{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Taft High School","outOfStateSupporters":25.2,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2481617,"projectId":9868006,"letterContent":"The funds secured were specifically used to purchase high-quality, competition-grade components, including:\r\n\r\nAdvanced Gearboxes: Precision-engineered gearboxes that allow the team to efficiently manage torque and speed, critical for powerful drivetrains and reliable mechanisms (like lifts and arms).\r\n\r\nDurable Hex Shafts: Standardized, high-strength hexagonal shafts crucial for connecting components securely to gearboxes and wheels, preventing failure under the high stress of competition.\r\n\r\nWorking with industry-standard, high-quality components provided students with invaluable, real-world experience:\r\n\r\nDesign for Durability: Students learned the importance of selecting the right materials and mechanical interfaces for demanding applications.\r\n\r\nPrecision Assembly: The components required precise installation, teaching students detailed skills in mechanical assembly, alignment, and tolerance fitting—skills highly valued in professional engineering and manufacturing.\r\n\r\nThis project would not have been possible without the commitment of our donors. You didn't just donate to a wish list; you invested in the future engineers, innovators, and problem-solvers on our FRC team.\r\n\r\nYour support provided the \"Building Blocks\" for a competitive robot, but more importantly, it built a foundation of technical confidence and experience that will benefit these students far beyond the competition floor.","fullyFundedDate":1763606416813,"projectUrl":"project/building-blocks-for-blue-banners/9868006/","projectTitle":"Building Blocks for Blue Banners","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Schmidt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2481617_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1486678218372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/scischmidt"},{"teacherId":2481617,"projectId":6612230,"letterContent":"You made the following possible \r\nEnhanced Skill Development: Students are no longer limited to basic construction. They are now actively learning and practicing industry-relevant skills like precision measurement, electrical circuit troubleshooting, and proper material handling. The digital calipers, for instance, allowed students to measure tolerance and design custom parts with accuracy for our latest robot drive train.\r\n\r\nIncreased Efficiency & Build Quality: Having enough high-quality, specialized tools means students spend less time waiting and more time building. This has led to higher-quality robot construction and a significant decrease in part damage due to using improper tools. Our latest robot build was completed 20% faster than the previous year.\r\n\r\nFostering Independent Problem-Solving: With their own organized toolkits, students are empowered to take ownership of their specific robot subsystems. They have gained confidence in diagnosing and fixing issues independently, moving from passive recipients of instruction to active problem-solvers and engineers.","fullyFundedDate":1670878705570,"projectUrl":"project/team-growth-tool-growth/6612230/","projectTitle":"Team Growth Tool Growth","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Schmidt","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp2481617_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1486678218372","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/scischmidt"},{"teacherId":1396902,"projectId":9656640,"letterContent":"We are writing to express our profound gratitude for your generous donation to our Donor's Choose project, \"Together, We Build Bright Futures!,\" which helped us successfully fund the creation of our new College and Career Center (CCC) at Taft High School in Chicago!\r\n\r\nBecause of your belief in our students and your commitment to their futures, you provided the essential foundation needed to transform an underutilized space into a vibrant, welcoming, and essential resource.\r\n\r\nOur large public high school serves a diverse population, and for many of our students, having a designated, comfortable place to plan their future is crucial. The CCC is designed to be the central hub where all students feel supported in navigating paths after graduation—whether it's college, technical school, military, or direct workforce entry.\r\n\r\nYour donation was critical in getting the CCC off the ground and made the following elements possible:\r\n\r\nA Welcoming Environment: Your funds allowed us to purchase comfortable, accessible seating, tables, and motivating decor. We transformed a sterile room into a vibrant space where students genuinely want to spend time, making it easier for them to engage in serious planning and discussions.\r\n\r\nEssential Print Resources: We were able to stock the shelves with current and comprehensive college guides, test preparation materials, career exploration books, and financial aid handbooks. These foundational print resources are now readily available for any student to pick up and utilize.","fullyFundedDate":1757941831725,"projectUrl":"project/together-we-build-bright-futures/9656640/","projectTitle":"Together, We Build Bright Futures!