J. Graham Brown School

Posted: September 17, 2024

My son has been at Brown since 6th grade and is currently a junior. Brown is an amazing place that he looks forward to going to every day!

Posted: September 17, 2024

Posted: September 17, 2024

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Posted: September 17, 2024

Posted: June 1, 2022

If you can provide transportation for your child to attend, do it! My son started here in the 6th grade and he loves it here. The only downside too Brown is the lack of sports programs. Only 700+ students, it hard to build strong sports teams. Everything else A+++

Posted: June 1, 2022

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Posted: March 29, 2022

I have two students at Brown. The great thing about Brown is they embrace the students and help them during those transition times to middle and high. Students don't have the worry of a new environment or making new friends after they first start there. Since it is a K-12 school - you find teachers talking with each other and helping students from one grade level to another; sharing their strengths and what they need help on. I also have a child with an IEP and they are so wonderful making sure that she gets the supports she needs and she has flourished this year.

My junior has been there since 5th grade and loves the school. I was worried about him going to a school that is very much it's own small community. He was embraced and found a true home. He has been involved in several activities, clubs, and sports. He has grown in his self confidence and really loves the freedom he has to take college courses right up the street at JCTC during school.

My kindergartner loves walking into school with her big brother. She was embraced into the school community from just attending past school events. She loves her "Moonbeam" which is a Senior student that she has been working with throughout this year. The school is being renovated and this year "Cub Corner" was designed to have the youngest kids in their own separate part of the school. This is a great addition to the school and really seems to surround and hug the smaller children.

The is an active PTSA who has been working on completing the playground that they started across from the school. Since the school is located downtown - there is not a lot of land for school activities. Most field trips are walked from the school which includes museums, plays, and even Waterfront Park. There is an active Pep Club, Environmental Club, Black Student Union Club, Chess Club, and a newly formed Disabilities Club. The school's SBDM also has a middle and high school student member.

What are the downsides to Brown? The district does not provide any bus transportation to the school. So only those who have their own transportation or old enough to take a TARC attend this school and this effects the school's diversity. Brown is also very self-directed. This means students need to be self driven and able to follow thru and execute on their own with little oversite especially at in middle and high. Student reflection on their own work starts in Kindergarten. Parent teacher conferences are student led.

Posted: March 29, 2022

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Posted: March 15, 2022

Wonderful school community. It really is a warm, welcoming place - from the principal standing outside the school in the mornings telling everyone good morning, to the genuine friendships both my daughter and I have developed over the years. I'm so glad that we have several more years at the school - they are going to have to pry our fingers off the door when she finally does graduate!

I feel like my daughter is gifted, and she is excited about what she learns at school. When she comes home, she is bubbling with energy to tell me what she learned today. She really likes how she is encouraged to have empathy for other people and think about things from their point of view. She is also crazy about the robotics classes she gets to take. They have robotics for students as young as kindergarten, and there is a program that includes high school students. It's an actual class during school.

I have liked her teachers. I received texts on apps from them and a lot of communication. There's a school newsletter with everything that is going on. My daughter also likes her counselor "Miss Christy" to. I haven't had anything that upset me, and we have been there several years. The teachers here do a good job.

Posted: March 15, 2022

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Posted: February 23, 2022

My son has attended the Brown School for the past three years and loves it. It is a welcoming and progressive school that allows students to flourish!

Posted: February 23, 2022

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Posted: November 19, 2021

I go to this school and it is amazing there is no where else better to go. I have ADHD and at my old school the teacher were rude but at brown you don’t get shamed for things .

Posted: November 19, 2021

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Posted: June 27, 2020

This school and staff are a wonderful blessing! I am so glad we applied and had the opportunity to be part of the Brown School.

Posted: June 27, 2020

The homework is meaningful. If you don't get it the teachers are wonderful at exploring how to understand.

Posted: June 27, 2020

The teachers are nurturing, encouraging, hard working people who truly care about the students.

Posted: June 27, 2020

This school recognizes the talents and individual uniqueness of each student. This school is downtown teaching students to be responsible members of the community exploring education outside of the walls of the facility.

Posted: June 27, 2020

Administration is professional and kind supporting students all through the education journey. They respond to email and concerns even after hours.

Posted: June 27, 2020

The staff work to create an atmosphere of learning. The counselors are available to coordinate accommodations.

