Joslin Elementary School

4500 MANCHACA RD

School District

Austin Independent
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:12
Type

public

School Map for Austin Independent School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on March 19, 2024

A hidden gem in South Austin! Registering at Joslin was the best choice we have made since moving to Austin. The administration is caring and helpful. The PTA goes above and beyond to make Joslin a fun and beautiful campus. The small community is special and incredibly welcoming. My kids have tons of after school enrichment to choose from and every teacher we have had genuinely loves and cares about my child and their success. Aside from english, Students can choose to learn in Spanish or Mandarin… or both! We love this school!
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2020

This is our third year at Joslin, and we love our neighborhood school! Our teachers are knowledgeable, passionate, and supportive. Mr. Chang is a wonderful, responsive administrator. And the community of Joslin families is great! My child always feels included, and she has made wonderful progress academically and socially in her time at Joslin.
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2020

Joslin has been an amazing experience so far. It's a diamond in the rough and a little known secret I wish I could keep to myself. It's a small school with small class sizes and thus it feels like a family. The teachers look out for the kids and families and each other and the families reciprocate with enormous support for the staff and teachers. Both my kids are in the Mandarin language program and we are so impressed and happy with the teachers and lessons. Super lucky to be apart of the Joslin family.
Submitted by parent on November 20, 2020

My family transferred to Joslin during the middle of the pandemic, my son hasn't even attended class in person, yet our experience so far has been 100% positive. We felt an instant feeling of community and we were welcomed at the school with open arms. The administration made our transfer feel effortless, which was an added bonus!Principal Chang is a strong leader and really cares about Joslin families.The teachers are dedicated to the students education with a strong focus on social-emotional learning.The PTA is very welcoming and full of dedicated parents and teachers that want to make the school the best it can be. Joslin is the first South Austin school in AISD to offer English, Spanish and Mandarin Language pathways which I think is super unique and a major draw to the school. Joslin is a gem of a school, I encourage you to check it out for yourself!
Submitted by parent on November 19, 2019

I would give this school a 5 star rating.
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2019

A great community school focused on children and their needs to develop both academically and socially. A sense of commitment, pride and belonging of everyone in the school makes Joslin a happy destination for our child every day. The wise school leadership along with the active CAC and PTA groups has paved a successful path into the future and is leading Joslin to become a favorite school for many families. Thanks Joslin! Go Jaguars!
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2019

I love Joslin! The school reminds me of my own elementary. We know the other parents and the staff is involved and they truly seem to love the kids.
Submitted by parent on March 28, 2019

I love this school and feel it is a real Austin gem. I love its small size with less than 300 students and only TWO kindergarten classes. What other AISD School is only 300 students right here in South Austin. We requested a transfer and it was easily granted. I don't feel lost here but feel a part of the community. The teachers and staff are so caring and supportive. I love the small campus with its many gardens and beautiful courtyard right outside my son's class. They have two recesses and really encourage movement and outdoor time for the kids. Its a great school and I feel lucky to have found it.
Submitted by parent on February 23, 2019

There is a great sense of community at this school, and the kids and teachers seem to all know each other by name. The class sizes are small and teachers are very communicative with the parents. The PTA is very active and welcomes additional parent and community involvement. The campus has nice playgrounds, a running track, gardens and courtyards, and the building has lots of daylighting.
Submitted by other on March 27, 2017

My daughter has been a Joslin Jaguar from K though 5th grade. The amazing teachers and staff at the school really care and invest in the students.
Submitted by other on March 26, 2017

My wife has worked for Austin ISD since 2000. She has worked at a number of elementary schools. Joslin Elementary School is one of the best elementary schools in the district. AISD does such a poor job of promoting its schools that Joslin has become one of the best kept secrets in Austin. It is one of the last small public schools in our district and has been recognized by TEA and others for academic excellence and closing the achievement gap for low income students. The classes are small, the faculty and staff are experienced, and every child and family have an opportunity to be part of a small, intimate, learning community. Nearly 1/3 of the students who attend the school are transfer students. This is because the attendance boundaries for this campus has been narrowed over the years. It's comical. The school sits in the Western Trails neighborhood. Yet half of the families that live in the Western Trails neighborhood have to petition to transfer to Joslin even though the school is only three blocks from their homes! Students from all over the city attend Joslin. Most of the students come from families who recognize small schools offer opportunities individual development that simply do not exist in larger elementary school settings. If this describes you, I encourage you to transfer. The paperwork is simple enough and you won't regret it. I certainly did not. My child attended Joslin and subsequently applied and was admitted to both AISD's magnet schools. I have no doubt that a lot of his academic success has to do with the academic cultivation and personal nurturing he received at Joslin. Honestly, I didn't know that it was possible to get this kind of an education for an elementary school student in a public school. I cannot say enough good things about Joslin Elementary.
Submitted by parent on March 26, 2017

