Girard Academic Music Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Girard Academic Music Program","outOfStateSupporters":33.0,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1187092,"projectId":9003536,"letterContent":"I cannot thank you enough for your generous donation to such a necessary and impactful project. The books you have helped purchase are already in the hands of dozens of students and the joy and adventure they are experiencing is tangible. \r\n\r\nAs our queer library is open to an entire school, I am finding a very beautiful and organic community is beginning to develop around the books. Word of mouth is spreading between peers, and students I have never taught or interacted with before are coming to my room and requesting to check out books. Some let me know they aren't big readers or ask for recommendations, which prompts a conversation about story and likes and dislikes in literature and cinema. I have found these conversations and the process of helping a student find a book that may truly speak to them and help them feel seen and accepted enormously rewarding and empowering. \r\n\r\nIn a moment when both the public school system and the LGBTQ+ community find themselves unfairly and negatively targeted by the powers that be, it is a truly beautiful thing to see that these voices will not be silenced, communities such as ours can grow, and our systems can help facilitate positive experiences and comfort even when it seems the country at large does not want to. \r\n\r\nIt is you who have enabled all these things to take place and you should take great pride in taking the time and money to help a group that sorely needs it. I thank you, my students thank you, and future generations of readers, queer children, and authors thank you.","fullyFundedDate":1734968406696,"projectUrl":"project/help-fund-a-queer-library-in-mr-mehalic/9003536/","projectTitle":"Help Fund a Queer Library in Mr. Mehalick's Classroom!","teacherDisplayName":"Mr. Mehalick","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1187092_orig.jpg?crop=2320,2320,x0,y464&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1734105662437","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/1187092"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_90755","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":634,"numTeachers":26,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":19,"percentBlack":24,"percentWhite":39,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":6,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"5 - 12","studentTeacherRatio":"24.4:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"URBAN","ncesMetroType":"CITY_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":67.0,"schoolId":90755,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Girard Academic Music Program on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Girard Academic Music Program","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/pennsylvania/philadelphia-city-school-district/girard-academic-music-program/90755"}

About this school

Girard Academic Music Program is an urban public school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that is part of Philadelphia City School District. It serves 634 students in grades 5 - 12 with a student/teacher ratio of 24.4:1. Its teachers have had 14 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 5 - 12

634 Students

26 Teachers

2136 W Ritner St

Philadelphia, PA 19145 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

Girard Academic Music Program Teachers on DonorsChoose

Mr. Mehalick

Mr. Weingarten

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

Girard Academic Music Program Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

49%

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.

Girard Academic Music Program 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.