Current Joaquin Miller experiences?
Hi all,
Our son was assigned to Joaquin Miller Elementary in the OUSD lottery for kindergarten in the fall. I don't see any recent feedback for the school, and while many of our neighbors sent their kids to JM, that was many years ago. Would you be willing to share your recent experiences with the school? The GreatSchools.org ratings have gone down in the few years that we've been living in Montclair, but we don't know if they are a good indicator of what is actually happening at the school.
Thanks in advance!
Apr 5, 2018
Parent Replies
We only have a couple of friends there, but both families are happy and really like the school and current principal. Note that the Great Schools ratings for many California schools have dropped in the past few years because they rely heavily on testing data and the state testing framework has changed. The test itself is relatively new, and more emphasis is now placed on how historically low-performing students are doing--an area that trips up even some otherwise very high-performing schools. For instance, you'll see that some of the most coveted schools in Oakland have fallen to 7s and 8s--but not to worry, the waitlists are as long as ever! Even places like Piedmont are no longer 10s across the board. Take Great Schools with a grain of salt, and go visit the school instead.
Both of my kids are at JM (kindergarten and third grade), and we are very happy with the school. The teachers are for the most part excellent, Principal Green is wonderful and proactively working to improve the school, and the community is strong. Like the previous poster, I also wouldn't put a lot of stock in the Great Schools ratings. If anything, I think the school has gotten better since our older daughter started -- with the arrival of Principal Green a few years ago, parent enthusiasm and participation has gone up, and it's a very positive place to be. There are definitely challenges, particularly from lack of funding, but a lot of effort by many people goes into fundraising and trying to make things better for the kids. Feel free to reach out if you have any specific questions, but I wouldn't hesitate to send your son here!
Although it was 8 years ago that my son attended JM, it was a very positive experience. A major reason was his second grade teacher, Sara Green, who is now the principal. She was one of the best teachers I have ever seen. With Mrs. Green as the principal now, I would choose JM over other schools. You are lucky to have JM as your assigned school. As I've learned over the years with my three kids, leadership is very important at a school.