D. Russell Parks Junior High School

Excellent teachers. love all the staff especially vice-principal. very good programs for good student. challeging academic programs. some kids are racist cause maybe parents are but overall excellent school . i think best middle school in oranage county.
--Submitted by a parent

There are many rumors that this is a great school based on the test scores. However, I've come to learn that you can't judge a school by just the high test scores. I'm currently a student from Parks and I have to call out the office staff of Parks Jr. High. I've honestly never seen ruder people in my life. I came from another district and because of that, had to take the math placement test inside the office. However, the office staff had no consideration whatsoever and were loud and obnoxious. As a result, I failed that placement test and was placed at a lower level than I originally am. Thankfully, there was a retake opportunity and I was able to get into the honors algebra, but that event just showed me how inconsiderate people can be.

I'm graduating from Parks Jr. High this year and I must say that it is a very tightly knit family. I consider the academics to be easy but I have had friends who transferred from Nicholas to Parks (and back) who thought that it was WAY too hard. The teachers try to communicate with their students and are considerate, but still enforce their rules. Parks offers a lot of fun electives (Home Economics, Art, Choir, Orchestra, etc). Parks is a great school to help a student prepare for the toughness of high school and definitely meets whatever standards that are given out. Some of the homework given out by teachers aren't that hard; it's just that some of the students don't pay attention to the teacher(s) and then complain to their parents that their teacher doesn't teach them when everyone else in their class understands the material. All in all, Parks is a recognized school and has a great teaching staff and wonderful community that is helpful as well as friendly.

It has been three years since I graduated from Parks and things might have changed since then. However, from what I remember, the experience a student has from Parks depends mostly on the student and the friends he hangs out with. In my case, I had good, supportive, and academically strong friends who motivated me to excel during my time at Parks. I also had my own self-motivation to get into an IB program in high school (which I did) and competitiveness that I had to get better grades than my friends. To comment on too much homework, I think this will help with adjusting to high school. At Troy, students get an average of five hours of sleep and the rest of the time is filled with extracurricular activities and homework. Anyways, school is what you make of it. In my case, I had a great time at Parks.

I think this school is O.K. Not great, Nicolas is better.
--Submitted by a teacher

I always thought Parks to be a great school. Maybe for students who already excel. My child went from one of the brightest to having one of the lowest GPA's in the school his first year around. Teacher focus more on HW and make it a LARGE amount of the childs grade. I am more than willing to help with HW but to make it the main concern is ridiculous. As a teacher it is YOUR job to teach. 3 hours a night just is not acceptable. There are some wonderful teacher that have been a great help to my child and done what they can to ensure the work gets done. then there are teacher that do not care to put the effort. I have been to the principal, the VP, the counselor and teacher none of which will look further into it.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm currnetley a student at Parks's Jr. High. I like it but sometimes it can be extremley boring, it is also not artsy enough. In the laptop program you olny use you laptop for around half the class. Also the teachers will not ask you if you need help, you need to ask them for help if you need, that I think is not very good. This shcool is also way into the acemdimces also very cliqey like there is a lot of cliques depending on your race. Parks is a good shcool and I recomend it to thoose who want to be well perpared for high shcool.
--Submitted by a student

I think Park's Jr. High is the best middle school in fullerton CA
--Submitted by a parent

I just recently graduated from Parks Jr. High and it was an interesting two years of my life. Parks Jr. High gives students an opportunity to learn and express themselves. The 1:1 program was an exceptional program. I learned a lot about a variety of things. There are a few teachers who fail in teaching their students to the maximum. But there are really amazing teachers at Parks who have taught me more than just education. There is big problem at Parks with bullying as people think. It is not a bullying school. Parks is a great school, and I highly recommend it to parents wanting a good junior high career with for their children.
--Submitted by a student

even though i dont like school, this is a school i like. great teachers, electives, after school clubs, sports, etc...some teachers you may not like but overall the staff is great.
--Submitted by a student