{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":true,"callToActionDisplayName":"Mark Twain Elementary School","outOfStateSupporters":30.3,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":7094771,"projectId":9982033,"letterContent":"Your generous contribution made it possible for us to purchase phonemic awareness boards for teachers to use during their small‑group reading instruction. Many of our students struggle with phonemic awareness—the ability to hear, separate, and manipulate the individual sounds in words. These boards give them a hands‑on, visual way to break words apart, identify missing or changed sounds, and blend sounds together successfully. Teachers appreciate having a simple, engaging tool that supports such an essential skill.\r\nOne teacher shared with me how remarkable the growth has been for her students with the greatest learning needs since she began using these boards consistently. Seeing students gain confidence and mastery in foundational skills is truly inspiring, and your donation played a key role in making that possible.\r\nOur intermediate students are also benefiting from the boards by using the syllable‑division side. When students struggle with multisyllabic words, teaching them how to divide words into syllables is one of the most effective strategies. It encourages them to slow down, examine word parts carefully, and then blend the syllables to read the full word. These boards make that process clear, manageable, and much more accessible.\r\nBecause each board includes two different learning tools—phonemic awareness on one side and syllable division on the other—they meet a wide range of student needs across grade levels. Teachers consistently share how helpful, engaging, and fun these boards are for students to use.\r\nThank you again for your generosity. Your support is making a meaningful difference in our classrooms every day.","fullyFundedDate":1767719962969,"projectUrl":"project/phonemic-awareness-is-the-foundation-to/9982033/","projectTitle":"Phonemic Awareness is the Foundation to Successful Reading","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Karen Belleque","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7094771_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y4&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1600224809043","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kbelleque"},{"teacherId":7094771,"projectId":9581603,"letterContent":"These books have been exactly what our school needed at this time. Our students are truly enjoying the opportunity to listen to new read‑alouds—often delivered by me as I pop into classrooms to share a new story. Research consistently shows that one of the most effective ways to build students' background knowledge is through high‑quality read‑aloud experiences, and your generosity is helping make that possible.\r\nI am deeply grateful for your support, which allows us to build a strong and diverse library of read‑aloud books for our teachers to use. Many of our teachers frequently purchase books out of their own paychecks, so having a shared collection they can borrow from is a tremendous gift and relief.\r\nEach day, I begin my work side‑by‑side with teachers, helping them grow their knowledge of reading instruction. I love witnessing the moment when something \"clicks\" for them—when new learning affirms what they've been seeing with their students. One area our staff has been working hard to strengthen is teaching words in ways that support true learning rather than rote memorization. Make It Stick, one of the books your donation helped us purchase, has been especially impactful in providing teachers with a clear, research‑aligned routine for teaching words effectively.\r\nThank you again for your incredible generosity. Your contribution will benefit our staff and students for many years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1764001935476,"projectUrl":"project/time-for-new-books-for-students-and-staf/9581603/","projectTitle":"Time for New Books for Students and Staff","teacherDisplayName":"Mrs. Karen Belleque","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://storage.donorschoose.net/dc_prod/images/teacher/profile/orig/tp7094771_orig.jpg?crop=480,480,x0,y4&width=272&height=272&fit=bounds&auto=webp&t=1600224809043","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/kbelleque"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_55342","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":545,"numTeachers":31,"percentFrplEligible":75,"percentAsian":22,"percentBlack":20,"percentWhite":7,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":30,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","percentHawaiianImputed":7,"percentMultiracialImputed":12,"gradesServed":"Pre-K - 5","studentTeacherRatio":"17.6:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":69.7,"schoolId":55342,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Mark Twain Elementary School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Mark Twain Elementary School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/washington/federal-way-public-schools/mark-twain-elementary-school/55342"}
Join the 188 supporters who believe in this school.
About this school
Mark Twain Elementary School is
a suburban public school
in Federal Way, Washington that is part of Federal Way Public Schools.
It serves 545 students
in grades Pre-K - 5 with a student/teacher ratio of 17.6:1.
Its teachers have had 55 projects funded on DonorsChoose.
Supporting this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.
Public School
Title 1
Data about Title 1 status comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education.
Grades Pre-K - 5
545 Students
31 Teachers
2450 S Star Lake RdContact info is sourced from our partners at MDR Education, and DonorsChoose updates our site ahead of each school year.
Share and help support Mark Twain Elementary School
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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
72%
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.
Mark Twain Elementary School Support on DonorsChoose
Last updated Aug 11, 2026
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.
Mark Twain Elementary School
$28,209
raised using DonorsChoose
55
projects
funded
25
teachers
funded
188
donors
1
project
for
basic supplies
8
projects for
technology
21
projects for
books
2
projects
for
art supplies
Mark Twain Elementary School has received support from
131 individuals from Washington and
57 individuals out-of-state.