Posted: June 27, 2020

We left the school where my child had been all of their life. My child was invited to all the activities and welcomed by numerous students to be great friends. It was incredible.

Posted: September 26, 2019

A lot of teacher are just counting days until retirement and are not invested in the education of the students.

Posted: September 26, 2019

Posted: September 26, 2019

The guidance counselor never does anything and the administrators are just mean/sassy to the kids. The principal and vice principals are just another name and don't have any presence at the school. The kids don't really have any respect for the people in the office/leadership positions.

Posted: September 26, 2019

Posted: September 26, 2019

Okay but not the best it is really the same as other schools except we are just on a first name basis.

Posted: September 26, 2019

Posted: January 22, 2018

I share 50/50 custody of my sons who live with me half the time. The school only communicates with their mother. It is like pulling teeth to get any information. They barely respond or just send the information to their mother who then does not forward it to me. I have explained this to them. They still keep me out of the loop. They will not put on the email list despite many many attempts. I tried to add my brother in law as a pick up person for the kids and they called the mother to ask if that was alright with her. She told them no and I had to argue with them again. and send an email in. Unfortunate because the kids like their teachers but dealing with administrators. The self directed learning has great for one child but bad for my youngest who is now very behind in reading and writing as he is encouraged to focus on what interests him and avoid stressors but it is now up to me and my ex to get him on level to go to the next year. That really feels like teacher needs to be making him practice more at school instead of letting him do what he wants and expecting us to make him at home.

Posted: January 22, 2018

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Posted: January 25, 2017

I have two students who both transferred to Brown for High School and their self-directed learning program is incomparable. Teachers are on a first name basis with the students, as well as available by phone and email 24 hours per day. I'm on the PTSA, as well as some of the SBDM boards and I can tell you that parent involvement on the HS and middle school level is very low. My only complaint would be for that, but it isn't the school's or children's faults. I honestly believe that some parents believe self-directed learning means that they do not have to be as involved anymore, which is simply not true. My children have good friends, great teachers and staff, are involved in every kind of extra-curricular activity their heart desires and are going to be very prepared to excel in college by graduation. The principal, vice-principals, teachers, and school staff are dedicated and invested in all of the children at Brown. I couldn't ask for more.

Posted: January 25, 2017

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Posted: March 18, 2015

The Brown School is all the top quality academic opportunities along with a wholesome social environment all rolled into one K-12 school. It is simply the best school in the Jefferson Coubty Public School System!

Posted: February 2, 2015

Fine for the little ones but once you are in middle and high, get out. Self directed learning in middle school turns into self directed laziness. Test scores reflect the few that remain in the program. Pretentious kids calling teachers by their first name with the "I can do what I want to" attitude is not what we need. Do yourself a favor, get your kid on the track to Manual so they can be successful or stay here have your kid learn all about addressing adults by their first name, study only if they feel like it, Learn poor self hygiene and kiss opportunities that other public schools have goodbye. The school is also connected to a Trade school which concerned me with my family. We are trying to get in Noe or Meyzeek now where my family has had great experience.

Posted: October 2, 2014

This is an outstanding school! Finally, I found a school where my gifted child feels challenged. She has had homework almost every night, and she spends a lot of additional time studying for tests and such. This is not the kind of school where students can just show up and make good grades. The kids have to work! It takes a commitment. I really appreciate the focused environment. She will definitely be getting into a desirable college. Brown is like the "Harvard" of public schools.

Posted: March 9, 2014

The Brown School came highly recommended and we have been thrilled that our child was accepted and has been a part of the school. I am, however, currently disappointed that the mission statement is not being followed (i.e. "foster the unique potential of each student"). I get the impression that it is now more important to keep the test scores high and worry less about meeting the students' needs. We chose Brown School for several reasons, but the main one was we thought we would get a different experience from other public schools. It seems the only difference right now is that the children call their teachers by their first name.

Posted: December 10, 2013

We've been at Brown for a few years now and all I can say is that it's not what it used to be. They have received many new teachers from other schools and they just aren't up to the standards that Brown was known for. It seems that many of the administrators and teachers are just counting the days until retirement and are not truly invested in education. My child does well, but we're leaning towards a different school for the next step. I used to highly recommend Brown, but over the past three years, I've seen several examples of outright laziness. The principal and vice principal are merely names and don't have any meaningful presence at all, and haven't displayed any real leadership. I see more and more parents becoming very frustrated about the quality of education their children are receiving and little to no response from the staff.