Theodore Judah Elementary School

3919 McKinley Boulevard

School District

Sacramento City Unified
Grade

K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:20
Type

public

School Map for Sacramento City Unified 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 06, 2022

My two kids go here, one in T-K and one in second grade. So far, I have been incredibly happy with this school. It has a small neighborhood feel, and I've always felt that all the other parents and teachers have their eye out on the kids to make sure they're safe. The principal is wonderful. He's very positive and involved in the campus, always saying hi to the kids and talking with them. He's like a rockstar to my kids. The office staff are also incredibly helpful and friendly, which seems to be an anomaly nowadays. So far, our teachers have been good, and the T-K and kindergarten programs have been warm and nurturing. My kids are actually strangely excited for the week to start so they can go back to school. The school culture is very positive. A new positive character trait is emphasized regularly, and there is a kindness program. My kids have never experienced any bullying, but I know it's taken very seriously when it happens. Parents are very involved and are welcomed to volunteer. I am by no means a "cool" mom, but I've always felt welcomed and appreciated. I love the holistic focus on the whole child here. Regular studies are augmented with gardening, music, art, and science. I also appreciate the historic school building, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. It might not always look brand new and sparkling, but it makes up for it in charm.Overall, a wonderful school with a nice group of kids, parents, and staff!
Submitted by parent on June 21, 2021

Theodore Judah has a bullying problem, and it starts with parents and teachers. The people who brag about the kindness program are mostly wealthy white people with neurotypical kids. Talk to a family outside of that demographic and you will get another story. Check the suspension rate. Ask around. Mr. Holding is a nice person and he is trying hard, but he can't fix the school's cultural problems on his own.Expect a lot of homework, depending on the teacher, no GATE program in spite of what they tell you, and a disciplinary system that consists mostly of yelling, taking away recess, and suspension ... at least if your child is not a white boy.
Submitted by parent on October 15, 2019

Excellent school. Wonderful compassionate administration. We won’t move so we can continue to send our kids here.
Submitted by parent on July 02, 2019

This school has been through a lot over the years, from being one of the oldest continuously operated schools in the district to almost being shuttered about 10 years ago. One of the things that makes it great is the families that commit to its success. It isn't a perfect school, no school is. It has its challenges with many of the things said in previous reviews but what it also has is an amazingly diverse student body with kids and families from all over Sacramento attending. We have great teachers and a new principal who is fully committed to seeing the school succeed. We have programs that are funded by parents who year after year keep stepping up to the plate fully realizing that every child will get art, music, garden and science above and beyond what they already experience in class. It is really inspiring to see how far our school has come over the years. The community is support for Theodore Judah is fantastic. We are very fortunate to have such a great neighborhood school and I know that our kids benefit from their experiences being Judah Bears.
Submitted by parent on April 24, 2019

My daughter attended this school from kindergarten through 5th grade. I volunteered at the school and served on the PTA for 2 years. After 6 years there I pulled her from the school for the following reasons: 1. The parents are too involved in the school. This may sound odd, but they are always protesting something and creating drama, like making their kids bring political pins to the classroom, posting inappropriate comments about teachers on Facebook, or starting arguments with other parents on school grounds. One parent tried to have my daughter's 4th grade teacher fired for giving out too much homework. Many parents, not all, have a sense of entitlement. It is probably only about 10%, but those people are very vocal and create problems. This school is rare in that you have families from many socioeconomic levels so you have parents that are more affluent with the sense of entitlement and you have the parents that are less affluent who are always complaining about the "Haves and Have Nots." When one controversy is resolved someone creates another one. It never ends and it is exhausting. 2. You can get very mixed results depending on your child's teacher. The Kindergarten- Second grade teachers have all been great. By third grade you are rolling the dice and it does not improve at the higher grade levels. There are still some great teachers but you have no control over who you get. For 3rd - 6th there are great teachers and terrible ones, and not much in between. As a risk averse person, that does not sit well with me. 3. Some of the spending priorities do not make sense. Money was spent to paint murals on a temporary building and the hand ball wall, however there is trash all over the campus, the field is either filled with mud in the Winter or tall weeds in the Spring. Bathrooms often go uncleaned for days and it is rare for there to be soap, toilet paper, or feminine hygiene products in the bathrooms. 4. The school district bankruptcy. Again, spending priorities are out of line. After reading about other school district bankruptcies and the lingering aftermath, all of the problems that existed before will only get worse.
Submitted by parent on June 08, 2014

Wonderful school with caring teachers and a beautiful facility. Even the library is great for an elementary school.
Submitted by parent on May 29, 2014

We have been at Judah for 5 years and have 3 children that attend here. The staff, teachers and PTA are very dedicated to my children and making sure they are being educated in a diverse environment. The school offers many programs and is always pushing my children educationally to be the best that they can be. I recommend this school to everyone. There is a nice comforting feeling when I go to work and know that my kids are in such great hands.
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2014

