Joe Lee Johnson Elementary School

Reviews

• Submitted by parent on January 28, 2025
  JLJ was a wonderful school at the start. My son went through all of elementary there, starting kindergarten the second year it was open. Unfortunately, it got so bad we had to pull my daughter out of the school.The staff was overworked and exhausted, the school was completely disregulated, and they had no time or energy to do what was needed for the students.Unfortunately, the district did not act early enough or appropriately to deal with this, and many great teachers and administrators left. Most recently, the interim principal and the remaining assistant principal both quit the first day back from winter break.If you can go anywhere else, I'd suggest it.
• Submitted by parent on January 17, 2025
  I do not recommend this school if you have a student with any type of disability or special needs. My son has had so many problems. I would say the first half of the school year I was called everyday before 10 am to come get him and told on multiple occasions to just keep him home a few days because they didn’t have the resources for him then I had a meeting with superintendent and she said this would stop so then It turned into 6-7 calls a day for me to come to the school and when I got to the school he would already be calm most times so it kinda made me feel like they just thought I would get tired of coming up there and just pull him out. I want to remind you I have no issues like this at home with my son. They even said in front of him they didn’t want him there anymore but it’s because they didn’t know how to work with him instead of making the situation worse. One time the principal squeezed his arm hard until he cried and she admitted she did this to me. There tactics to help are restraints and lots of them. If the teachers wouldn’t go around yelling and hollering at all the kids half the kids wouldn’t have melt downs. They can’t keep teachers at this school or principals Dr ungar left in December and a new principal came and within one month she left as well. I mean honestly it makes you wonder what exactly is going on in this school because nobody stays not even the office staff. I do have two other children at the school with no issues but my son has struggled badly because they are not experienced to handle children with special needs.
• Submitted by parent on November 22, 2024
  As a parent with children at the school for several years, I can say with full confidence that you will not find a worse school in the Greater Austin area than JLJ. The previous principal treated his staff so abominably that teachers were constantly quitting, leaving the school in a damaging position. He continually allowed violent and dangerous behavior without any consequences, leaving other students in unsafe situations. The District was very aware of this, but happily allowed all the staff to quit to hide the reality of the school. The same district decided to take over the school with a false pretense of fixing it, but continues the same type of damaging and destructive leadership as the previous principal. The District and current admin do not care about education or safety of their students. They continue to allow extremely violent behavior without providing any support to teachers and continue to ignore the safety of the other students. My children and their friends have seen stuff at this school and learn stuff that no child should ever be a witness to. There is also no honesty or transparency from admin or District- on more than one occasion, they have provided dishonest information to parents when their children's teachers quit in the middle of the year. The media should investigate what really goes on behind closed doors at this school.
• Submitted by parent on October 15, 2024
  The school is continuing on its downward trajectory under the direction of the principal, Dr. Unger. His archaic approach to education and discipline are failing students and teachers and does nothing to address bullying or the social and emotional needs of students today.
• Submitted by parent on August 22, 2024
  This is by far the worst school in Round Rock ISD. From the uneducated, incompetent teachers that they hire to the staff members, most importantly, the principal, Assistant Principals Who are quick to defend their staff, but not listen to the actual parents needs. Bullying is not taken care of, there is no active crossing guard whereas if you look at any other school in Round Rock ISD, there is a crossing guard ready to assist your children, however with the school, they want to place the responsibility on the parent. Dismissal is absolute chaos and communication is one of their worst assets. It’s no wonder it’s rated one of the lowest schools and Round Rock ISD. Just on this website alone it’s rated a three out of a 10. Need I say more? Dr. Mercer needs to do a full-blown investigation on this school to find out what’s really going on. I am either transferring my kids out of this school or homeschooling them because I am done with Joe Lee Johnson Elementary.
• Submitted by parent on August 13, 2024
