Chester Grade School in Chester, Illinois on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Chester Grade School","outOfStateSupporters":30.5,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1679140,"projectId":9759234,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for funding my Teachers Pay Teachers gift card. It will be utilized to purchase educational resources and curriculum for my 2nd grade classroom.\r\n\r\nThe children always enjoy new lessons and centers. This $100 Teachers Pay Teachers gift card will enable me to enhance my current curriculum with new, updated supplemental materials. I LOVE to see the kiddos faces when I introduce a new lesson or Reading/Math center. They get so excited and eager to learn!\r\n\r\nThank you again for your very generous donation!!","fullyFundedDate":1760639353616,"projectUrl":"project/engaging-students-with-digital-resources/9759234/","projectTitle":"Engaging Students with Digital Resources","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Herrell","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1679140_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1551930940414","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrsherrellsecond"},{"teacherId":7872671,"projectId":8904059,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for donating to my \"Stackable Stools for a Crowded Classroom\" project. The colorful stools are a bright addition to my classroom and make it easier for my students to work together. With twenty-seven desks in my classroom this year, the stools are a game changer! They make it much easier for me to get around to help the small groups of students as they work together.\r\nThe students love using the colored pens. They also like it when I grade papers using the different colors rather than the traditional red or blue.\r\nI truly appreciate your willingness to support both my current and future fifth graders.","fullyFundedDate":1739559780920,"projectUrl":"project/stackable-stools-for-a-crowded-classroom/8904059/","projectTitle":"Stackable Stools for a Crowded Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Liefer","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/7872671"},{"teacherId":9843937,"projectId":8956646,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous contribution to our \"Threads of Learning Project\", which has enabled us to acquire a beautiful rug for our ESL classroom's reading groups. This addition has significantly transformed our learning environment, fostering both comfort and collaboration among our students.\r\n\r\nThis new rug has contributed to creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere in the classroom. Students now have a dedicated space that supports various learning activities, from storytelling to collaborative projects, making our classroom a more dynamic and inclusive place. \r\n\r\nThe bright and colorful rug has become a central gathering spot where students eagerly participate in group reading activities and for gathering around our Promethean Board as students actively participate in our phonics lesson. The cozy setting has also made our sessions more interactive and enjoyable, promoting a sense of community and belonging.\r\n\r\nYour support has made a tangible difference in our educational journey. Thank you once again for your kindness and generosity. May God bless you as you have blessed us!","fullyFundedDate":1732416279829,"projectUrl":"project/threads-of-learning-our-classroom-rug/8956646/","projectTitle":"Threads of Learning: Our Classroom Rug Project","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Fogerson","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-9_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9843937"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_25735","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":605,"numTeachers":40,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":1,"percentWhite":81,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":14,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"15.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_REMOTE"},"inStateSupporters":69.5,"schoolId":25735,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Chester Grade School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Chester Grade School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chester-community-unit-school-district-139/chester-grade-school/25735"}

About this school

Chester Grade School is a town public school in Chester, Illinois that is part of Chester Community Unit School District 139. It serves 605 students in grades Pre-K - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 15.1:1. Its teachers have had 72 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades Pre-K - 8

605 Students

40 Teachers

650 Opdyke St

Chester, IL 62233 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

Chester Grade School Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Brown/Ms. Allison

See more teachers from Chester Grade School

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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.

See how DonorsChoose works

Chester Grade School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

15%

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.

Chester Grade School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 4, 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.