History & Background

JES serves a number of communities within a 5-mile radius of its campus, including Jacksonville, Hunt Valley, Sweet Air, and Baldwin. This is an area of approximately 18,000 households and 45,000 population.

Jacksonville continues to be well-known within educational circles in Maryland as a model school. The school provides an automated library, is a completely networked building, and has computers, telephones, and mounted televisions in every classroom. The computer lab of 30 computers includes projection capability, and provides each child the opportunity for one-on-one instruction. Televisions are mounted in every classroom enabling teachers to use the building's remote accessing capabilities

The instructional program at Jacksonville is characterized by an emphasis on authentic learning that reflects real-life experiences. The Maryland Content Standards serve as the platform for the instructional program, including a particular emphasis on phonemic awareness and application in grades kindergarten through 2. In addition, incentives at Jacksonville such as a block reading/language arts instruction and regrouping in mathematics in grades 1 through 4 ensure a high degree of individualization of instruction. Grade 5 is departmentalized so that each teacher is responsible for one content area:

Mr. Hurley – Reading
Ms. Moore – Math
Mrs. Schmitz – Science/Language Arts
Mrs. Spears – Social Studies/Language Arts

Intensive staff development enables teachers to be trained in the latest instructional strategies.

Another important component of Jacksonville's overall instructional program is an integrated approach to instruction which builds on basic skills emphasized in the classroom. Classroom teachers meet regularly with special-area teachers in disciplines such as art, music, library, and physical education. The purpose of these Interlink meetings is to define classroom learning objectives and the manner in which special-area teachers will insure interdisciplinary connections in the special area classrooms. For instance, if wildlife is a topic of classroom instruction, an art class could include an assignment for water color drawings of birds

An important ingredient contributing to the success of Jacksonville Elementary School has been the commitment to the School Based Management Team process. In this regard, parents and staff meet monthly throughout the school year to plan, implement, and evaluate the total school program. The SBM Team works in a unified manner toward a common goal that is embodied in the following mission statement:

"WE, THE JACKSONVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMMUNITY, COMMIT OURSELVES TO MAXIMIZING INDIVIDUAL ABILITIES USING ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO DEVELOP LIFELONG LEARNERS AND RESPONSIBLE, CARING CITIZENS ABLE TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW."

The School Based Management model for JES is an integrated approach involving staff, parents, and the community. The school improvement plan concept is utilized to address virtually all aspects of the overall school program. Special attention, however, has been placed on those areas of improvement identified through careful data analysis.