Mountain Trail Middle School

The principal, asst. principal, and counselor are excellent when it comes to dealing with parents. They listen and take you seriously when issues arise. There are some EXCELLENT teachers here, and some AWFUL teachers, too. Most I would say are average overall. Bullying here is an ongoing problem, and punks are often moved from one class to another, just to cause trouble elsewhere. The curriculum, Core Knowlege, is fantastic, although I think science here is weak, with almost no labs to get the kids interested. In summary, I would say Mountain Trail is okay, better than many, probably not as good as a few others.
--Submitted by a parent

there are NO fights/bullying at our school....pretty much EVERYONE gets along :)
--Submitted by a student

My child just completed 7th grade, I feared a drastic change from P.P. Elementary to M.T.M.S. On the contrary, he adjusted very well, the homework page and grades available on the website helped keep up with middle school pressure, even if some teachers do not keep their site updated, we did not struggle too much and the year passed very fast. Thank you to Ms Carstens for being a great teacher, always available to help.
--Submitted by a parent

Mountain Trail School set the foundation for my children at Pinacle. Thanks
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter loves Mountain Trail! The teachers are fantastic and go above and beyond the expectations! What a good transition from Elementry school!
--Submitted by a parent

I do like MTMS but I have noticed (I'm in Honors English and Math) that in honors english you recieve more chances to expand your learning where as in regular classes you don't really get to expand your learning as much.
--Submitted by a student

Even though I have left a review about Mountain Trail in the past, I feel I must respond to the last reviews. Yes, Jan Hamrick does a tremendous job. Yes, Jim Lee left and the teaching staff has changed over the past couple years, Teachers move, retire, quit, and leave for various reasons. It happens in the corporate world every day, why would teaching be any different. There are several former MTMS teachers who left for the district office, giving them the opportunity to help all students in the district. I think that speaks highly for the quality of teachers who come to MTMS. The new teachers at MTMS have gotten rave reviews from my student, are responsive to me and challenge my student. MTMS is an Excelling school. So, obviously teaching to all student levels. Quality teachers + Excelling school = bad leadership. How?
--Submitted by a parent

Although I agree Jan Hamrick is a good asst. princ. and the campus is extremely clean, I have to bring this schools rate down because through all of my experience as being a teacher and a mother of 2 and of coarse my own scholastic career, I have never had so many consistent disappointments. I watch as my son and his friends are left behind. I see the non gifted kids falling through the cracks.
--Submitted by a parent

My oldest who is now in high school attended MTMS, my youngest attends now. I have been greatly impressed with the dedication that I have seen from most of the teachers. As with any school you are going to bump heads occasionally with instructors, that happened once with one teacher who is no longer there. There has been a great deal of teacher turnover in the last couple of years. I do feel that since Jim Lee moved to District Office, the school has declined in its leadership. Jan Hamrick does a wonderful job as assistant principal. I wish I could express such confidence in the current principal.
--Submitted by a parent

I am currently an 8th grade student at Mountain Trail. It is an absolutely amazing school. The honors programs gives students the opportunity to challenge their thoughts, which leads to ultimate success in the near future. The campus is clean and the teachers work together to make MTMS the great school that it is. Mountain Trial is one of the best schools i have ever attended. I would recommend MTMS to you if you want to set your child up for success. There are also many after school sports. MTMS 8th grade boys basketball is undefeated in the Paradise Valley School District! Go coyotes!
--Submitted by a student