{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Desert Trail Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":88.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":6727502,"projectId":9998898,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generosity, our classroom is bursting with excitement and positivity! When I revealed the prizes, my students' faces lit up—there were gasps, cheers, and huge smiles. One student exclaimed, \"These are so cool!\" and another said, \"I'm going to work so hard to earn one!\" Right away, everyone wanted to know how they could start earning rewards for kindness, effort, and making good choices.\r\n\r\nEvery day, the rewards help us celebrate effort, kindness, and growth. Students cheer each other on—\"You can do it! You'll earn a ticket!\"—and even those who struggle are trying harder. One student told me proudly, \"I didn't give up, and I earned one!\" These moments are building confidence and joy in our classroom.\r\n\r\nThe prizes are more than just fun—they remind my students that their effort matters. Because of you, our classroom is filled with pride, encouragement, and smiles every day. Thank you for making such a joyful difference!","fullyFundedDate":1768499729909,"projectUrl":"project/motivation-that-makes-learning-shine/9998898/","projectTitle":"Motivation That Makes Learning Shine","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Arroyo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6727502_orig.jpg?crop=303,303,x0,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1633485705292","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6727502"},{"teacherId":6727502,"projectId":9973399,"letterContent":"Your generosity has transformed our classroom. When the supplies arrived, my students lit up with excitement. For many, having new pencils, crayons, notebooks, and folders was a proud moment. Even choosing a pencil or opening a notebook made them feel prepared and valued.\r\n\r\nWe used the materials right away during math and writing. I watched my students open their notebooks and write with confidence. Having their own supplies stopped daily worries and let them focus on learning.\r\n\r\nWith the supplies, daily barriers vanished. Instead of worrying about having a pencil or paper, we can focus on instruction, creativity, and growth. Our classroom feels more organized and ready to learn.\r\n\r\nThank you for giving our students more than supplies. You have given them dignity, excitement, and tools to succeed. Your generosity is felt every day in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1767928981323,"projectUrl":"project/little-hands-big-dreams-supplies-to-fi/9973399/","projectTitle":"Little Hands, Big Dreams: Supplies to Finish Strong","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Arroyo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6727502_orig.jpg?crop=303,303,x0,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1633485705292","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6727502"},{"teacherId":6727502,"projectId":9973392,"letterContent":"I can't begin to express how much your generosity has meant to our classroom. Because of you, my students now have sensory tools like noise-canceling headphones, textured fidgets, and a weighted vest—and the change has been nothing short of amazing.\r\n\r\nFor students who struggle with sensory processing or focus, everyday classroom sounds can feel overwhelming. The headphones you provided help block out the chaos, letting them find calm and enjoy being part of our activities—sometimes for the first time.\r\n\r\nIt moves me to see students choose a fidget on their own, or quietly ask for headphones when it gets too loud. That kind of self-awareness and bravery is truly powerful. Instead of feeling lost or frustrated, they now have ways to stay engaged and proud of themselves.\r\n\r\nThe most beautiful part is seeing their confidence bloom. One second grader told me, \"When I wear the headphones, my brain feels quiet, and I can think.\" Another said the weighted vest \"feels safe, like a hug.\" Moments like these remind me of what a difference you make.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, my students are learning not just academics, but also how to understand and speak up for what they need. You are helping them feel capable, valued, and seen. I am endlessly grateful for you.\r\n\r\nThank you, from all of us, for making this possible. Your generosity is truly changing lives.","fullyFundedDate":1767633029559,"projectUrl":"project/creating-calm-spaces-for-incredible-mind/9973392/","projectTitle":"Creating Calm Spaces for Incredible Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Arroyo","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp6727502_orig.jpg?crop=303,303,x0,y14&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1633485705292","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6727502"},{"teacherId":9994351,"projectId":10101314,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our project, \"Powering STEM Learning: Headphones, Chargers, & Clean Classroom Supplies.\" Because of your generosity, my fourth graders now have the tools they need to fully engage in daily technology-based learning. The headphones allow students to focus during I-Ready lessons, STEM research, and small-group rotations without distractions. Chargers ensure our devices stay powered throughout the day, preventing interruptions during important instructional time. These tools help maximize every minute of learning.\r\n\r\nThe cleaning supplies, including Clorox wipes and Kleenex, have also made a tremendous difference in maintaining a healthy classroom environment. With students sharing devices and working collaboratively, keeping materials clean is essential. A clean space helps reduce the spread of germs and keeps students in school, ready to learn. My students take pride in helping wipe down their work areas and devices, building responsibility and care for shared materials.\r\n\r\nWhat has been most exciting is seeing students feel empowered when they can independently log in, complete their digital lessons, and fully participate in STEM activities without technical issues. Students who benefit from audio support, especially in reading and math, are now more confident and engaged. Your generosity has helped create a focused, healthy, and technology-ready classroom where all students can succeed. Thank you for investing in our learning community!","fullyFundedDate":1771690065215,"projectUrl":"project/powering-stem-learning-headphones-char/10101314/","projectTitle":"Powering STEM Learning: Headphones, Chargers, & Clean Classroom Supplies","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Gutierrez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9994351_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y74&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758660220446","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9994351"},{"teacherId":9994351,"projectId":10070767,"letterContent":"Thank you for supporting our classroom through this hygiene project. Because of your generosity, every student in my class received essential hygiene items such as deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. These may seem like small supplies, but they have already made a big difference in our daily routine and in my students' confidence.