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. LaPorte","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1396902_orig.png?crop=288,288,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1756396549517","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1396902"},{"teacherId":9721858,"projectId":9413145,"letterContent":"I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your generous support of our project. Thanks to your donation, our Honors Precalculus classroom now has two fully functional graphing-calculator charging stations—simple tools that have made a tremendous difference in the daily learning experience of my students. What may seem like a small addition to a classroom has had an enormous impact on our momentum, our efficiency, and, most importantly, our students' confidence in their ability to succeed.\r\n\r\nMany of you use technology every day, whether at home or at work, but you may not often get to see the kind of challenges that arise when technology enters the classroom. Graphing calculators are essential tools in higher-level math: they help students visualize complex functions, compare graphs, test mathematical ideas, and explore concepts far beyond what paper and pencil alone can provide. In our Honors Precalculus course, we rely on these devices every single day to bring abstract concepts to life. When a calculator is dead, however, that student immediately falls behind—not because they can't understand the math, but because they don't have access to the tool that allows them to engage with it fully.\r\n\r\nBefore this project was funded, we routinely spent the first five to ten minutes of class tracking down spare chargers, rearranging groups so students could share devices, or pausing lessons so students could recalculate on paper what the rest of the class had already visualized. Your donation changed that overnight. The charging stations now give students a clear, reliable solution: they simply dock their calculators as they walk into class, grab them when the lesson begins, and know without worry that their device will last the entire period. This has restored instructional time, reduced stress, and allowed everyone to start class on equal footing.\r\n\r\nWhat has been most exciting for students is the sense of independence and responsibility the charging stations give them. They love how easy the stations are to use—no more tangled cords, broken chargers, or scavenger hunts for an open outlet. The stations feel modern, accessible, even \"professional,\" as one student phrased it, and there's a sense of pride in using classroom tools that look purposeful and well cared for. Students often comment on how the charging stations make the room feel more like a college study space or STEM lab, reinforcing their identity as serious learners preparing for rigorous future studies.\r\n\r\nSeveral students in particular have been transformed by having consistent access to a charged device. One student, who often juggles responsibilities at home and frequently forgot to charge her calculator, told me that she used to dread group activities because she felt she wasn't contributing enough. Now, she arrives each day confident and prepared, and her participation has flourished. Another student—an aspiring engineer—has taken to arriving early just to explore calculator functions beyond the lesson, using stored programs and graphing tools he hadn't been able to experiment with before the charging stations became available. He told me, \"I feel like I can finally use the calculator the way it's meant to be used.\"\r\n\r\nThese moments, big and small, happen because you chose to help. Your generosity didn't just provide hardware; it provided opportunity, equity, and a smoother, more joyful learning environment. You've helped create a classroom where students can focus on the beauty of mathematics rather than the anxiety of a blinking battery icon.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of every student who plugs in a calculator each morning with confidence and excitement, thank you. Your support has changed our classroom for the better, and we are deeply grateful.","fullyFundedDate":1757554641153,"projectUrl":"project/charging-station-calculators-ready-t/9413145/","projectTitle":"Charging Station + Calculators = Ready to Do Some Precalculus","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Starzycka","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9721858_orig.jpg?crop=1083,1083,x196,y102&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1731202203464","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-starzycka"},{"teacherId":10289610,"projectId":9766003,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of classroom essentials. We are so grateful for your support. Your contribution is already making a difference. My students have already used the electronic balance and will use it for multiple labs throughout the year. This balance will be shared by 5 other chemistry teachers. Hence this item has impacted at least 500 students. Other classroom essentials are used frequently. Some students need pencils everyday, some use paper towels to wipe their hands especially after labs & lysol wipes for cleaning tables, and band aids for cuts. \r\n\r\nThe large display periodic table has made a remarkable impact on my students. It makes my lessons more interactive and helps students connect chemical concepts easily. Having it displayed prominently supports daily chemistry learning and sparks conversations about elements. It is a valuable learning tool. \r\n\r\nYour support has made a real difference to