Joseph Arthur Middle School

160 Saint Ellen Mine Rd

School District

Central 104
Grade

5-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for Central School District 104

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 August 22, 2023

It's a shame there hasn't been a review in years for this school. Dr. Young has done a phenomenal job turning this school into an amazing place for the kids. My child just graduated up to OTHS last year and I have a younger child about to transition up to JAMS this year. The environment is welcoming and the class sizes are still small. They offer advanced courses for kids who need more challenge. The band program has grown and is wonderful, preparing the kids to play with the OTHS bands. Sports have grown and the boys' 8th grade basketball team made the state finals last year. They have a track team now as well. It has turned into an all around great school for the kids and I'd recommend them to anyone wanting to move into O'Fallon, especially if they're looking for a small class size alternative to District 90 that feeds into OTHS.
Submitted by other on April 19, 2018

most students did not pretipatein the class and were not paying attentiong constently talking to and distracting others in class. teacher were nice and did good work with their jobs but were not concerned with the students at all and the students did not even get a short recess
Submitted by parent on February 11, 2017

Excellent staff, excellent learning, excellent district for such a small school.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2016

Joseph Arthur Middle School (JAMS) has changed my son's life in the most wonderful ways. We left Belleville with a 3000sq ft home, to a 1100sq ft home in O'Fallon just to get our son in this district. Our son hated school, never wanted to go, and not excited about learning. JAMS changed that all for him. Within a week he was excited to go to school, he's happy when he comes home, and over joyed to learn. JAMS has given our son an excitement to learn. Fast forward four years, he still a very happy student. The faculty is amazing, and the liberian is a gem. Our son plays sports, and is in an after school club. JAMS is the hidden jewel in the O'Fallon area. I highly recommend JAMS over District 90 schools. If you want your student(s) to be independent, empowered, enthusiastic student(s), I encourage you do take the JAMS experience.
Submitted by parent on December 18, 2015

I would like to say that I have put two children through the Central School district...my oldest is currently in college and my youngest is currently in the 7th grade. I would not suggest moving to this district if you are considering the O'fallon area. The majority of the kids are low income, which is not a problem on the surface really, but the problem is that low income kids don't perform well in school. There are no honors classes here, because there aren't that many kids capable of such a thing... so if your kid is a good student, there isn't anything to challenge or inspire them. Check the standardized test scores, they're terrible. Sports teams are pretty abysmal, sometimes coached by people who have no business doing so but I guess he/she drew the shortest straw and it's their turn to be "the coach". Music and chorus, awful. Band program is basically non existant at this particular moment in time. There wasn't even a Christmas program or concert for my child. My child hasn't had one band concert since school started in August. If your kid is a band student, run. They place no value on it at all despite O'Fallon having a world class high school band program. They do have lots of services and things if you're low income though, such as lunch during the summer and after school programs. It's the smart kids that suffer here. There are MUCH better schools in the local area such as ANY school in District 90 or Shiloh.