\r\n\r\nFor many of my fourth graders, having their own personal hygiene items helps them start the day feeling prepared, comfortable, and ready to learn. Students are more confident participating in group work, reading aloud, and engaging with classmates when they feel clean and cared for. It has also helped us build important conversations around responsibility, self-care, and healthy habits that support both physical and emotional well-being.\r\n\r\nYour donation has helped create a more positive and supportive classroom environment where students can focus on learning instead of worrying about basic needs. My students were truly grateful and excited to receive these supplies, and they felt proud to have items they could call their own.\r\n\r\nOn behalf of my entire class, thank you for investing in our students and showing them that their community cares about them. Your kindness has had a meaningful impact on our classroom each and every day.","fullyFundedDate":1770051258773,"projectUrl":"project/caring-for-students-beyond-the-classroom/10070767/","projectTitle":"Caring for Students Beyond the Classroom","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Gutierrez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9994351_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y74&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758660220446","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9994351"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9860522,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for providing our students with the inflatable basketball hoop and Wilson basketball for sport time. Your generosity has brought excitement, energy, and meaningful learning opportunities into our classroom.\r\n\r\nBecause of your support, students are able to stay physically active while developing important basketball skills such as dribbling, shooting, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Physical activity plays a vital role in helping students stay healthy, focused, and ready to learn, and this new equipment makes exercise both fun and engaging.\r\n\r\nOur students are especially excited about the opportunity to compete against other classes. Having the proper materials gives them the confidence and advantage they need to practice, improve, and be successful. Beyond the games themselves, they are learning perseverance, cooperation, and leadership—skills that will benefit them both on and off the court.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has made a direct and positive impact on our students. We are truly grateful for your continued support and for helping create opportunities that inspire growth, health, and teamwork.","fullyFundedDate":1763505186432,"projectUrl":"project/lets-practice-sport-time/9860522/","projectTitle":"Let's Practice Sport Time!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9844147,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in providing fun and engaging resources for our students. Because of your kindness, math and science lessons have become exciting, hands-on experiences that truly bring STEM learning to life.\r\n\r\nThe items you provided have allowed students to explore concepts through play, problem-solving, and creativity. They are not only learning important math and science skills, but they are also discovering that learning can be fun and enjoyable. Students are more engaged, eager to participate, and excited to challenge themselves during STEM activities.","fullyFundedDate":1763573166907,"projectUrl":"project/learning-and-excitement-without-limits/9844147/","projectTitle":"Learning and Excitement Without Limits","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":10011985,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support and for helping provide resources that made our Friendship Day (also known as Valentine's Day) such a meaningful and memorable experience for our students.\r\n\r\nBecause of your kindness, our students were able to enjoy hands-on activities that focused on learning about friendship, kindness, and building positive relationships with one another. The props you helped provide were a huge hit at our photo booth, giving students a fun way to express themselves while creating lasting memories with their friends. The smiles, laughter, and excitement throughout the day truly showed how special the experience was for them.\r\n\r\nIn addition, the other items you donated allowed students to engage in activities that encouraged teamwork, communication, and connection—important skills that support both their social and academic growth. These moments helped strengthen friendships and created a positive, inclusive environment where students felt supported and valued.\r\n\r\nWe are incredibly grateful for your generosity and commitment to our students. Your support made a lasting impact, and the joy it brought to our classroom will be remembered for a long time.","fullyFundedDate":1768446814238,"projectUrl":"project/friendship-day/10011985/","projectTitle":"Friendship Day","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":10000618,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in providing our students with a portable photo booth! It has quickly become a favorite in our classroom, and the joy, laughter, and excitement it brings is truly heartwarming to see.\r\n\r\nOur students are having an absolute blast using the photo booth during school events and special activities. They love choosing props, taking turns, and capturing memories with their classmates. Beyond the fun, the photo booth has become a meaningful learning tool. Students practice communication and collaboration as they plan photos together, build confidence by expressing themselves creatively, and strengthen social skills through shared experiences.\r\n\r\nWe've also integrated learning by using the photos for writing prompts, storytelling, sequencing activities, and class projects. Students reflect on events, describe emotions, and even practice basic technology skills—all while having fun. The photo booth has helped make learning more engaging, inclusive, and memorable for everyone.