Morris Jeff Community School

I am so impressed by this school. My son has mild autism, with speech and language impairment, and I was searching for a free, public school that would cater to his academic and social needs, have some diversity in race and socioeconomic class, and encourage family support. He has done so well here, and loves going to school everyday. His teachers, the special education director, and the principal are all so personable and willing to answer whatever questions and concerns you may have. This school was literally an answer to my prayers.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school. This is my dream school for my children. I wanted them in a public school that was diverse in all aspects of race, socioeconomic status and abilities/disabilities. I wanted them in a school that reflected real life. This school is like a family and is a true community school. The teachers and administration are incredible. Parent's have a voice and the school community is very warm and inviting. My kids are very happy here. The afterschool Explorers program is a bonus for me since they need to stay in aftercare. There they get even more art, spanish, music, dance and enrichments. They never want to go home! The curriculum is rich in critical thinking and is challanging, yet fun for the kids. This school is a gem for New Orleans.
—Submitted by a parent

I am so pleased with most everything about this school. The teachers are supportive, creative, and tireless...the principal is a true leader, very present and very engaged. The curriculum is challenging and interesting. I love that everyone involved is always working hard not simply to be a great school, but the best school it can be for that community of students at that particular time--no resting on laurels here! The diversity, reflective of the city as a whole, makes for a vibrant and living, ever-evolving environment. There are so many opportunities for parental involvement, too, even for an incredibly busy single parent. I feel so lucky that my child here, I don't think I could ask for a better school.
—Submitted by a parent

Morris Jeff is a candidate for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, which relies on student-driven inquiry that demands critical thinking and creativity. The school also provides intensive Spanish instruction beginning in pre-K. My kindergartner is thriving. He shows impressive deductive reasoning and reads, adds, and subtracts at a level I can hardly believe. He's enthusiastic about what he's learning and asks to read to us and do math problems on weekends. From pre-K and K to Spanish, Art, Music, and physical ed., his teachers have been engaged, caring, and very committed. The principal is outstanding. I am amazed that this education is available for free in New Orleans. A bonus is that my son has made great friends from all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. One final thing, the current state test scores are based on just one year's results of 25 then-third graders who entered Morris Jeff as second graders. The first class of students who entered Morris Jeff in pre-K will not take the state tests for another two years, at which time the scores will more accurately reflect the education children are receiving at Morris Jeff.
—Submitted by a parent