{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Byars Dowdy Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":19.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":1920809,"projectId":8667009,"letterContent":"Providing 5th graders with new books can have a powerful and lasting impact on their academic and personal development. Access to current, engaging reading material helps improve literacy skills by enhancing vocabulary, reading fluency, and comprehension. When students are given books that reflect their interests and experiences, they become more motivated to read, which can turn reluctant readers into enthusiastic ones. This increased engagement fosters a genuine love for reading, especially when students are allowed to keep the books and take ownership of them.\r\n\r\nThank you for supporting my students and my 5th grade readers! The collection of graphic novel you purchased helped establish our classroom library and encourage students to dive into reading! I saw so much reading growth this school year and I have you to thank for helping make that a reality! Thank you for making a difference!","fullyFundedDate":1725456512832,"projectUrl":"project/5th-grade-readers-are-dreamers/8667009/","projectTitle":"5th Grade Readers Are Dreamers!","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Libby Speck","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1920809_orig.jpg?crop=320,320,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1719338338767","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-speck"},{"teacherId":1920809,"projectId":9216541,"letterContent":"I want to sincerely thank you for your generous donation to our 5th grade classroom. Your gift has made a powerful and lasting impact on my students and their learning.\r\n\r\nAs a teacher, one of my greatest hopes is to create a classroom where students not only learn to read—but love to read. Because of you, we were able to enjoy this fun summer story to finish our year and have our own lemonade war.\r\n\r\nYour donation has brought more than just paper and ink into our classroom. You've brought new voices, new worlds, and new opportunities for students to see themselves in stories and learn about others. For many of my students, owning or even borrowing high-interest books is a rare experience. You've helped level the playing field and shown them that reading can be joyful, personal, and empowering.\r\n\r\nAlready, I've seen reluctant readers sit a little longer with a book, eager readers discover a new favorite author, and classroom conversations grow deeper as students make connections and share insights.\r\n\r\nThank you for believing in the power of books and the importance of education. Thank you for helping us make lasting memories together as my 5th graders close out the final year in elementary school. Your generosity has truly made a difference in the lives of my students.","fullyFundedDate":1745011568707,"projectUrl":"project/the-lemonade-wars/9216541/","projectTitle":"The Lemonade Wars","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Libby Speck","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp1920809_orig.jpg?crop=320,320,x0,y0&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1719338338767","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/mrs-speck"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_93475","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":495,"numTeachers":43,"percentFrplEligible":29,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":15,"percentWhite":49,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":27,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"11.5:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"TOWN","ncesMetroType":"TOWN_FRINGE"},"inStateSupporters":80.3,"schoolId":93475,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Byars Dowdy Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Byars Dowdy Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/tennessee/lebanon-special-school-district/byars-dowdy-elementary-school/93475"}
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About this school
Byars Dowdy Elementary School is
a town public school
in Lebanon, Tennessee that is part of Lebanon Special School District.
It serves 495 students
in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 11.5:1.
Its teachers have had 20 projects funded 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.
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
42%
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.
Byars Dowdy 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.
Byars Dowdy Elementary School
$7,975
raised using DonorsChoose
20
projects
funded
9
teachers
funded
66
donors
2
projects for
technology
8
projects for
books
Byars Dowdy Elementary School has received support from
53 individuals from Tennessee and
13 individuals out-of-state.