Carpenter Elementary School in Cary, North Carolina on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Carpenter Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":20.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1479274,"projectId":9651849,"letterContent":"On behalf of our school, we would like to thank you for allowing us to enlarge our library book collection. My students are constantly putting in book requests throughout the year. We enjoy reading for pleasure as well as for information. The students have been awaiting some books on the now infamous \"Axolotl.\" Because of donors like you we were able to buy our school library two books on this very special fish. We took a deep dive on that animal as a result of our newly acquired books by learning many new facts from our new texts. We are going to draw these animals in the near future for the littles and do a graphic organizer for our older students as follow up lessons from these books. \r\n\r\nWith the new Graphic Novel craze, I was able to acquire several of the ones that have been in our \"Suggested Reading Bin\" for awhile. One novel series in particular that we have in the regular collection of chapter books was a huge request to have as a Graphic Novel. It is in our Mystery Collection entitled the SPY SCHOOL series. I was able to acquire a few of these to add to our Graphic Novel section. The students who have read the regular novels are absolutely ecstatic about seeing this in graphic format. The students who have not read the regular novels are inspired to read the chapter books often times because they have initially. read the series in graphic novel format. \r\n\r\nStudents come into the library with their class once a week, however they are also allowed to revisit as often as they like. As the librarian, I allow the students to put any book they want \"on hold.\" This helps ensures the child a chance to get the book that they want. Other requested books for purchasing were some new \"car\" books. Cars are super popular with our 1st - 3rd grade boys. With your giving, I was allowed to get a few new books on cars. One last genre of books that all of my kindergarten and first grade girls have asked for were more Disney Princess books. I was able to get so many of these for my budding readers. For the girls, these books really get them excited about reading. If they like what they read, then more reading will take place and a love of reading is my goal for our school.","fullyFundedDate":1760650757939,"projectUrl":"project/reading-can-take-us-to-new-heights/9651849/","projectTitle":"Reading Can Take Us to New Heights","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Alston","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1479274_orig.jpg?crop=315,315,x0,y30&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1755708104916","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1479274"},{"teacherId":5569262,"projectId":9539171,"letterContent":"Thanks to your generous support, our classroom has been able to enjoy Scholastic News magazines every week, and the impact on our students has been incredible. These magazines have become an integral part of our literacy instruction, allowing students to read collaboratively with classmates, explore texts in literacy centers, and engage with accompanying videos that connect reading to other subjects like science and social studies, while also building background knowledge across subjects. Through these activities, students are building essential literacy skills such as comprehension, vocabulary development, critical thinking, and the ability to discuss and analyze text with peers.\r\n\r\nReading in our classroom is dynamic and interactive. Students often work in small groups to read aloud, share ideas, and ask questions, which fosters both confidence and curiosity. In literacy centers, students independently explore articles, complete related activities, and respond to questions that help them practice comprehension and written expression. The multimedia components of the magazines further enrich lessons, making connections to real-world topics and sparking discussions that go beyond the text.\r\n\r\nYour support has had a particularly noticeable impact on students who are developing confidence in reading. Some students who were previously hesitant to read aloud now eagerly share their thoughts and participate in group discussions. Others have discovered a love for nonfiction topics, diving into articles about science, history, and current events with enthusiasm. These magazines are not just reading materials, they are tools that inspire curiosity, foster collaboration, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and for helping our students grow as readers and thinkers.","fullyFundedDate":1754659366433,"projectUrl":"project/exploring-the-world-with-scholastic-news/9539171/","projectTitle":"Exploring the World With Scholastic News","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Spirakus","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp5569262_orig.png?crop=529,529,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1754404685077","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/5569262"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_25532","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":580,"numTeachers":54,"percentFrplEligible":32,"percentAsian":36,"percentBlack":11,"percentWhite":25,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":22,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"10.7:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":false,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_MIDSIZE"},"inStateSupporters":79.3,"schoolId":25532,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Carpenter Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Carpenter Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/north-carolina/wake-county-public-school-system/carpenter-elementary-school/25532"}

About this school

Carpenter Elementary School is an urban public school in Cary, North Carolina that is part of Wake County Public School System. It serves 580 students in grades K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 10.7:1. Its teachers have had 65 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Public School

Grades K - 5

580 Students

54 Teachers

2100 Morrisville Pkwy

Cary, NC 27519 View local requests

http://carpenteres.wcpss.net

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

Carpenter Elementary School Teachers on DonorsChoose

DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.

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.

See how DonorsChoose works

Carpenter Elementary School Demographics

32%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

69%

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.

Carpenter Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 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.