  JLJ was a fantastic elementary school when it first opened under the direction of Principle Nino. It has gone downhill ever since she left. The last few years have been extremely challenging under the reign of Principle Karl Unger. Severe behavioral issues (fist fights and furniture throwing) are not dealt with appropriately, thereby ruining learning for the other children in the classroom. Karl says “it’s hard” and can’t seem to make any headway restoring order at this school. There is zero transparency, so parents and teachers have zero idea whether the administration is making any efforts to improve the learning experience at JLJ.To kick off 2024/25, Principle Unger decided he's not going to allow snacks in the classrooms or common areas. His infinite wisdom now takes us back to ‘80s. Instead of addressing the root cause of problems and holding those responsible accountable, Karl continues his legacy of ruining the educational experience for the remaining 90% of kids that do behave well and are there to learn.Like everyone else, we're on a waitlist to get our child out of this school... . .
• Submitted by parent on April 14, 2024
  I’m a parent and I have seen how some of these parent are with their entitled behavior. I have seen how they talk to staff and administrators. It’s very demeaning and disturbing. My kids love this school. The building is amazing. What I don’t like is the attitudes of some of the parents. I mean most act like the King of England when they are just plain working people just like me. I mean I was in the office when one parent made a complete unnecessary scene. I appreciate the staff and I wish them great success. Way better than the inner city schools in Cali for sure but in Cali there is respect for schools and the work
• Submitted by parent on April 01, 2024
  Joe Lee Johnson is undoubtedly the worst school I’ve ever encountered. They put students at risk with predatory staff and ignored multiple complaints by parents. When we went above the principal to have our concerns addressed they singled out our daughter with petty retaliations like excluding her from her class photo. She’s four years old. I’m counting the days till she’s no longer a student there.
• Submitted by teacher on March 12, 2024
  This is the worst school I have worked in. We are failing teachers, and we are failing students. JLJ should be ashamed.
• Submitted by parent on September 22, 2023
  Joe Lee Johnson Elementary was fantastic for the first several years it was open. It has continued to go downhill since. There seems to be pervasive and systemic issues that remain unresolved and continue to grow. While many of the educators do genuinely care about the students, the school cannot seem retain quality teachers and is continually understaffed. Children are moved between classes far too often and the administration seemingly does not keep track of how often individual children are moved, resulting in a severe imbalance of those affected. They also have a massive problem addressing behavioral issues, whether a result of poor administration, understaffing, poorly defined processes, or an inability or unwillingness to follow processes in unknown. There are many children at this school who obviously need special attention and are not receiving it. There are also many children at this school who downright should have been removed after multiple disruptive offenses, yet for whatever reasons they remain, and take away from all the children there to learn.
• Submitted by parent on May 10, 2023
  JLJ used to be a good school. Principal Unger has let things run amok. Kids painting nails in class, coming and going from class as they feel, throwing things, fist fights, and lots of yelling. There are no repercussions so kids don't care. If your kid likes chaos, this is the school for them.This can be a good school again, but they need new leadership.
• Submitted by parent on May 09, 2023
  If your child has the slightest bit of behavioral issues don't send them here they will be written off. My son went from being an A student to a C student. They're too busy coddling the kids and not preparing them for the real world that they are tearing other kids down in the process.
• Submitted by parent on October 06, 2020
  My daughter attends and loves it! She has very supportive teachers who make her excited to learn and grow!
• Submitted by parent on September 06, 2020
  5 out of 5. JLJ has been awesome!
• Submitted by parent on April 06, 2020
  Student was unable to enjoy learning and experiencing what the school said they had to offer because of the brutal bullying and ineffective approach in handling the issue.
• Submitted by parent on December 28, 2019
  Looks great. New and clean. Safe. Education is not so great. I felt so sorry for my child that went there and teacher always shows no concerns about any of it.
• Submitted by parent on November 06, 2019
  10/10. JLJ is for any parent who wants transparency, communication, and a safe environment for their child. I only wish it went to 12th grade!

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