{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Highlands Estates Academy","outOfStateSupporters":37.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":8474082,"projectId":10359106,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generosity and for investing in the success of my first-grade students! Your kindness has made a meaningful difference in our classroom by providing essential supplies that help us stay organized, focused, and ready to learn each day. My students were excited to see our new materials, especially the pencils, dry-erase markers, and other supplies they use during daily lessons. For many of my students, having access to these basic resources means they can participate in learning activities without worrying about whether they have the necessary materials. Your support has helped create a more positive and productive learning environment where every child has an opportunity to succeed.\r\n\r\nWe are putting these wonderful resources to work every day! The copy paper allows me to prepare engaging reading, writing, and math activities, while the pencils and dry-erase markers are especially helpful during our small-group instruction. During our math lessons, students use their dry-erase boards to practice addition, subtraction, and place value strategies. It is exciting to see their confidence grow as they solve problems and proudly share their answers! Our rolling file cart helps keep differentiated instructional materials organized and easily accessible, allowing me to spend more time teaching and less time searching for supplies. Even the pencil sharpener, stapler, and organizational materials help our classroom routines run more smoothly.\r\n\r\nAs we move forward, our mission is to continue strengthening foundational reading, writing, and math skills while building confidence and independence. Many of my students entered first grade performing below grade level, but with consistent instruction, encouragement, and the right resources, we are working hard to close those learning gaps. Your generosity supports that mission by allowing my students to spend more time actively engaged in meaningful learning experiences. Thank you for \r\nbelieving in my students and helping them understand that their potential is limitless.","fullyFundedDate":1785257589815,"projectUrl":"project/every-child-deserves-a-strong-start/10359106/","projectTitle":"Every Child Deserves a Strong Start","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Thompkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8474082_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724890683486","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8474082"},{"teacherId":9749398,"projectId":10384899,"letterContent":"I would like to start off by telling you, \"THANK YOU!!\" My students and I are very grateful for your kindness and support. The supplies made it possible for the students to express themselves on paper. Their little faces are filled with joy and excitement. Their happiness makes me happy. The copy paper was used to give each student a teacher-made workbook based on his or her learning ability to help each student grow and be successful. It allows each student to work at his or her own pace to keep each student motivated. Of course, the snacks were the true highlight for the students. I am one PROUD and THANKFUL teacher.","fullyFundedDate":1785258173698,"projectUrl":"project/second-grade-scholars/10384899/","projectTitle":"Second Grade Scholars","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bolden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9749398"},{"teacherId":8433628,"projectId":9767595,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of sweet treats for my classroom. Your kindness has made a meaningful difference in our daily learning environment. The variety of candies and snacks has been incredibly helpful, not only as fun incentives for positive behavior and hard work, but also as a source of comfort and encouragement during testing days.\r\n My students have been highly motivated to stay focused, show kindness, and put forth their best effort, knowing they could earn a special treat. These small rewards have helped build confidence, reinforce positive habits, and create a supportive and engaging classroom culture. During testing, having a snack available gave students an extra boost and helped them feel more relaxed and prepared to do their best.\r\n Because of your generosity, my students have enjoyed moments of joy, encouragement, and celebration throughout the year. We truly appreciate your support and the positive impact you've made in our classroom. Thank you for helping us create a space where students feel motivated, cared for, and successful.","fullyFundedDate":1768530866161,"projectUrl":"project/sweet-treats/9767595/","projectTitle":"Sweet Treats","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Taylor","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8433628_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1653707565520","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8433628"},{"teacherId":8433628,"projectId":9309469,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of the snow cone machine to my classroom. Your thoughtful gift has brought so much joy and excitement to my students throughout the school year. We used the machine to celebrate the end of first grade, and it turned a special day into an unforgettable experience filled with smiles, laughter, and a true sense of accomplishment.\r\n\r\nBeyond our end-of-year celebration, I have also used the snow cone machine as a fun and motivating incentive for positive behavior and hard work. My students have been encouraged to stay focused, demonstrate kindness, and give their best effort knowing they could earn such a sweet reward. It has truly helped build a positive classroom environment where students feel recognized and celebrated.","fullyFundedDate":1746486950396,"projectUrl":"project/let-it-snow-cones/9309469/","projectTitle":"Let It Snow! (Cones)","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Taylor","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8433628_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1653707565520","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8433628"},{"teacherId":8433628,"projectId":9201783,"letterContent":"I am so grateful for your support in making our end-of-year celebration so special for my first graders! Your donation provided fun items like fidgets, slime, and treats that brought so much excitement to our classroom. After working so hard all year, my students truly deserved a moment to relax and celebrate their achievements.\r\n One of the best parts of the day was watching students laugh together, share their goodies, and simply enjoy being kids. It was more than just fun—it was a chance for them to feel proud of everything they had accomplished.\r\n Thank you for helping create such a joyful and rewarding experience for my students. Your generosity made a real difference!","fullyFundedDate":1743042113154,"projectUrl":"project/we-finished-1st-grade/9201783/","projectTitle":"We Finished 1st Grade","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Taylor","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8433628_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1653707565520","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8433628"},{"teacherId":9270265,"projectId":9262347,"letterContent":"Our children learn a variety of skills and different ways to learn their sounds. They learn about rhyme, vocabulary, and phonics. Students learn about early literacy, speaking and listening. They hear a variety of books read aloud to them through the year. We make sure the learning environment is creative, enchanting, and will create a wealth of knowledge.