Excel Academy Central in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on DonorsChoose

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One special moment that stands out was when we had our first mindfulness session under the new lighting—students were noticeably more relaxed and able to stay present throughout the activity.\r\n\r\nWhen the materials were first installed, the students were beyond excited. Several of them walked in and immediately said, \"Whoa! It feels so different in here!\" Others took time to explore the posters and even asked questions about the messages and visuals on them. Their reactions made it clear that these changes had a real emotional and psychological impact. Thank you for helping us create a space where students feel more comfortable, inspired, and ready to learn. Your support truly means the world to us.","fullyFundedDate":1746456342145,"projectUrl":"project/the-little-things/9192870/","projectTitle":"The Little Things","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Mauro","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8377725_orig.jpg?crop=3456,3456,x794,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1742484463430","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8377725"},{"teacherId":9024996,"projectId":8897916,"letterContent":"To each and every one of you: thank you. What you have done for my students will forever resonate with me. As young teenagers, they face unimaginable circumstances and setbacks that most of us as adults will never experience. All the while, they're expected to attend school and remain focused for the day. I do not like this. \r\n\r\nNow, because of you, this will no longer be the case. They will now have a safe, relaxing space where they can take a moment to unwind and breathe. This is not a luxury they have otherwise had. From the bottom of my heart- thank you.","fullyFundedDate":1729803998886,"projectUrl":"project/a-cool-classroom-for-hot-topics-in-histo/8897916/","projectTitle":"A Cool Classroom for Hot Topics in History!","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Stahl","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9024996_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1710963016115","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9024996"},{"teacherId":8683327,"projectId":8783994,"letterContent":"The introduction of the \"Buck Hunter\" arcade machine in our Student Government lounge has had a significant and positive impact on student engagement and participation. By providing a fun and interactive outlet, the game has become a popular recreational activity that draws students into the lounge. This space, once simply a break area, has transformed into a hub of activity where students are motivated to gather, collaborate, and engage in productive social interactions. The game serves as both an incentive and a reward, encouraging students to participate in Student Government events, meetings, and initiatives. Its presence has increased lounge foot traffic, fostering a stronger sense of community and creating a more active, involved student body.\r\n\r\nIn addition to fostering engagement in the lounge, the success of the \"Buck Hunter\" machine mirrors broader efforts to promote positive behavior and increase participation in school activities. At Excel Central, we have been utilizing a Positive Behavior Health Intervention (PBHI) system that encourages and rewards good behavior, attendance, and classroom participation. By using strategies like the arcade game as a reward, students are more motivated to engage in positive actions such as consistent attendance, staying on task, and contributing actively in class. The gaming incentive connects directly with our goals of increasing student participation and attendance, creating a healthy cycle where students are encouraged to improve their behavior and academic engagement in exchange for rewards that they value.\r\n\r\nThis combination of fun, community-building, and positive reinforcement has helped to boost student morale and foster a more vibrant, participatory school culture. It's a win-win scenario—students enjoy the benefits of the arcade machine, and in turn, Excel Central continues to see improvements in classroom attendance, participation, and overall engagement.","fullyFundedDate":1735262421395,"projectUrl":"project/student-government-lounge/8783994/","projectTitle":"Student Government Lounge!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Muller","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8683327_orig.png?crop=647,647,x0,y237&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1662559792765","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8683327"},{"teacherId":8377724,"projectId":8092932,"letterContent":"I often say, \"it's the little things\" that matter, and I absolutely believe this with every ounce of my soul. Many little things can add up to huge things, and those little things are what have made the difference in my classroom, all with your assistance. My students come from myriad backgrounds, but I stand firm in that they all deserve better, in order to do better.\r\n\r\nThank you for your generosity to me and my students. With your donations, I have been able to expand my classroom library from nothing, to a garden of growth, add flair to the student work wall, create bulletin boards that foster growth mindset, add inspiration all around us, and have posters with examples to enhance our vocabularies. We also have a new banner and decorations to celebrate birthdays - many of my students reach the milestones of 18 or 21, both of which are so very important, especially in an inner-city environment.\r\n\r\nI happily lend these books to my students, and made a \"Bookflix\" bulletin board to help guide their choices. My intent is to read everything on my overflowing bookcase!\r\n\r\nSitting here, looking around at the vibrancy around me, a student I know from the halls walks by and says \"I love her room. I think I have her next semester!\" and I am now proud to call this little classroom our home.","fullyFundedDate":1709167932071,"projectUrl":"project/reading-beyond-the-required/8092932/","projectTitle":"Reading Beyond the Required","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Driscoll","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp8377724_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1657583309157","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/8377724"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_131965","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":401,"numTeachers":null,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":7,"percentBlack":43,"percentWhite":12,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":22,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"9 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":null,"demographicsDataSource":"MDR District Record","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":false,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":null},"inStateSupporters":85.3,"schoolId":131965,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Excel Academy Central on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Excel Academy Central","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/pennsylvania/philadelphia-city-school-district/excel-academy-central/131965"}

About this school

Excel Academy Central is a public school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that is part of Philadelphia City School District. It serves 401 students in grades 9 - 12. Its teachers have had 12 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Grades 9 - 12

401 Students

# of teachers unavailable

201 E Olney Ave

Philadelphia, PA 19120 View local requests

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

Excel Academy Central Teachers on DonorsChoose

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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.

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Excel Academy Central Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

72%

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.

Excel Academy Central Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 4, 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.