Submitted by parent on September 22, 2023
We've been at Jenk's for a year and are having a great experience. Parent community is dedicated to their kids. Lots of veteran teachers. And the new Principal appears to be an effective leader and has already made progress on her goals.
Submitted by parent on September 17, 2022
Dont send your kids here. This school is absolutely terrible. I was bullied for years here and the teachers did nothing to help. The kids are horrible and out of control, the gym is never clean, bathrooms never clean, buildings clearly rotting, the lockers are disgusting, i can go on and on about it. Just dont go here.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2021
DO NOT BITE THE BAIT WITH THIS SCHOOL! THIS SCHOOL IS AWFUL! JUST LIKE THE REST OF SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA SCHOOLS! The new principle and assistant principle are clueless! When I wanted a clearer understanding of an incident that happened with my child they had no clue and instead of telling me the details tried to tell me their policy and procedure instead! THE WORSE EXPERIENCE EVER! If you care about your children safety DO NOT send them here!!!
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2015
We have three children that attend Jenks. The true testament of how great the school is my second grade son came up to me on a Sunday afternoon and said "mom, I love Jenks." Our family attended another city school last year and the same second grader struggled to wake up in the morning, and was not always well behaved in class. We believe the environment at Jenks is condusive to the child's academic and social development. He now enjoys school so much, he's up and ready to go without any struggle. My other two children enjoy the school and it's many oppurtunities as well. The staff and faculty are great. The parent participation and opportunities to volunteer as well as the engagement of the community makes Jenk a true neighborhood school and should be the model school for the Philadelphia School District.
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2015
Jenks is a wonderful community of dedicated teachers and amazing families! With everyone working together and support from the surrounding neighborhood, we have created a caring, innovative learning environment. The school offers a safe, nurturing space for the students during school hours and through afterschool activities and community events. It truly is a model of a great neighborhood school doing what it can with limited resources, but plenty of enthusiasm and commitment.
Submitted by other on November 23, 2014
Above average, I love the teachers in this school, they are excellent and really care about their students.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2014
Jenks is what a great public school should be. There is a core of great teachers with a very dedicated principle working to make the absolute best out of the difficult situation that is a fact of life for Philadelphia public schools. There is a strong group of dedicated parents who also work hard to help.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2014
Jenks is an amazing public school that continues to thrive in the face of ridiculous challenges. It is a real community, filled with dedicated teachers, a principal with real vision, and terrific parents who are deeply invested in public education. My daughter is entering the second grade, and adores the school. She has learned far more in her two years at this urban school than the children of many of my friends attending affluent suburban schools. I'd also like to note that my daughter comes from a two-mom family. She has never experienced the slightest amount of bullying or differential treatment, and my partner and I feel completely comfortable and welcomed at the school.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2014
The community and staff at Jenks is top notch. The teachers and school support staff are doing amazing work with a bare bones budget, through their dedication, the support of the Friends of Jenks organization, and great HSA/parents. Everyone I have net or interacted with has been lovely and checked-in. My daughter has made close friends and they are all nearby, a great benefit of a neighborhood school! She enjoys art, music, gym, the vegetable gardens, the playground, and a strong STEAM and math/reading curriculum which is continuing to grow every year. The only way to keep things growing and improving is through committed families joining us! Hope to see you at a kindergarten tea or event this year :)
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2014
The JS Jenks is a great school and my son and I love it. He has been attending Jenks since first grade and has been exposed to many awesome opportunities. There is so much to do at Jenks, from building a community garden, attending NASA Space Academy in the summer, musical productions, health and wellness club, chess club, First in Math holiday bash, sports such as fencing and track & field, just to name a few. Jenks makes learning fun. I attended an open house at a private school for 9th grade admission. Although a great school, it did not offer many of the social activities that Jenks does. I believe my son has received an excellent education at this school and he continues to advance in math and science, two of his favorite subjects. Attending Jenks will allow him to do the things he loves, while learning in a nuturing environment. Mrs. Lynskey and her staff are amazing. Come check out our science lab, garden and new state of the art library and computer lab for yourself. @ProudToBeAJSjenksFamily!.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2014
Jenks has been such am amazing and wonderful school for our daughter. She is now going into 2nd grade and started there in kindergarten. Many of our friends send their children to private schools. We have found that the education she receives at Jenks and the opportunities she has there are just as good if not better than some of the private schools. There is definitely a myth in this city that there are no good public schools. Jenks is not just a good public school, it is a great school- period! Our daughter adores her teachers and the principal really deeply cares about this school. The parent community is very involved and we are proud to be part of it!
