About

Montgomery Elementary School is a public school serving students in transitional kindergarten through 6th grade in the Evergreen School District of San Jose, California.

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School Profile: CA Department of Education →
School Accountability Report Card (SARC) →
Annual School Plans (CSSP & SPSA) →

School Mission Statement

We, the staff of John J. Montgomery School, are committed to the process of educating the whole child - academically, socially, physically, and emotionally. We value the individual and cultural differences that each child brings to our campus. All students have equal access to a rigorous curriculum with high expectations necessary for successful transition from one grade to the next. All students are responsible for their learning and behavior within a safe school community. All students have opportunities to develop both technical and critical thinking skills to make them productive participants in the global community.

School Vision Statement

Montgomery Elementary School is committed to empowering all students to be successful learners and valiant problem solvers. We provide a safe environment in which every child develops confidence and experiences success. We embrace our motto “Knowledge is Power” and believe in the ability of every child to become an inspired life-long learner.

Principal’s Message

John J. Montgomery Elementary School was built in 1975. It is located in a community near the foothills in southeast San Jose. We take pride in the appearance of our school, and there is adequate classroom space for all students. Our students take responsibility for maintaining a clean school and safe environment. In 1995 and 2000, we were selected as one of the California Distinguished Schools. Again, we increased our Academic Performance Index (API) score and met the state growth target. We were eligible to receive funds through the Governor’s Performance Award Program. We are proud of the quality programs we offer and encourage students to be lifelong learners.

Mrs. Jaime Hammond
Principal, John J. Montgomery Elementary

A California Distinguished School
2000, 1995

School Name

John J. Montgomery landing The Evergreen monoplane glider in October 1911.

John J. Montgomery Elementary School is proudly named after John Joseph Montgomery (1858–1911), a pioneering American inventor, physicist, and engineer who taught at Santa Clara College in nearby Santa Clara. Montgomery is best known for his groundbreaking work in aviation and for designing some of the earliest controlled, heavier-than-air flying machines.

In the early 1900s, Montgomery tested his glider, The Evergreen, in the hills east of San Jose in an area now known as Montgomery Hill, located just behind Evergreen Valley College. During a test flight, strong turbulence caused his glider to stall, leading to a fatal crash. Despite the tragic end, Montgomery's contributions to aviation left a lasting legacy, and he is remembered as one of California’s aviation pioneers. Our school is one of five in California named in his honor.