the learning environment. Thank you for your kindness.","fullyFundedDate":1759156874299,"projectUrl":"project/chemistry-classroom-essentials-for-under/9766003/","projectTitle":"Chemistry Classroom Essentials for Underpriveleged Students","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Agrawal","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10289610"},{"teacherId":10289610,"projectId":9792058,"letterContent":"Thank you for all the materials I received, especially the 8 hot plates. My sophomore students were very excited to use hot plates for their chemistry lab activity. I was able to organize this activity properly because I had 8 groups of students, and each group of 4 had their own hot plate to use near their table. This prevented chaos as it limited student movement. The students were excited to study different type of changes and kept going to the hot plates to record their observations as substances were heated. They were excited to observe evaporation of salt water or color changes. We plan on using these hot plates multiple times throughout the year. We will use the index cards later in the year. The weighing boats were used for measuring samples several times during the year. \r\n\r\nAll this would not have been possible without your donations. Your donations have made a meaningful difference to my classes (150 students). These materials will be shared by all the chemistry teachers (at least 5) in the building, hence will impact approximately 500 students. Thank you for your generosity. My students join me in thanking you too.","fullyFundedDate":1759774018865,"projectUrl":"project/hot-lab-needs/9792058/","projectTitle":"Hot Lab Needs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Agrawal","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10289610"},{"teacherId":9701989,"projectId":9373651,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation! The classroom cart brimming with new supplies has become an absolute game-changer, dramatically boosting engagement and ensuring all three of my classrooms are equally well-equipped. My students are utilizing the highlighters, pens, pencils, and art supplies for dynamic, hands-on learning strategies. For example, we use the art supplies and colorful pens for a project where students create baseball cards for the founding fathers, researching key facts and using the materials to design an engaging, shareable historical artifact. They also use highlighters and pens for hexagonal thinking, a powerful vocabulary strategy where they connect terms and concepts visually. The ability to roll the entire cart of materials between rooms means I no longer have to worry about running out of essential resources, making every lesson seamless and consistent across classes.\r\n\r\nThe initial reaction from my students was pure excitement, especially for the snacks and toys that we use as engagement rewards. Now, those rewards have become powerful motivators. Student participation and engagement have soared because they know that contributing a great idea or actively participating in a discussion can lead to a fun reward. This positive cycle has created a vibrant and eager learning environment where students are excited to come to class and contribute.\r\n\r\nYour donation didn't just give us supplies; it provided the tools for creativity, engagement, and a truly equitable learning environment across all my classrooms. Thank you again for making such a profound difference in my students' daily lives and learning experiences!","fullyFundedDate":1753653875884,"projectUrl":"project/securing-supplies-for-sy-25-26/9373651/","projectTitle":"Securing Supplies for SY 25-26!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Tetlak","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9701989_orig.jpg?crop=2446,2446,x618,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1724429754327","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-tetlak"},{"teacherId":732480,"projectId":9469084,"letterContent":"There are a variety of mindfulness strategies that help students practice self-management. Mindfulness breathing can help students to be aware of their breath, increase oxygen levels in their bodies, and maintain a calm attitude. This practice can benefit short- and long-term health.\r\n\r\nLast year, I taught approximately 1200 students five-finger breathing, a tactile practice designed to help them focus on the here and now. This year, I used the breathing balls to introduce another tactile experience which can help students visualize their breath and focus on the here and now by using the balls as a focal point.\r\n\r\nStudents were eager and engaged in using the breathing balls to practice mindfulness breathing. Thank you so much for funding these resources, which will be used for years to come, and whose impact can be seen immediately and whose long-term impact may never be known.","fullyFundedDate":1755200122840,"projectUrl":"project/inhale-expand-the-ball-exhale-contrac/9469084/","projectTitle":"Inhale, expand the ball, Exhale, contract the ball","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Plewa","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp732480_orig.jpg?crop=1374,1374,x42,y226&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1722607272245","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/732480"},{"teacherId":9785710,"projectId":9300197,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our Clean & Care Crew project! Your generous contribution made it possible for my students to bring their vision to life—a student-led initiative focused on improving the cleanliness and atmosphere of shared spaces throughout our school.