\r\n\r\nYour generosity has made a lasting impact on our students, giving them opportunities to learn, connect, and create joyful memories. We are incredibly grateful for your support and for believing in our students.","fullyFundedDate":1768541433919,"projectUrl":"project/photo-booth-for-lunar-new-year-activitie/10000618/","projectTitle":"Photo Booth for Lunar New Year Activities","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"},{"teacherId":6732223,"projectId":9693708,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for supporting our classroom and making this project possible!! Because of you, my students can now use their LEGO Education kits in a way that truly matches how they learn best. The tablet allows students to connect to their LEGO control hubs through Bluetooth instead of staying attached to a Chromebook. This means they can move freely, test their builds in open spaces, and even take them outdoors to see how their vehicles and robots actually perform.\r\n\r\nThe best part has been watching how excited the students are to test their ideas in real time. They love being able to drive their creations, see how far they go, how well they turn, and then make changes when something doesn't work quite right. This has naturally led to so many great conversations about problem solving, teamwork, and perseverance. Students are constantly predicting outcomes, testing their ideas, and trying again, which is exactly what we want them to do as young engineers. Thank you for believing in my students and our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1759193220505,"projectUrl":"project/lets-code-and-go-a-tablet-for-stem-exp/9693708/","projectTitle":"Let’s Code and Go! A Tablet for STEM Exploration","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Rodriguez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-2_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/6732223"},{"teacherId":9994351,"projectId":9954338,"letterContent":"When the new materials arrived, my students were immediately excited. They gathered around as we unpacked everything, asking questions and wanting to try the materials right away. It was clear how much having new, engaging resources mattered to them. Students who are usually quiet were eager to participate, and many shared how excited they were to use the materials during our lessons.\r\n\r\nWe have already begun using these resources during our daily classroom activities, and the difference has been noticeable. Students are more focused, motivated, and confident as they work. They take pride in using materials that are just for them, and it has made learning feel more meaningful and enjoyable. One of my favorite moments was seeing students independently choose to use the new resources during work time because they truly wanted to learn and explore.\r\n\r\nThese resources will help students strengthen their understanding and grow academically throughout the year. Thank you for your generosity and for helping create an engaging classroom where students feel excited to learn every day.","fullyFundedDate":1766211474455,"projectUrl":"project/clean-classrooms-for-stem-and-math-learn/9954338/","projectTitle":"Clean Classrooms for STEM and Math Learning","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Gutierrez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9994351_orig.jpg?crop=1242,1242,x0,y74&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1758660220446","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9994351"},{"teacherId":5284987,"projectId":9836628,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support in providing my students with *Scholastic News* and *TIME for Kids* magazines. Because of you, my classroom now has access to engaging, age-appropriate resources that connect learning to the real world.\r\n\r\nThese magazines help students build strong reading and comprehension skills while exploring current events, science, history, and social issues. They spark curiosity, encourage thoughtful discussions, and help children better understand the world beyond our classroom walls. Students are learning new vocabulary, practicing critical thinking, and developing media literacy skills as they analyze articles and ask meaningful questions about what they read.\r\n\r\nMost importantly, these resources make learning exciting and relevant. My students feel informed, empowered, and eager to share what they've learned. Your generosity has created richer lessons, deeper conversations, and a genuine love of learning.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in my students and for making such a positive impact on their education. We are truly grateful for your support.","fullyFundedDate":1763582824815,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-students-with-magazines-to-un/9836628/","projectTitle":"Empowering Students With Magazines to Understand Government","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Marquez","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5284987_orig.jpg?crop=436,436,x0,y110&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1760857075548","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ymarquez"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_62589","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":471,"numTeachers":47,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":0,"percentWhite":2,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":95,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"10.0:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"RURAL_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":11.9,"schoolId":62589,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Desert Trail Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Desert Trail Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-mexico/gadsden-independent-school-district/desert-trail-elementary/62589"}
Join the 1,210 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Desert Trail Elementary School is
a rural public school
in Chaparral, New Mexico that is part of Gadsden Independent School District.
It serves 471 students
in grades K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 10.0:1.
Its teachers have had 587 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Share and help support Desert Trail Elementary School
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.
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for public school teachers.
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
95%
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.
Desert Trail Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Feb 25, 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.
Desert Trail Elementary School
$262,744
raised using DonorsChoose
587
projects
funded
28
teachers
funded
1,210
donors
76
projects
for
basic supplies
145
projects for
technology
27
projects for
books
52
projects
for
art supplies
Desert Trail Elementary School has received support from
144 individuals from New Mexico and
1,066 individuals out-of-state.