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2014
My kids have been at this school since Kindergarten and are approaching middle school. The experience has been very good. It is struggling like many other Philly schools in terms of teacher and staffing issues, but it is made up by strong parental support. Much money has been raised to ensure teachers have supplies and money is available to help students with opportunities such as attending Space Camp. The kids can't expect a much better education from a Philly public or charter school.
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2014
Jenks Academy for the Arts and Sciences is an amazing environment to learn. All teachers are highly qualified and the staff participates in many off school hours and community events. My son loved spending the year with two great teachers in the new fifth grade STEM lab. He loved all the animals in the room, lizards, turtles, fish, snakes and the rabbit (S'mores) who runs freely throughout the room. His favorite part was going on the exploration field trips and the lesson with the live crayfish!
Submitted by parent on June 30, 2014
I have had a wonderful experience with the Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers. They were passionate about the children and great educators! However, this school is apart of the ever declining Phila. School District and unfortunately does not have enough resources to continue the great experience throughout the upper school (grades 3-8). The principal is also very rude and disconnected from the student body. She has no desire to communicate with concerned parents as she will simply refer you to call the school district. No one from Phila. School District will EVER return a parent's phone call as they simply just DO NOT care. This was the best elementary school left in this district and it is very sad to see it go so far down hill. I have transferred my now 2nd grader to a private school.
Submitted by parent on July 16, 2013
My son just graduated from J.S. Jenks Middle School in June. He attended Jenks from 1-8 grades. We had an excellent experience there. Never any fights, bullies or conflicts the whole time he attended. The teachers, counselor and staff were professional, caring and nurturing to the children. If there were more schools like Jenks in the Philadelphia School District more kids would attend public schools over the now popular Charters.
Submitted by parent on July 16, 2013
Jenks has a great lower grade department, but therer upper grades are the baf my son we to see the school forthe day and when we got a tour the seven grade in 2012 were fight and say bad thing to each when they we at there lockers I was not even able to see the six,or eight class but there were loud noise and all the teacher in the hall. i look fast inside a d student were on top of desk a walking around when i was told that all the student were in class getting but seven grade but the was girls in the bathroom srceam and the was no order for the student i was on floor for 15mins and my son said that he does not want ot attend the school i ask him he said cause im not going to learn any thing lastly as we were walk the principal was very clam like nothing was going on that floor.... Thank gor reading!!!!
Submitted by other on July 15, 2013
I went to Jenks school did not like the school overall. I was in Jenks for 6 years K-5 i did not like it ,it was alot of bullying in 3-5 grade the teacher really did nothing about it. I am now 13 year old and because my mom but me in a better school my grades have we up and at Jenks it was hard to get help from a teacher we they are just sitting on there butts eating food out of a mini fridge in the class room, as well as fight would go on during class. I am no longer in Jenk but if i was my grade would not be were they are now and i most likely would been doing thing that i should not be doing ......... JENKS WAS A GOOD SCHOOL IN 2007-2010, BUT AFTER THAT GOOD TEACHER STARTED TO LEAVE AND THE SCHOOL WENT DOWN.... Do not but or keep your Kid there for middle school when i was in 5 grade i felt like i was in high school cause of all the drama and fights and bullying that was going on Thank you and look at other school before you pick JOHN STORY JENK SCHOOL.............
Submitted by parent on August 09, 2010
I was very concerned in 2008 when my girls Private School closed its doors for good. However, Jenks has exceeded my expectations. The curriculum is stellar and the staff from the Principal to the Janitor has our children's best interest at heart. Their is no doubt in my mind that my girls will get into the High Schools of their choosing!