River Oaks Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina on DonorsChoose

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Thank you again.","fullyFundedDate":1772633436052,"projectUrl":"project/table-top-materials-for-young-students-w/9895570/","projectTitle":"Table Top Materials for Young Students With Special Needs","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Karen Labs","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp699484_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1531699924578","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/k-labs"},{"teacherId":9497392,"projectId":9389080,"letterContent":"I want to extend my deepest gratitude for supporting Ms. Armstrong's EC–Head, Heart, and Hands: Learning Beyond the Stars. Your generosity has made an incredible difference; not only in my classroom, but across our EC community.\r\n\r\nBecause of your donation, our new printers have completely transformed our workflow. My students now receive customized visual schedules, task cards, social stories, and differentiated materials instantly. This has made our routines smoother and our learning more accessible. What touched me most was seeing how these resources also supported a fellow EC classroom; their materials had been limited, and sharing the supplies made their lessons more efficient and joyful too. Even our Extension department benefited—your contribution stretched farther than you can imagine.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first walked into our newly refreshed room, their eyes lit up. They love the space theme this year; our \"Learning Beyond the Stars\" classroom has become a place where they feel safe, excited, and proud. The flexible seating has given them more independence, helping them regulate and stay engaged. The individual whiteboards have become a favorite tool; students grab them during reading, math, and even morning meetings to share ideas without anxiety or frustration.\r\n\r\nOne of the biggest hits has been our \"Around the World\" books. My students travel through stories from different cultures, places, and perspectives. Many of them don't usually get opportunities to explore outside of their immediate world; but now, they ask, \"Where are we going next?\" These moments of curiosity, wonder, and confidence are happening because of you.\r\n\r\nOur next steps include a cross-curricular project where students will use their whiteboards and printed organizers to plan and present a \"mini mission\" to a country of their choice; combining reading, writing, and social-emotional learning with creativity and movement. Your support has laid the foundation for these opportunities.\r\n\r\nThank you again for investing in my students' growth, dignity, and joy. You didn't just give supplies; you helped create a learning environment full of possibility, belonging, and hope.\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt appreciation.","fullyFundedDate":1756217999998,"projectUrl":"project/ms-armstrongs-ec-head-heart-and-hand/9389080/","projectTitle":"Ms. Armstrong's EC-Head, Heart, and Hands: Learning Beyond the Stars","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Armstrong","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9497392_orig.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1711041767628","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/ms-armstrong-ecgc-roa"},{"teacherId":699484,"projectId":9474218,"letterContent":"I want to thank you again from the bottom of my heart for giving to my project. I have been working my students who are 3 and 4 year olds with special needs all who are all non verbal on using devices to make request and build vocabulary. 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We will continue to add new words weekly. \r\n\r\nThank you again for helping me give my little learners gain a voice.","fullyFundedDate":1754324303896,"projectUrl":"project/communication-devices-for-young-children/9474218/","projectTitle":"Communication Devices for Young Children with Autism","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Karen Labs","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/272x272/tp699484_272x272.jpg?width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1531699924578","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/k-labs"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_97220","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":471,"numTeachers":37,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":3,"percentBlack":64,"percentWhite":6,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":22,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":0,"percentMultiracialImputed":3,"gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"12.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":49.4,"schoolId":97220,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about River Oaks Academy on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"River Oaks Academy","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/north-carolina/charlotte-mecklenburg-school-district/river-oaks-academy/97220"}

About this school

River Oaks Academy is an urban public school in Charlotte, North Carolina that is part of Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District. It serves 471 students in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 12.7:1. Its teachers have had 343 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 5

471 Students

37 Teachers

1015 Mt Holly Huntersville Rd

Charlotte, NC 28214 View local requests

http://schools.cms.k12.nc.us/riveroakses

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

River Oaks Academy Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mrs. Shakeitha Watson

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River Oaks Academy Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

89%

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.

River Oaks Academy Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Jun 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.