Brandywine

The GLC program was supposed to be an amazing place for our gifted kids. The only gifted magnet school in Phoenix, and their promises were many. Unfortunately, they are not as equipped for 2e students as they profess to be. My 99.9% but also autistic son had a real struggle here, culminating in teacher bullying and intimidation after only 2 years. Our daughter is gifted w/ ADHD, and had an easier time socially, but as another 99.9% she was not appropriately challenged by the program either. Principal completely ignored bullying from both students and teachers until I made a huge Karen-level deal about it, and continued to back the teachers even with provided evidence. Lots of gaslighting and 'I never said that' even though I have a recording of the meeting type of stuff. We should have stuck with homeschool, they just couldn't handle our profoundly gifted kids.

I have proudly taught at John Jacobs Elementary since 2017, when I first moved into the neighborhood. Over the years, I’ve watched our “tiny but mighty” school grow into an A+ School of Excellence—a reflection of the incredible partnership between our students, staff, families, and community.In a city with many school choices, we are especially proud that families continue to choose John Jacobs. Our staff is made up of passionate educators whose dedication truly shines in every grade level. We offer a rigorous, research-based curriculum along with a variety of programs designed to meet the needs of all learners, including Project Potential (gifted services), Literature Lab for reading intervention, push-in and pull-out resource support, and self-contained classrooms. Our goal is to meet every student where they are and support their growth toward grade-level success.Collaboration is a cornerstone of our school culture. Teachers work closely across grade levels and programs to ensure students receive the most effective instruction and support. We engage in weekly data meetings, ongoing site-based professional learning, and monthly district-led professional development to continually refine our practice.Beyond academics, John Jacobs offers opportunities for all students to get involved through sports, family events, community activities, and fundraisers that strengthen our school community.Although I no longer live in the immediate neighborhood, I have chosen John Jacobs for my own child, who will be starting kindergarten next year. That decision speaks to the trust and confidence I have in our school. She is already excited to become a Jag!