fluorescent light covers, and stress balls—have had a profoundly positive impact on our students, giving them essential outlets to manage their stress and recharge their minds.\r\nHere are just a few of the ways your support has made a difference:\r\nMindful Coloring and Creative Expression: The coloring books and colored pencils have proven to be invaluable tools for helping students practice mindfulness. The simple act of coloring allows them to center their thoughts, calm their anxieties, and regain focus. Students have shared how they feel more at ease during stressful moments, especially before exams or after intense lessons. For many, this creative outlet has become an essential daily practice for reducing anxiety and enhancing emotional clarity.\r\nStress Relief with Stress Balls: The stress balls have been especially effective in providing students with an immediate way to release built-up tension. Whether used during classes or as a quick break between lessons, these tools have allowed students to reset, reduce physical tension, and stay grounded. For many, the tactile sensation helps them refocus and re-center when feeling overwhelmed.\r\nFluorescent Light Covers for Improved Environment: The installation of fluorescent light covers has significantly improved the lighting environment in our classrooms, reducing glare and creating a softer, more calming atmosphere. This simple adjustment has had an outsized impact, especially for students with sensory sensitivities. The reduction in harsh lighting has led to fewer headaches and distractions, allowing students to engage more fully in their learning and mental wellness activities.\r\nThe feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. Many students have expressed how much more comfortable and supported they feel, both in their academic and personal lives. \r\nOn behalf of the entire community, thank you once again for your generosity and commitment to improving the lives of our students. 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About this school

Mission Hills High School is a suburban public school in San Marcos, California that is part of San Marcos Unified School District. It serves 2,834 students in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 31.1:1. Its teachers have had 27 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades 9 - 12

2,834 Students

91 Teachers

1 Mission Hills Ct

San Marcos, CA 92069 View local requests

https://missionhillshigh.smusd.org/

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

Mission Hills High 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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Mission Hills High School Demographics

46%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

63%

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.

Mission Hills High 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.