Gaffney Middle School in Gaffney, South Carolina on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Gaffney Middle School","outOfStateSupporters":76.9,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9342798,"projectId":9267233,"letterContent":"I am beyond grateful for your generous support in helping bring an iPad Air and Apple Pencil into my 6th-grade Social Studies classroom! These tools have become a cornerstone for how my students engage with the world's earliest civilizations and understand the lasting impact of history on our lives today.\r\n\r\nThe iPad has opened doors to interactive maps, virtual museum tours, and engaging simulations that allow my students to \"walk through\" ancient cities like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and China. Instead of simply reading about the Nile River or the Great Wall, they can now explore these places virtually—developing a stronger sense of geography and how the physical environment shaped each civilization's growth.\r\n\r\nThe Apple Pencil has made it easy for students to annotate primary source documents, sketch timelines, and create digital \"one-pager\" projects that combine visuals, notes, and historical context. It's been amazing to see their creativity come alive as they connect the past to the present—analyzing how innovations like writing, trade, and government structures continue to influence society today.\r\n\r\nWhat excites my students most about this new technology is the ability to learn through touch, movement, and creation. They love being able to draw, highlight, and move through digital lessons that make ancient history feel modern and alive. The combination of the iPad and Apple Pencil gives them ownership of their learning—they are not just observing history but interacting with it.\r\n\r\nThe students who have especially warmed to this technology are those with learning accommodations. For many of them, the accessibility tools on the iPad—such as speech-to-text, visual zoom, and audio reading—have given them the confidence to participate and express their understanding in new ways. They can now engage with complex concepts through visuals and digital creativity rather than feeling limited by traditional text-heavy assignments. It's been incredibly rewarding to see these students shine and take pride in their work.\r\n\r\nYour donation has not only elevated how I teach but also how my students think. The technology promotes collaboration, critical thinking, and curiosity—skills that go far beyond the classroom. Because of you, my students are excited to learn, explore, and see themselves as historians in the making.\r\n\r\nThank you for investing in our classroom and helping history come alive for every student who walks through my door.","fullyFundedDate":1746785813529,"projectUrl":"project/technology-for-the-igeneration/9267233/","projectTitle":"Technology for the iGeneration","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Bonner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9342798_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753112591657","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9342798"},{"teacherId":9342798,"projectId":8636578,"letterContent":"I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation. Your support has made a significant impact on my students and their ability to focus and succeed in the classroom.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher in a district where poverty is a daily challenge, I see firsthand how hunger can hinder a child's ability to learn. Thanks to your generosity, I have been able to provide my students with nutritious snacks, ensuring they have the energy and focus needed to engage in their lessons. By addressing this fundamental need—one of the key elements in Maslow's hierarchy—we have removed a major barrier to learning and created an environment where students can think critically and reach higher levels of understanding, as outlined in Bloom's taxonomy.\r\n\r\nYour kindness has allowed my students to start their days on the right foot, giving them the best possible chance to succeed. The impact of your donation goes beyond just providing food; it has fostered a sense of security and care in our classroom. Because of you, my students can focus on learning instead of their empty stomachs.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in my students and for making a real difference in their education. Your generosity is truly appreciated, and I hope you know the positive ripple effect it has created.","fullyFundedDate":1733240761061,"projectUrl":"project/taking-care-of-maslows-goals-to-access/8636578/","projectTitle":"Taking Care of Maslow’s Goals to Access Bloom’s Taxonomy","teacherDisplayName":"Dr. Bonner","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp9342798_orig.jpg?crop=1:1,smart&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1753112591657","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9342798"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_6647","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":851,"numTeachers":39,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":36,"percentWhite":45,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":13,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"6 - 8","studentTeacherRatio":"21.8:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"RURAL","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_DISTANT"},"inStateSupporters":23.1,"schoolId":6647,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Gaffney Middle School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Gaffney Middle School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/south-carolina/cherokee-county-school-district-1/gaffney-middle-school/6647"}

About this school

Gaffney Middle School is a town public school in Gaffney, South Carolina that is part of Cherokee County School District 1. It serves 851 students in grades 6 - 8 with a student/teacher ratio of 21.8:1. Its teachers have had 19 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades 6 - 8

851 Students

39 Teachers

805 E Frederick St

Gaffney, SC 29340 View local requests

https://gms.cherokee1.org/

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

Gaffney Middle 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

Gaffney Middle School 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.

Gaffney Middle 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.