Jefferson Elementary School

They care about there students and staff! You always see a smile on everyones face!
--Submitted by a parent

My child was bullied on the playground and as soon as we addressed it with the teacher my child was apologized to by the bully and it hasn't happened since. We are very active in our childs educational needs and communicate with the teacher to make sure those needs are met. Our child has excelled at this school and I wouldn't send her anywhere else. I do agree that the lunch program needs help. The staff and teachers have been very receptive to our concerns. I admire the schools fund raising approach by not putting the students out there to beg for money. Overall, a good school.
--Submitted by a parent

I have learned that at this school that some of the teachers do not pay much attention to what goes on especially on the playgrounds. A lot of bullies and the kids are told to not 'tattle'. I now just tell my kids to 'defend' theirselves. I do not know what else to do!!
--Submitted by a parent

I moved here from florida and have lived here for 2 years.I agree that some changes need to be made.You also have to keep in mind in such a small town it is hard to get the funding for the things they need.I have to say the class ratio is a lot better than florida.The staff is also very pleasent.My child has excelled in JE.I wouldnt want my child anywhere else.If people took the time they spent complaining and put that effort into helping the school,I beleive they could accomplish alot together.
--Submitted by a parent

Jefferson Elementary falls far below the mark in academics. Test scores are routinely low across the board and nobody seems to care. This can be verified by looking up the TCAP & national grading scores. After 8 years of having children in this school system nothing has been changed to improve the standards. It is hard to put all of the blame on the teachers. There are a few very good teachers at this school, but the curriculum ties them down. We have to supplement our children's education at home in order to keep them current with the rest of the US in studies for their grade level. Unfortunately the middle and high school is the same.
--Submitted by a parent

Discipline standards are ignored here and there seems to be no accountability among the staff in regards to actions taken against students. Voicing your opinions will only get you ignored and your child, like ours, is likely to pay the price for your efforts to improve the quality of education. Safety concerns are another issue. Inadequate supervision, teacher to child ratio, and other factors contribute to HUGE safety concerns that are not being addressed. Oh yeah, don't eat the food! If you have a probelm at JEs, cut out the middle man and go straight for the school board. You will save yourself alot of time.
--Submitted by a parent

There are several things to be worked out @Jeff. Elem., but my main concern is the cafeteria. It is disgusting and not worth eating in. I have to pack my childrens lunch every day because I don't want them to eat there. That is not easy because there are times I don't have anything to pack or the money to buy it. I feel the cafeteria needs to be condenmed and totally redone removing all staff members and starting over. I am working on getting that done at this time. Also the workers in the cafeteria care nothing at all about the children and I have several problems with them as well. The time needs to be recalculated as well.
--Submitted by a parent

Could not work out prombles with child's teacher. Whenever we talked to teacher, child always got some mark against them or had to pull a card and sent to sit in hall .(Which made extra homework, that would take 4/5 hours to do.
--Submitted by a staff

The cafeteria needs much improvement. It is too small, the children don't have enough time to eat if they are the last class in. My children have had as little as 5 minutes after sitting down. Either stagger classes or make lunches last a little longer. It is worst with the older grades, maybe the 4th and 5th could have a little more time, seeing as there is no one after them.
--Submitted by a parent

I have found all the faculty and staff that I have had contact with to be very kind, understanding, and loving people. They make the children feel loved, but the children also know that they can be disiplined when needed. I would recommend this school to any parent in Jefferson City.
--Submitted by a parent