Big gaming

There is a reason CJMS gets terrible reviews and scores online, despite drawing from amazing elementary schools. It has a beautiful new building with gorgeous views, but somehow is still a depressing and awful place. Kids vape throughout the school. Violence is fairly commonplace during recess. If the perpetrator claims the victim said something mean, the incident is likely to be ignored by adults, who often have zero training about how to handle those situations. Neither the admin nor the teachers seem to care much. If incoming 6th graders forget (or don’t know) to bring coats to lunch, they’ll be forced to stay outside in -10F snowy windy weather during recess afterwards, “so they will learn for next time.” (I personally observed that one. If parents did that, I wouldn’t be surprised if CPS got involved.) The academics are plain bad. Classes are often taught by teachers who don’t have any experience or knowledge about the area they are teaching, and students seem to learn very little in their classes. Last year, there was no Spanish teacher, so kids who wanted to take Spanish took a (boring and bad) online program in a computer lab, monitored by a grouchy adult, who knew zero Spanish. There is nothing at all for gifted children except the option to take more advanced math, which in my view is akin to a school failing to provide special education - schools should help all students rise to their full potential, not just those who are struggling. The bball program season is extremely short, lasting less than 2 months, and yet it drives kids into the ground, with long practices and games 5-6 days a week, both before and after school, to the exclusion of other activities and homework. The one bright spot is the music program: band and orchestra travel for competitions, and have won awards in the past. The lady at the front desk is also super friendly and kind. In short, nearly all school programs and classes seem like they just don’t have the best interest of the kids at heart. Although the school says the district is badly underfunded and blames problems on that, somehow the elementary schools and high schools in the same district manage to provide a great education, great atmosphere, and plentiful options for gifted kids. Junior high is often a tough time for kids, with puberty hitting, but CJMS really takes the bad, and makes the worst of it. Avoid it if you have any other option.

My daughter came to this school with learning disabilities, and flourished! The overall teaching staff was well-trained, enthusiastic, and compassionate. Huge kudos to the Special Ed staff who helped my daughter make great strides in her education and understanding of math, reading comprehension, and physical/occupational therapy.