\r\n\r\nThe excitement was immediate when the materials arrived. Students eagerly unpacked the cleaning supplies and essential oil diffusers, proudly taking inventory and discussing how to best organize.\r\n\r\nWe've since launched weekly \"care shifts,\" where students take turns cleaning and refreshing common areas, such as shared classrooms, They've taken full ownership by creating schedules, assigning roles, and even rotating scent selections as part of our \"wellness through environment\" focus. This project has sparked genuine pride and teamwork, with students feeling empowered to make a visible difference in their community.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving my students the tools—and the confidence—to become leaders and changemakers. Your support is creating lasting impact, far beyond our classroom walls.","fullyFundedDate":1747691692513,"projectUrl":"project/cleaning-up-with-care/9300197/","projectTitle":"Cleaning Up with Care","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lambroplos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9785710"},{"teacherId":9785710,"projectId":9766053,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support! Your donation has made a real difference in my math and chemistry classroom, where many of my students receive special education services or are English Language Learners.\r\n\r\nWhen the supplies arrived—especially the calculators and snacks—students were thrilled. One said, \"Now I can actually follow along without waiting to borrow one!\" The calculators have been especially helpful during math class while we worked on solving two-step equations, allowing every student to participate fully.\r\n\r\nThe snacks have helped students stay focused, especially those who come to school without breakfast, and the cleaning supplies have helped us maintain a welcoming, safe space for all.","fullyFundedDate":1759156752613,"projectUrl":"project/adding-up-the-essentials/9766053/","projectTitle":"Adding Up the Essentials","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Lambroplos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-6_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9785710"},{"teacherId":8579692,"projectId":9137432,"letterContent":"Thanks to your donation, my students have been able to foster a love and experience for animal husbandry. Every year, we hatch birds in our classroom and this teaches students about responsibility, life, and development. We candle the eggs and genetically test our embryos before hatching them and sending kids home on weekends with birds to take care of. Your contribution to this project extends those effects to otehr mammalian species. Although we did not get a ferret for this project, the equipment and resources provided by this project continue to support our ongoing efforts to bring real life observations to the classroom. Your support means students' efforts and goals are being noticed.","fullyFundedDate":1746785342731,"projectUrl":"project/a-ferret-for-education/9137432/","projectTitle":"A Ferret for Education","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Nguyen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8579692_orig.jpg?crop=179,179,x1,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727500947639","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8579692"},{"teacherId":8579692,"projectId":9209546,"letterContent":"This has been an incredible year thanks to your support of this project. For the first time ever, students in dual credit biology have their very own carbon copy lab notebooks. The care and focus that they put into their lab reports to ensure they do not mess up their carbon copies is so novel and so impactful that this case study year supports the continued use of lab notebooks for years to come. Students are so thoughtful and careful about the information they put down as a permanent record of their edits are taken down. This has created more thoughtful, careful, and proficient scientists in the process. Thank you for supporting this unique project, for this unique class, for this unique year.","fullyFundedDate":1746786512063,"projectUrl":"project/carbon-copy-lab-notebooks-for-dual-credi/9209546/","projectTitle":"Carbon Copy Lab Notebooks for Dual Credit Biology","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Nguyen","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8579692_orig.jpg?crop=179,179,x1,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1727500947639","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8579692"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_5334","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":4440,"numTeachers":164,"percentFrplEligible":75,"percentAsian":6,"percentBlack":2,"percentWhite":41,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":43,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"7 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"27.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":74.8,"schoolId":5334,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Taft High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Taft High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/chicago-public-school-district-299/taft-high-school/5334"}