May I suggest a different route?

I am an aero engineer and have mentored several high school and grade school classes.

The most amount of bang for the buck learning any of our classes have had was an 8th grade class where everyone built one of these:

http://www.sigmfg.com/IndexText/SIGFF5.html

With a few bottles of super glue Cyano Acrylate (CA) a couple of sheets of cardboard to build on and a box of straight pins, EVERY student got to create something that flew and could experiment with changes in trim, cg and warpage.

The drawback with RC, because it is expensive and break easily, one bad flight and no one gets to fly, or if the weather sucks for the two day window you plan to fly again no one gets to fly. Keeping the programmed aimed at an indoor venue, the gym, a high ceiling cafeteria, you will always get to fly (if the gym class isn't there)

The other alternatives are these:
http://www.parkzone.com/UltraMicro/D...ProdID=PKZ3400
http://www.parkzone.com/UltraMicro/D...rodID=PKZU1100

Both the EMBER and VAPOR are available READY TO FLY for under $130.00 each so for your $1000 grant you can pick up 6 of these an everyone in the class will have a chance to try to fly RC. They are both very stable and easy to fly airplanes. They will learn that a well trimmed airplane will fly it self. All the pilot does is goof it up.

I'll be glad to help anyway I can, please PM or email me with any questions
Tom Solinski
AMA 8026