Fees College Preparatory Middle School

I like Fees! I have had 3 children attend this school and they have felt safe and comfortable in this structured learning environment. I have found the faculty to be open to my communication and responsive. I appreciate their dedication to my children's education and their big hearts as they often go beyond the call of duty to provide the best opportunities for their students.
--Submitted by a parent

In my opinion FEES is the worst possible school a child could attend. My daughter is in 7th grade, and her year has been full of nothing but bulling and degrading by other students. On one occassion, my daughter was assulted in the bathroom by another student and it was videotaped. When it was reported to administration, nothing really was done about it, and it was treated as if I was over reacting and the kids were just being kids. I wonder when enough will be enough, maybe when a child dies or commits harm to themselves because their crys for help have gone left unheard or answered. My daughter will be attending a different school next year, where I will be required to provide transportaion, but thats ok, because at least her life and self esteem will not be in jepordy.
--Submitted by a parent

I am so disappointed in this school. My daughter is a 6th grader and is harassed and berrated on a daily basis because she is not hoodlum like many of the other kids that attend. The school does not do these kids any favors by giving them 2nd and 3rd chances to make up work or retest to bring up their grades. I mean this isn't preparing our kids for the real world. I know my boss doesn't give me multiple chances to do my work correctly so.... The teachers and staff seem to flash a blind eye at the cursing, fighting, threatening and drug exchanges going on and when I expressed concern I was treated as though I was overreacting and it's not just this school it's everywhere. THIS IS THE WORST SCHOOL IN THE TEMPE DISTRICT! My child will not be attending next year and it's really a shame because I went to this school 20 years ago and it was great. How times have changed. I will now have to transport her out of the district everyday just so she can get a quality education and not be fearful of being jumped everyday.
--Submitted by a parent

There was a time when failing children "failed". Now my child gets a chance (more than one ) to bring his grade to passing. I wonder if this is for the school rating, or my childs. There is NO online accountability for my childs progress. This schools name has been recently renamed, Fees College Prep.? I HAVE gone to board meetings just to be appeased, that the electronic monitoring will be available soon! ( Two years ago) Time to get serious. I have another child entering the middle school system next spring (2012) and I am cautious.
--Submitted by a parent

I was a student at this school for all three years. I am now a sophomore and so happy I don't have to attend that lousy school! I was an honors student. The teachers, I can say, are the best part of that school. On the other hand, the principal is not. He's terrible. None of my classmates, including myself, liked him. We considered him to be a bit discriminating against some races..

Fees is the best place possible for a child to spend those tough MS years. The school is very structured during a time when kids are testing their limits. This provides a safe environment for kids to learn and grow. The school provides an excellent education; my child is thriving emotionally and excelling academically. His standardized test scores compare favorably with the top students in the country. The curriculum is not simply teaching to the AIMS test but teaching him to think and love learning. The school doesn't drown him in homework just because he is gifted, instead choosing to provide him with rigorous academics, amazing enrichment opportunities, and a good mix of extracurricular activities. I especially love that this school is small (relative to other area ms's). Every time I meet with a teacher, I come away amazed at how well they know my child. I have always felt welcome and free to communicate openly with every one here. Fees has worked hard to improve their performance and has become the top MS in the district (according to previous several years test scores). I think the only kids who are no longer happy at Fees are the troublemakers (Hooray!).
--Submitted by a parent

Lousy school....this is well known as the worst school in the Tempe District. You know it's bad when teachers who work there come on this site and give it 5 stars in a rebuttal. Little conflict of interest there?
--Submitted by a parent

My oldest son went here and I can say this is a horrible school. What he learned was foul language, and how to work the system. It did nothing to prepare him for high school, and now he struggles. Teachers are good for the most part, but the administration makes it impossible for them to do a good job. If your child has a goal of being a landscaper or dishwasher, This is the school for you. This is the worst performing middle school in the Tempe district. Tempe had to close one school for budget constraints, so what did they do? They kept this school open and closed the highest performing one. And these people want to educate you child? My youngest is now entering middle school, and there is no way he will be going here.
--Submitted by a parent

I think they are a little harder on my son then they needed to be but I think it was the overall culture of the school. Not a bad school just not an excelling one either.
--Submitted by a parent

Children are not paraded around school for not doing work- they go to a room for a working lunch to complete homework which should have been done at home. All of the teachers care deeply about the success of each, individual student, going so far as to check individual progress and let each student know what needs to be done. Teachers work hard to ensure that instruction is understood. Many opportunities exist for both help and enrichment. The school mind set is, "ALL STUDENTS WILL SUCCEED." Parents can help by checking binders, checking to see what assignments are due that homework is completed on time. Excelling students have opportunities to participate in enrichment classes, extra activities and honors classes. Students with challenges are not dismissed. Classes may be tougher for some, but the philosophy that all students will succeed applies to the challenged as well. Teachers don't give up, but provide multiple opportunities for success.
--Submitted by a teacher