\r\n Reading on a daily basis impact and expands their imagination. Students will use this in other subject areas and for comprehension. This will help them with writing, science, speaking and listening, and math. Our students focus on CVC words, alphabet, sight words, and other phonemic awareness and phonics skills. Their reading knowledge will impact their world around them for years to come and beyond.","fullyFundedDate":1746465455487,"projectUrl":"project/watch-out-kindergarten-here-we-come/9262347/","projectTitle":"Watch Out Kindergarten! Here We Come!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Hall","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9270265_orig.jpg?crop=960,960,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1714952946984","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9270265"},{"teacherId":9749398,"projectId":9735787,"letterContent":"I would like to take this time to let you know that my students and I are very thankful for your help and support. The seat sacks have provided the personal space that each student needed to keep their things neat and organized. The seat sacks provides the personal space that each student needs and wants. I am very graceful because it helps to keep the tables clutter free and provides more available space to complete tasks. Thank you so very much for helping to bring smiles to the faces of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1760387111326,"projectUrl":"project/organized-personal-space/9735787/","projectTitle":"Organized Personal Space","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Bolden","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9749398"},{"teacherId":8474082,"projectId":9728458,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of snacks, classroom supplies, and reading center materials. Because of you, my students are learning in a more supportive, engaging, and joyful environment. \r\n\r\nMy students were excited for the wonderful donations. The snacks have helped my students stay focused and energized during reading and math lessons. The classroom supplies especially the copy paper have ensured that all students have what they need to learn. The reading centers has made a tremendous difference in literacy instruction. \r\n\r\nMoving forward, I will continue to support daily instruction and help maintain a positive, focused classroom environment.","fullyFundedDate":1761917246432,"projectUrl":"project/nourishing-knowledge-snacks-supplies/9728458/","projectTitle":"Nourishing Knowledge: Snacks, Supplies, and Reading Centers","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Thompkins","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8474082_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724890683486","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8474082"},{"teacherId":7253977,"projectId":9557872,"letterContent":"Because of your generosity, our classroom snacks have become a meaningful part of supporting students' daily success and well-being. Students are able to grab a snack when they arrive late and miss breakfast, need an energy boost to stay focused during instruction, or earn one as a positive incentive—such as being our \"Secret Student of the Day.\" One moment that stood out was watching a student who came in late and visibly frustrated instantly relax after receiving a snack, allowing them to rejoin learning with confidence and focus.\r\n\r\nWhen students first saw the snack supply, they were genuinely excited and grateful. Many smiled, said thank you, and expressed relief knowing that help was available when they needed it. The snacks quickly became more than food—they became a signal of care, encouragement, and consistency. Students now know that their classroom is a place where their needs are acknowledged and supported, which has strengthened our classroom community and helped students feel safe and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nAs we continue our current lessons, students are working on building academic stamina, engagement, and positive behavior habits. Having access to snacks helps ensure students can fully participate in learning activities without distractions caused by hunger or low energy. Your support allows us to focus on teaching and learning while fostering a caring environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive. Thank you for being an important part of our school community and making a real difference in our students' daily lives.","fullyFundedDate":1761917271810,"projectUrl":"project/school-community-of-snacks/9557872/","projectTitle":"School Community of Snacks","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Pettway","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7253977_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1596240964557","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7253977"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_46108","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":775,"numTeachers":33,"percentFrplEligible":84,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":69,"percentWhite":9,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":14,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":5,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"23.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":62.9,"schoolId":46108,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Highlands Estates Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Highlands Estates Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/florida/duval-county-public-schools/highlands-elementary-school/46108"}
Join the 151 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Highlands Estates Academy is
an urban public school
in Jacksonville, Florida that is part of Duval County Public Schools.
It serves 775 students
in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 23.5:1.
Its teachers have had 85 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
Public School
Title 1
Data about Title 1 status comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
Grades Pre-K - 5
775 Students
33 Teachers
1000 DePaul DrContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
Boost support for this school! Share this page with friends, family, alumni, and fellow supporters. Every connection helps teachers get the supplies they need and shows how much your community cares about its students.
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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.
of students receive free or reduced price lunch
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
Source: the National Center for Education Statistics
83%
of students are Black, Latino, Native
American, or Asian
Data about school demographics comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. The numbers in this chart may not add up to 100% because of limitations in the available data.
Highlands Estates Academy Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Nov 5, 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.
Highlands Estates Academy
$34,081
raised using DonorsChoose
85
projects
funded
30
teachers
funded
151
donors
18
projects
for
basic supplies
8
projects for
technology
10
projects for
books
Highlands Estates Academy has received support from
95 individuals from Florida and
56 individuals out-of-state.