{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Martin Van Buren High School","outOfStateSupporters":43.1,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":2938443,"projectId":9773044,"letterContent":"From the bottom of my heart, and on behalf of my incredible students in Queens, thank you for your generous contributions to \"Hear Us Out! Laptops for D/HH Students.\" The arrival of these beautiful, bright blue laptops has transformed our classroom into a more inclusive and tech-forward space.\r\n\r\nFor my students, who navigate the world as both Deaf/Hard of Hearing and English Language Learners (ENL), these laptops are much more than just computers—they are essential communication bridges. Here is how your gift is making a difference every single day:\r\n\r\nReal-Time Captions: Students can now access live captioning in their preferred language. This ensures they aren't missing a single word of the lesson, allowing them to follow along with their peers in real-time.\r\n\r\nVisual Learning: We use specialized software that supports visual language development, making complex concepts easier to grasp through high-definition video and interactive tools.\r\n\r\nImmediate Feedback: The portability and speed of these new laptops allow me to provide instant digital feedback, which is crucial for language acquisition.\r\n\r\nThe excitement in the room was palpable when we unboxed the \"blue machines.\" One student, who previously struggled to keep up with fast-paced classroom discussions, told me that they finally feel like they have a \"front-row seat\" to every conversation because the captions are right in front of them.\r\n\r\nSeeing their confidence grow as they master this new technology has been the highlight of my year. You haven't just provided equipment; you've provided access, equity, and a voice.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and for investing in their bright futures. We are so grateful for your kindness!\r\n\r\nWith deepest gratitude,","fullyFundedDate":1760672718196,"projectUrl":"project/hear-us-out-laptops-for-dhh-students/9773044/","projectTitle":"Hear Us Out! Laptops for D/HH Students","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Kasowitz","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp2938443_orig.jpg?crop=740,740,x241,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1628170180600","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kasowitzclass"},{"teacherId":7651643,"projectId":8940534,"letterContent":"From the classroom photos, it's clear that this physics lab resource has transformed how students engage with scientific concepts. The Hot Wheels track systems and digital sensors have become a vital centerpiece of our hands-on physics investigations. During our dynamics (force and motion unit), students used the colorful orange and blue track pieces to create complex roller coaster designs, testing variables like height, angle, and velocity while collecting real-time data on their laptops. What struck me most was watching students naturally connect these experiments to real-world applications - one student immediately saw the connection to actual roller coaster engineering, while another linked our sensor work to robotics programming they do in their club.\r\n\r\nThe students' initial reaction to the materials was pure excitement mixed with curiosity. I watched their eyes light up as they realized these weren't just toys, but sophisticated tools for scientific discovery. The combination of the familiar Hot Wheels tracks with professional data collection equipment created the perfect bridge between play and rigorous scientific methodology. Students who had previously struggled with abstract physics concepts suddenly found themselves deeply engaged, working collaboratively to troubleshoot their designs and analyze their data. As one student reflected, the hands-on labs helped them socialize and made learning \"more fun\" while still mastering complex formulas and physics principles.\r\n\r\nMoving forward, we will expand our investigations to explore wave properties using these same track systems combined with additional sensors. The confidence they've gained through these tactile experiences is evident in their reflections - they've moved from feeling \"overwhelmed by new physics concepts\" to trusting their \"ability to figure things out.\" This donor-supported equipment has truly created a \"lab-in-a-pocket\" environment where abstract physics becomes tangible, engaging, and memorable for every student in our classroom.","fullyFundedDate":1741731829093,"projectUrl":"project/bringing-real-science-to-life-lab-in-a/8940534/","projectTitle":"Bringing Real Science to Life: Lab-in-a Pocket!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Okobiah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7651643_orig.jpg?crop=1216,1216,x110,y205&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1629867925491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-okobiah"},{"teacherId":7651643,"projectId":8949427,"letterContent":"Some of my students have been deeply engaged with \"Mascot\" by Charles Waters and Traci Sorell. It's a novel that explores themes of racism, identity, and social justice through the story of Callie, a Black Cherokee student who challenges her school's offensive mascot. The book resonated with the students and sparked meaningful discussions about cultural appropriation, white supremacy, and the importance of standing up for what's right.\r\n\r\nWhen students first encountered this book, they were immediately drawn to its relevance and authenticity. With its diverse cast of characters: from Callie's Cherokee heritage to Franklin's journey of understanding his Black identity, and Priya's experience as a second-generation Indian American, allowed my students to see themselves reflected in the story. Students were particularly engaged by the book's unflinching look at how racism manifests in schools and communities' they also drew parallels to the current events happening in their local communities with ICE.\r\nAs evidenced in the student reflections/write ups, they connected the book's themes to their own lives and futures. They wrote about the importance of persisting through challenges, drawing inspiration from the characters' determination and using obstacles as motivation for personal growth.\r\nMy next steps will be to expand this to all my classes and continue to provide guided reflections on how students can apply the book's lessons about advocacy and allyship. Specifically, I would (1) Exploring connections between the historical and contemporary issues raised in the novel and \r\n(2) Develop student-led discussions about how they can address bias and discrimination in their own school community and beyond.\r\nI am grateful to all my donors for this resource. The depth of engagement shown by my students demonstrates how powerful it is when young people see their experiences validated in literature while being challenged to think critically about social justice issues.","fullyFundedDate":1741964120756,"projectUrl":"project/empowering-young-minds-building-a-cultu/8949427/","projectTitle":"Empowering Young Minds: Building a Culture of Reading Excellence","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Okobiah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7651643_orig.jpg?crop=1216,1216,x110,y205&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1629867925491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-okobiah"},{"teacherId":7651643,"projectId":8650829,"letterContent":"In my classroom, reading is now becoming an active collaborative experience. By incorporating a mix of guided close reading, independent exploration and small group discussions students engage in critical thinking and making connections between literature and real-world experiences. I prioritize creating comfortable reading spaces and dedicated time for students to immerse themselves in books, magazines and other texts that foster a genuine enjoyment of reading while building and developing skills such as inference, contextual vocabulary acquisition and understanding multiple perspectives. These skills are helpful for developing empathetic, thoughtful readers.","fullyFundedDate":1726836117492,"projectUrl":"project/graphic-magazines-the-mind-a-wood-that/8650829/","projectTitle":"Graphic Magazines: the Mind, a Wood That Needs Igniting","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Okobiah","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7651643_orig.jpg?crop=1216,1216,x110,y205&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1629867925491","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mr-okobiah"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_1108","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":1135,"numTeachers":75,"percentFrplEligible":74,"percentAsian":30,"percentBlack":35,"percentWhite":3,"percentIndigenous":4,"percentLatinx":22,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"15.1:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":56.9,"schoolId":1108,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Martin Van Buren High School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Martin Van Buren High School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/new-york/new-york-city-dept-of-ed/martin-van-buren-high-school/1108"}
Join the 130 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Martin Van Buren High School is
an urban public school
in Queens Village, New York that is part of New York City Dept Of Ed.
It serves 1,135 students
in grades 9 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 15.1:1.
Its teachers have had 27 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
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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
91%
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.
Martin Van Buren High School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Feb 10, 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.
Martin Van Buren High School
$15,991
raised using DonorsChoose
27
projects
funded
16
teachers
funded
130
donors
2
projects
for
basic supplies
4
projects for
technology
2
projects for
books
1
project
for
art supplies
Martin Van Buren High School has received support from
74 individuals from New York and
56 individuals out-of-state.
