{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Highland Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":15.8,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":10052807,"projectId":10540619,"letterContent":"We are incredibly grateful for your generous support of our classroom! Thanks to your kindness, we are able to laminate student work, learning materials, classroom resources, and important visual aids that can be used again and again.\r\n\r\nLaminating these materials has made a meaningful impact on our classroom. Student work can now be displayed and preserved, giving students a sense of pride and accomplishment when they see their hard work valued and showcased. Our learning resources are also more durable and can be reused throughout the school year, helping us create a more organized and engaging learning environment.","fullyFundedDate":1787875646313,"projectUrl":"project/laminated-works/10540619/","projectTitle":"Laminated Works","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Balmes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10052807_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749568630179","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10052807"},{"teacherId":10052807,"projectId":10279975,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous support of our \"Science Rewards\" project! Because of your kindness, my students now have exciting rewards that help motivate them to stay engaged, participate actively, and do their best in our science classroom. We use these rewards to recognize students for positive behavior, hard work, participation, improvement, and academic achievement. Seeing students work toward their rewards has made our classroom even more positive and encouraging.\r\n\r\nWhen my students first saw the new materials, they were very excited and grateful! They were eager to learn how they could earn rewards by demonstrating responsibility, kindness, and a commitment to learning. One special moment was seeing students encourage one another and celebrate their classmates' accomplishments. The rewards have become a meaningful way to recognize that every student's effort matters.\r\n\r\nAs we continue our science journey, we will use these resources to encourage students as they explore new lessons, participate in hands-on activities, and work toward academic goals. Your generosity has helped create a classroom environment where students feel motivated, appreciated, and excited to learn. Thank you for believing in my students and for helping make science learning a more positive and rewarding experience!\r\n\r\nWith heartfelt gratitude,\r\n\r\nMr. Balmes and our young scientists","fullyFundedDate":1787584860319,"projectUrl":"project/science-rewards/10279975/","projectTitle":"Science Rewards","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Balmes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10052807_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749568630179","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10052807"},{"teacherId":10052807,"projectId":10095724,"letterContent":"Thank you so much to your donations, we will be using the new learning toys in our ecosystem and life science lessons on October , to make lessons more hands-on and engaging. Students will work in small groups to explore the toys, observe how they move or function, and make predictions about the science concepts involved. One memorable moment was watching students eagerly test their ideas, discuss their observations, and revise their thinking after seeing the results. The toys will help turn abstract science concepts into experiences students could see, touch, and understand.","fullyFundedDate":1778130926129,"projectUrl":"project/learning-toys-in-science/10095724/","projectTitle":"Learning Toys in Science","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Balmes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10052807_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749568630179","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10052807"},{"teacherId":10052807,"projectId":10272252,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for helping me increase the positive learning atmosphere in my classroom.\r\nWe are using the Mood Matters resources to help students recognize their emotions, understand how their mood can affect learning, and create a more positive classroom environment. During our science lessons, students use the materials as a quick emotional cheek-in before beginning activities.One meaningful moment was seeing students become more comfortable sharing how they were feeling and recognizing that it is okay to have difficult days while still making an effort to learn.","fullyFundedDate":1778227211969,"projectUrl":"project/mm-moodmatters/10272252/","projectTitle":"M&M (MoodMatters)","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Balmes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10052807_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749568630179","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10052807"},{"teacherId":10052807,"projectId":10064788,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation of cleaning materials for our science laboratory. Your support truly makes a meaningful difference in our classroom. Because of these supplies, my students are able to learn in a clean, safe, and well-maintained environment that promotes focus, responsibility, and pride in their work.\r\n\r\nHaving proper disinfectants and cleaning tools not only protects their health, but also teaches them the importance of cleanliness and laboratory safety,an essential part of scientific practice. The students even enjoy participating in our fun clean-up challenge, where the group that collects the dirtiest disinfectant wipes earns a small prize. It motivates them to take ownership of our lab and work together as a team.\r\n\r\nOn a personal note, I also feel more comfortable and confident teaching in a laboratory that is organized and spotless. A clean space creates a positive atmosphere where curiosity and learning can truly thrive. Thank you again for investing in my students' education and well-being. Your kindness and generosity are deeply appreciated.","fullyFundedDate":1770837106969,"projectUrl":"project/caring-hands-for-a-clean-science-laborat/10064788/","projectTitle":"Caring Hands for a Clean Science Laboratory","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Balmes","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp10052807_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1749568630179","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/10052807"},{"teacherId":10052807,"projectId":9981999,"letterContent":"With the use of a reward system and the donation of snacks and candies, my students were able to show significant growth on their progress checks. I was only expecting about 60% growth, but all of my classes exceeded that expectation. I concluded that the reward system is very effective for 6th graders. They are truly motivated and look forward to earning rewards after every progress check. This impact helps me a lot to understand how reward system works on education. They are very happy whenever they achieved their goals and received rewards. 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Join the 19 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Highland Middle School is
a rural public school
in Sanford, North Carolina that is part of Harnett County School District.
It serves 761 students
in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 14.9:1.
Its teachers have had 13 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
Public School
Title 1
Data about Title 1 status comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
Grades 6 - 8
761 Students
51 Teachers
345 Highland School RdContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
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.
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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
47%
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.
Highland Middle School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Sep 7, 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.
Highland Middle School
$4,211
raised using DonorsChoose
13
projects
funded
7
teachers
funded
19
donors
4
projects
for
basic supplies
1
project for
technology
Highland Middle School has received support from
16 individuals from North Carolina and
3 individuals out-of-state.