From my first email contact with Summer and the personalized school tour, I fell in love with Joslin. All of the faculty and staff know all the students and there is truly a family vibe in campus. My son has totally flourished and he's happy to go to school everyday.
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2017

I am the proud parent of 2 Joslin Jaguars. When my son began kindergarten we had concerns about speech issues and a slow acquisition of reading skills. This year he finishes 5th grade - a high achiever, reading above grade level and had the self- confidence to run for Student Council President! I credit his success to the amazing staff and welcoming, SUPPORTIVE school atmosphere. This school is a wonderful place for kids to grow as learners and citizens. My daughter is just starting this year but already feels at home. The school is small, so it avoids the issues bigger schools have managing tons of kids. Teachers can really have fun learning with their students in smaller groups. It is a true No Place For Hate community. SEL (Social Emotional Learning) is a real part of the culture. Students learn to use Peace Paths for conflict resolution and have the confidence to solve problems and support each other. Peace Areas in the classrooms give them a place to calm down or work out an issue with a classmate.We LOVE Joslin!
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2017

We have a 3rd grader there now and an alum who is in 7th grade at Ann Richards. Both are so engaged in their education and I credit much of that to the teachers and administration. JES is our HOME! I cannot imagine our life without the support and challenge they provide our students every single day. Go Jaguars!
Submitted by parent on March 21, 2017

My son is a third generation Joslin Jaguar. My husband and I both attended Joslin, as did my Aunt and Uncle! Joslin is an amazing school and *community,* with deep, strong roots, great leadership, caring, and extremely talented teachers. The entire staff is always warm and welcoming, and they are also a lot of FUN for the kids and families to be around! Joslin is a small school with small class size, which is something our family values tremendously. My son was extremely apprehensive to start Kindergarten. At halfway through the year, he loves his teachers, has great friends, and is at a 1st grade level for all subjects! Joslin is accepting in-district and out-of-district transfers, and would welcome your family to join the Jaguar family! If you want a smaller school with a great academic track record and a truly incredible staff, come check out Joslin!
Submitted by parent on October 13, 2015

My son has gone here since kindergarten and he will be graduating 5th grade this year. It has been an honor being apart of this school community. The teaching staff is unbelievable. Great communication with the office staff. The principals are always greeting parents at the doors. A very small knit family oriented place. When I walk in the school I feel a great feeling knowing my child is safe and enjoying his education at Joslin.
Submitted by parent on January 14, 2014

This school is better than several charter schools I looked at and better than the privite school my child attended before coming here. Never will you see a more dedicated staff.
Submitted by teacher on August 23, 2013

A great little neighborhood school with a wonderful feeling of community. Classes are small compared to area schools, which means that there are more opportunities for teachers to meet individual student needs. Our Music, Art and PE teachers push students beyonnd the basics. We are a "No Place for Hate" campus, so one component of our curriculum is social and emotional learning, which equals a very caring environment.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

Joslin Elementary school is AWESOME!! The school and class sizes are small, but I know my kids are getting a lot of one on one attention from their teachers. All the teachers my children have had are amazing! They care about my kids and their education. The principal, Jennifer Pace, is amazing!! She really cares about the students and the school! Joslin has a strong PTA and last year they were nominated for PTA of the Year!
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

My family &I love Joslin Elementary. All of the teachers, assistants, monitors, volunteers, even custodial staff are excellent at naking you feel welcome and a part of the Jaguar family. I have a 15yr old & 11yr old that both attended Joslin Pre-K - 5th & a 10yr old that has been here since Pre - K & is now entering 4th gr. They have all done exceptionally well in all academic areas due to the dedicated efforts of the teaching staff. This school offers so many specialized programs for children withspecial needs from mhmr to A.I. specialists for Deaf children. I can't explain how excited I was when my daughters came home signing and expressed such eagerness at the opportunity to learn more. I myself went ro Joslin in early 80's and my mother and uncles attended here as well. Joslin Elementary is so much more than just another school to us, it is a huge part of our Family. Go Jaguars!