Doolen Middle School

I have not really been impressed with the 7th or 8th gate teachers. The really do not seem to care about the students. They do not keep up on grades, the lose students work that has been turned in. They are either over worked, unorganized or they just don't care. Which is sad, because they have bright students that work hard. The 6th grade gate teachers that my child had were so much better, but they have since left the school. As for the rest of the administration, there are not much better. There is bullying going on all the time and nothing seems to be taken care of. Students get their personal belongings stolen and the school does nothing about it. We haven't moved our child out of the school because we haven't heard anything better about other schools in the district. So we have had our child study martial arts in order to protect themselves.
—Submitted by a parent

I have issue with this school and how they handle bullying. My child is bullied almost daily yet no one really deals with it. Even when there is physical bullying no one gets in trouble or suspended like district policy says they should. I am currently looking at removing my child before the next school year because I dont want her tortured any longer by horrible kids and a staff that just doesnt care.
—Submitted by a parent

I've been going in the Doolen GATE program for 7-8 and i wouldnt want to get anywhere else!! there is interaction between non-gate and GATE if you want to. it's really fun and most of the teachers are good. the enviorment's really easy to understand aswell. Some say its ghetto but school's only fun if you want it to be! So far, best school years ever!!

Being a student at Doolen MS was 3 of the greatest years I have had. That school has amazing teachers, and amazing people. I met some of my best friends there. <3 I actuallt just got promoted from there this year (2011). That school is amazing, regardless of what anyone says. The people are great, the teachers are nice, and they really try to push us into learning. You would be a very smart parent to send your child here to Doolen Middle School. :)

Great school but when I went to the open house a lot of the kids were getting into fights as in punching each other. I mean I like that it has cool extra curricular activities like Track and Field, Soccer and baseball. It just brings the smartness down!!!!

As a former student, I attended 6th and 7th grade and currently in 8th grade at a different school, I was glad to leave. Doolen needs alot of work. This year they have french, cap (civil air patrol) and other nice things, but it is still the same school. There is fights almost everyday, there is alot of marajuana there, the kids are not nice. The academic standards are not high. At Doolen you get 'easy A's' and you don't have to really work hard. The extra-cirricular activities are good. They have wright flight, cap, orchastra and band. I was bullied many times, but I got through it. I would rate this a 1 out of ten school. Although, there is some teachers like mr. Deeb and ms. Deeb and ms. Bartz, who are the coolest teachers ever. So decide for yourself.
—Submitted by a student

This school is a lot safer than when my sister went here but still needs to work on this issue. My daughter went here for 3 years and did good. There is not a lot of communication between the school and parents.
—Submitted by a parent

I can't really give this school too much credit. As a student at this school currently I feel ashamed. We have no proper education and it is so easy for me. I excel and Doolen is really bringing my smarty-ness down!!!! We think were all cool when were so cool that we can't even pass our benchmark testing or our Arizona's statewide test the AIMS. Please don't send your child here!!!
—Submitted by a student

great school, very proud of the work that the kids put in
—Submitted by a parent

Our son attended for 3 years and was challenged academically and took part in the orchestra. He was admitted into University High School and adjusted there beautifully.
—Submitted by a parent

Doolen Middle School is a combined special education middle school with a focus on preventing drop out. The program also provides for the gifted. The combination of the two make for a completely split student body. The gifted children are sepperated from the mainstream. We found that do be a very problematic set up. The kids not only have no interaction, but the school itself celebrates all of the accomplishments of the gifted and rarely if ever recongnises the disadvantaged except with the presents of the police dept. The achedemic for the gifted as my child took part of was not only long and never ending, but taught my child for the first time how to 'copy cat' learn just to get through the massive amouts of material. There is no parent involvement! We found the staff to be hostile to the presents of patents. Not the best experience.
—Submitted by a parent

My child is in the all day GATE program. They expect alot from the children. But, they have excellent teachers for this program. I am not commenting about the rest of the school as there is little interaction between the GATE classes and the rest of the kids.
—Submitted by a parent