{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Columbia Explorers Academy","outOfStateSupporters":32.6,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6419285,"projectId":9789917,"letterContent":"I am writing to share my deepest thanks for your generous donation toward our new Sphero BOLT robots. While the name might sound like simple hardware, these are actually sophisticated, programmable robots that have completely transformed the energy in our classroom.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, my students are no longer just consumers of technology—they are creators. Using the Sphero BOLTs, they are learning to write code, navigate complex obstacles, and use sensors to interact with the world around them.\r\n\r\nThe impact has been immediate. I see students who were previously intimidated by computer science now eagerly collaborating to program the BOLT's LED matrix or using its compass to master geometry. You haven't just provided \"toys\"; you've provided the high-tech tools that bridge the gap between abstract math and real-world application.\r\n\r\nI have attached some photos and short videos of the BOLTs in action so you can see the literal \"lightbulb moments\" you helped create at Columbia Explorers Academy","fullyFundedDate":1763695251329,"projectUrl":"project/ready-to-roll-coding-with-sphero-bolts/9789917/","projectTitle":"Ready to Roll? Coding with Sphero Bolts","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Feeney","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6419285_orig.jpg?crop=3024,3024,x0,y151&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1759520111247","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6419285"},{"teacherId":10411068,"projectId":10037293,"letterContent":"Thank you all so much! I am so grateful for everyone who has contributed to this project! Through the last couple of weeks our students have shown great interest in our library center, so much so that we now had to make a waitlist for library use! Our students are crazy about Elephant and Piggie and I am beyond impressed with how quickly they caught on to the appropriate use of our new materials.\r\n\r\n Not only have I witnessed students taking time turning and examining each page with a partner, but I have observed my students' context clues in use when they use the puppet to put their own words to the illustrations. The puppets have also encouraged my diverse learners to interact with print concepts and verbalize their thoughts through the puppets. The Elephant and Piggie books and puppets have now become a weekly whole group activity for us where we discuss certain social emotional topics and act out scenarios with our puppets to discuss appropriate ways to approach social problems. From room 504, we are extremely grateful for your donation to our classroom and the impact it has already made.","fullyFundedDate":1768752046855,"projectUrl":"project/encouraging-young-readers/10037293/","projectTitle":"Encouraging Young Readers!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Contreras","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-5_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10411068"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5781","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":725,"numTeachers":52,"percentFrplEligible":90,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":0,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":97,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"13.9:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":67.4,"schoolId":5781,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Columbia Explorers Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Columbia Explorers Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/columbia-explorers-academy/5781"}
Join the 549 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Columbia Explorers Academy is
an urban public school
in Chicago, Illinois that is part of Chicago Public School District 299.
It serves 725 students
in grades Pre-K - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 13.9:1.
Its teachers have had 134 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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
97%
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.
Columbia Explorers Academy Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Feb 20, 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.
Columbia Explorers Academy
$69,114
raised using DonorsChoose
134
projects
funded
51
teachers
funded
549
donors
5
projects
for
basic supplies
12
projects for
technology
15
projects for
books
8
projects
for
art supplies
Columbia Explorers Academy has received support from
370 individuals from Illinois and
179 individuals out-of-state.
