North Elementary School in Des Plaines, Illinois on DonorsChoose

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Other teachers on the hallways always remark on the effect these things have on my students.","fullyFundedDate":1756752944386,"projectUrl":"project/shelves-not-boxes/9621505/","projectTitle":"Shelves, Not Boxes","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Paraskevopoulos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/northwinterfun"},{"teacherId":9398125,"projectId":9303041,"letterContent":"It has been six months since you generously donated to our book request and let me tell you - all the other teachers on my hallways walk into my room and say \"wow, Mrs. Paraskevopoulos, every student has more than one book on their desk, I can barely get my students to choose a book\". And guess what I tell them - I tell them about you and your generous donation. Students have flocked to my bookshelves and I actually just lent my other 5th grade teacher some of the books - and some of my students that have never shown interest in a book at school before - literally gasped and rushed over to ask for one of the books. You've made a difference, you chose to donate, and you've changed a student's experience with reading. Thank you for doing that. \r\n\r\nI also have to include - our librarians have seen the interest amongst our students for MANGA books, and now they are starting to stock them. You're an inspiration!","fullyFundedDate":1746819634988,"projectUrl":"project/manga-brings-the-magic/9303041/","projectTitle":"Manga Brings the Magic","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Paraskevopoulos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/northwinterfun"},{"teacherId":9398125,"projectId":9179819,"letterContent":"It has been six months since you generously donated to our book request and let me tell you - all the other teachers on my hallways walk into my room and say \"wow, Mrs. Paraskevopoulos, every student has more than one book on their desk, I can barely get my students to choose a book\". And guess what I tell them - I tell them about you and your generous donation. Students have flocked to my bookshelves and I actually just lent my other 5th grade teacher some of the books - and some of my students that have never shown interest in a book at school before - literally gasped and rushed over to ask for one of the books. You've made a difference, you chose to donate, and you've changed a student's experience with reading. Thank you for doing that.","fullyFundedDate":1745510070121,"projectUrl":"project/give-them-what-they-want-its-the-book/9179819/","projectTitle":"Give Them What They Want! It's the Books That Count","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Paraskevopoulos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/northwinterfun"},{"teacherId":9398125,"projectId":9252191,"letterContent":"It has been six months since you generously donated to our book request and let me tell you - all the other teachers on my hallways walk into my room and say \"wow, Mrs. Paraskevopoulos, every student has more than one book on their desk, I can barely get my students to choose a book\". And guess what I tell them - I tell them about you and your generous donation. Students have flocked to my bookshelves and I actually just lent my other 5th grade teacher some of the books - and some of my students that have never shown interest in a book at school before - literally gasped and rushed over to ask for one of the books. You've made a difference, you chose to donate, and you've changed a student's experience with reading. Thank you for doing that.","fullyFundedDate":1746487053811,"projectUrl":"project/watch-out-consumers-of-books-here/9252191/","projectTitle":"Watch Out! Consumers of Books Here!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Paraskevopoulos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/northwinterfun"},{"teacherId":9398125,"projectId":8848194,"letterContent":"Thank you for being part of this project. One month into having these books and every book has been picked up by a student. I showcased each of the books as I recieved them, and I heard one student say \"She has my sister's name\" or \"She wears a hijab like me\". What you do matters and each donation you make has an impact on our students. I LOVE that Donors choose allows me to post lists of items that my students are asking for and that my students need. I am so grateful you participated and I\"m so grateful that you were a part of this. Thank you for everything you do.","fullyFundedDate":1733251681099,"projectUrl":"project/seeing-yourself-in-the-mirror/8848194/","projectTitle":"Seeing Yourself in the Mirror","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Paraskevopoulos","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-3_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/northwinterfun"},{"teacherId":9815399,"projectId":8902082,"letterContent":"First and foremost, thank you for your generous donation of multicultural books, which has broadened the scope of our students' learning. These books are not just tools for improving literacy—they validate our students' cultures and life experiences. Reading a folktale from their culture in two languages supports their development in both their first language and English, allowing them to build literacy in both. Many students are finding it easier to engage with reading when they see their home language alongside English.\r\n\r\nThe books introduce themes—such as identity, belonging, and resilience. Students are learning to analyze characters' motivations, traits, problems and solutions, which strengthens their reading comprehension. Students also have the added benefit of seeing the connection between words in two languages, which reinforces their language acquisition. \r\n\r\nI love seeing students make a bee-line to the new book bins. There's an increase in engagement during independent reading time. One student has been particularly excited about the astronomy book. In fact, it is a favorite book of many. Another has had Unsettled on her desk for weeks. Many have enjoyed seeing themselves reflected in the Ramadan stories. The privacy dividers have helped students focus on tests and minimize distractions.\r\n\r\nWe are deeply grateful for your support, and we look forward to continuing to build a classroom that celebrates diversity and inclusivity through the power of books.","fullyFundedDate":1730402309112,"projectUrl":"project/multicultural-books-for-inclusion/8902082/","projectTitle":"Multicultural Books for Inclusion","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Gavin","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-10_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9815399"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_28678","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":502,"numTeachers":42,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":31,"percentBlack":6,"percentWhite":34,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":24,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_SMALL"},"inStateSupporters":97.5,"schoolId":28678,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about North Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"North Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/des-plaines-community-consolidated-school-district-62/north-elementary-school/28678"}

About this school

North Elementary School is an urban public school in Des Plaines, Illinois that is part of Des Plaines Community Consolidated School District 62. It serves 502 students in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 12.0:1. Its teachers have had 20 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 5

502 Students

42 Teachers

1789 Rand Rd

Des Plaines, IL 60016 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

North Elementary 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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North Elementary School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

61%

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.

North Elementary 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.