We are so excited about our experience at Judah. The staff has been very accommodating and welcoming to our child. The philosophy the school has about the inclusion of art, science and music in the school day make the learning environment very engaging. The facility is old and in need of TLC but parents and community members are doing a great job of keeping that front and center so the district makes improvements. The families that attend watch out for each other and come together to make smart decisions for our children and the education they receive.
Submitted by parent on May 28, 2014

I have 2 children at TJ. We were lucky to get in during Open Enrollment, and do not reside in East Sac. In fact, we are residents of Oak Park. I was concerned at first that we would not fit in and might even be left out, but my concerns were unwarranted. We transferred from SCUSD's #1 school after learning they were unable to meet the needs of one of my children. The team at Theodore Judah has been so supportive and encouraging to my special child and our family as a whole. Principal Celeste has always been kind, and fellow parents have been warm and inviting. My children are educationally challenged and receive art, music, and garden lessons that keep them engaged. I love this school.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2014

My wife and I are not sure we did the right thing by transferring our son to this school. The building is old and smells horrible. People from the surrounding neighborhood bring their dogs in and let them poop on the playground area and he has ruined three pair of shoes from stepping in it. Our son has always enjoyed school but has become withdrawn and does not like going to school anymore since starting here. We have tried discussing our concerns with the principal but she is less than helpful. The teachers seem like they are unhappy and under stress all of the time. The school has safety issues.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2014

This school is WONDERFUL! After reading the last few reviews, I am so confused and saddened by the negative and odd comments people are making about our school. Sure, it is old and class sizes are big, but that is city wide and we need to take that up with the district. If your kid has special needs or behavioral problems, maybe that's a separate issue, but don't blame the teachers and staff who work so hard to make this school amazing. The PTA works hard too and should not be blamed for "taking over the school," or raising "cliquish children!" Such silliness! This summer we are getting many improvements made to the school and our programs continue to be some of the strongest in the district. This is a lovely neighborhood school and it hurts my heart to see it spoken so poorly of. People are waiting to attend here and the community of parents is outstanding. I guess some folks just have a hard time seeing how tremendous our little school is.
Submitted by parent on April 30, 2014

I was drawn by what seemed like a true sense of community and good academic programs. My daughter really wanted to go to this school, but after a few months she begged me everyday not to go. The very first day of kindergarten, she came hone full of anxiety asking about the bench, the principals office, and calls home for bad behavior. When I asked her what she did at school, she said they had to sit all day and any playtime was short. I volunteered and noticed the kids were in trouble for minor offenses... hair twirling, squirming, sitting the wrong way. I'll also have to agree with previous post that there is a non-inclusive, clique mentality prevalent among the highly involved pta parents. Even worse, the same attitude seemed apparent among their kids. My daughter has always been outgoing with lots of friends. She was left out by the other girls in her class. The teacher didn't seem to notice or understand how to create a class culture of inclusivity. My child became more isolated, anxious, and unconfident as time passed. After finally leaving the school, I sent a message to the principal requesting to aire my concerns. I never received a reply. Don't believe the hype.
Submitted by parent on January 17, 2014

This wonderful gem of a school is run by an excellent administration and teaching staff. The parents are supportive and help fund music science and the arts. The best part is the community if families. We all watch out for each others kids, good diversity and smart happy kids. And they have chickens in the garden program!!
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2013

The leadership in this school needs to change! When we first started at Theodore Judah the school had such a warm feeling and we loved it. They changed Principals and that warm feeling does not exist anymore. Discrimination is a big issue here and no one wants to address it. Parents treating other parents and children horribly and the list goes on. The school is run by parents who are the "Principal's Pet" and it isn't fair. The PTA at this school is a gang of bullies and does not have the best interest of the teachers, parents or students anymore. Sad state of affairs at Theodore Judah.
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2013

We moved from the east coast to Sacramento several years ago. My son started Kindergarten at TJ. We live a five minute walk away. I was hoping that we'd be able to find a real neighborhood school in which parents were fully involved in their kid's education and with a high standard of educational excellence. TJ is all of that with a good core of teachers and a better group of kids. I would hope that the dissension witnessed this past year among the diverse parent make up will be resolved through better dialogue particularly with a new inflow of students coming in from several of the schools which were closed. I am confident that this will happen.
Submitted by parent on August 04, 2013

As far as the learning experience goes this school is top notch. But the principal is very cold and unapproachable. She has a certain group of parents whom she plays "favorites" with. If you complain she retaliates. We enjoy the teachers and most of them have been great!
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2013

The learning environment here is outstanding. Excellent teachers who are very approachable. Having said that, a few parents from the PTA control the school and Principal which makes for a very unpleasant experience for a lot of families. No real diversity among staff at all.
Submitted by parent on January 18, 2013

TJ is the very best a public neighborhood school can be, pushing the envelope with success in countless directions. With all the funding challenges and students' diverse needs, success is not simple - but that much more special when it happens, which occurs daily. Much relies upon the willingness of the teachers to challenge themselves and the tremendous parent involvement. An unfortunate occasional ill-effect of the volunteerism may be that some parents feel left out. Ideally, we all keep reaching out to each other, learning from each other, healing, and growing sronger together. The opportunity and desire are very much there.