John Clancy/Joseph Maggiore Elementary School

If you are looking at this page you are probably a dedicated parent of a very creative child--just like me. You want to find the right school for your child. We (our family) have tried it all-private, public, charter...but what it comes down to is that my super creative genius level kid is just not happy sitting in a chair all day receiving information from a traditional type lesson. Sound familiar? Then Clancy might be the change you are looking for.
What Clancy is doing is true arts integration--using art/ creativity to teach all subjects. This is the same method used by Lusher. It involves projects, moving around, children learning things by doing, etc. Unfortunately, this school has not gotten near the positive attention (or magnet enrollment) it needs to survive in JPPSS. After poking around sites like these, I can see why! There are some discouraging (and mostly outdated) reviews, and some not-so-great test scores. It seems that those scores have a lot to do with the student population Clancy has due to location--it is a particularly low scoring area, and getting that many kids up to snuff that were previously in a floundering school takes time. Besides, in my opinion, a schools overall test scores aren't as important as what happens to your child while they are there. Is it a meaningful, positive experience that helps them grow and learn? Or is it a place where they are expected to sit quietly, with little opportunity for creativity, interaction, or critical thinking? Even the best traditional public schools in this parish are guilty of just that--even those with extra music or art programs. My advice? To heck with test scores. I don't want my child taught to a test anyways. Step outside the box, and give Clancy a chance.

When I enrolled my daughter there was no tour of the school and for good reason too!!! Most of the school is filthy!!! My daughter has been sick every month of school because of the poor hygiene practices!!! The school also lied to me and told me that the students would be taught Spanish and be able to have drama class and plays and none of that happened!!! My daughter was in kindergarten and they managed to slow her down and bore her!! They were supposed to be able to read after this year and she can but not as well as she should be! They started teaching the students only one word a week and words that were way too simple! The school is so unorganized and I am very disappointed!