Las Flores Middle School

Very academic environment. Strong ties to top ranked Tesoro, many interactive engagements between Tesoro students and LFMS students - a good example is Benefield's Music program with a choir line extending to Tesoro. Consistently excellent standardized test results. Campus is shared with Las Flores Elementary School so there is a seamless transition for the students - big benefits of community familiarity and common culture and staff/resources consistency. Community is extremely proactive in academics, sports, and arts. Parents are progressive college educated professionals who instill these values and have created like expectations. Parental involvement is interwoven with the classroom and with community activities (sports, scouts, etc). Facilities are top notch, clean, and well maintained. Faculty and parents are connected daily via internet/email reports. Campus is safe friendly and cheerful. The peer culture is that of success at LFMS, success at Tesoro, on to college. The faculty isn't challenged or distracted and can easily focus on teaching. Many faculty members had requested transfers to both LFMS and LFES due to the community culture and value on academics.
--Submitted by a parent

Overall, my son did not have a positive experience at LFMS. He was bullied in seventh grade and the assistant principals did not handle the bullying problem very effectively. However, he had some excellent teachers such as Benefield, Hoover, Pagleili, Cummings and Oregeron. I have a break from the middle school for one year until my youngeest starts in Fall 2012. I am seriously considering checking out Arroyo Vista middle school since it is a much smaller.
--Submitted by a parent

Great Schools needs to adjust their rating system, because I have no idea how this school gets a 10. Worst experience ever for my kids. We are leaving. Terrible bullying problem. Couple nice teachers, but for the most part a totally corrupt school that goes along with a totally corrupt school district. Anyone who thinks this school is actually good probably just doesn't know any better. But, if you have experienced a good school and then came here. Wow! It's bad. It's so crowded that the desks are packed together in the classrooms to fit, so kids have to climb over each other to get out. Talk about a fire hazard.
--Submitted by a parent

Hi, I'm a student here, or was. This school was a horrible experience for me. I was constantly bullied from mid 7th grade until the end of eighth grade, and it is totally brutal the way these people treat you. If I could rate this school less than 0 stars, I would rate it a -100. The teachers don't follow up with you, and the asst. principal doesnt help make things better when you tell her anything. She just sits and rolls her eyes at you when you're addressing the issue you have. I wouldn't recommend letting anyone going through what I went through.

While I am strongly encouraging my kids to pursue science and engineering interests, I am quite impressed with the art departments including music and dance at LFMS. Mrs Benefield's music classes are amongst the most popular on campus. She integrates talent from Tesoro High School's music department during her classes' performances and concerts. This has a big positive influence on the kids. Also, the 8th graders make a field trip to Washington DC - quite an experience. Academics are superb with standardized test scores at or near the top of the district and in the top 5% in the county. All the other parents I have spoken with offer praise for the teachers especially considering the challenging financial situation the district faces. One of the best things I like as a parent (and this may be true for other schools) is the use of School Loop which sends me a DAILY progress report for each class; this is great for keeping tabs on my kid's academics. If I see any number drop below a threshold I am on the email or phone to the teacher to remedy any problems. Great tool.
--Submitted by a parent

Very disappointed with this school. The two stars given are for the two wonderful teachers my child gets there every year on average. There is no uniformity, rules and expectations are very different for every class. As a very involved parent I often communicate with teachers and find it is sometimes difficult to get a reply. We are leaving...
--Submitted by a parent

Those who come to Las Flores Middle school after Tijeras Creek Elementary will be shocked by the difference in teacher quality. Every year my child has at least two teachers who are uncaring, totally disengaged, and refuse to cooperate with parents. We are surprised at how unimportant learning has become for some. Too many teachers will be satisfied with work turned in on time regardless of the content. Luckily the administrators tend to be accommodating and make the necessary teacher change but year after year, those teachers are still there. At Las Flores, we have been saved by some wonderful (5 star) teachers, to balance out my child's school experience but we are looking at alternatives for my other kids. There has to be something better out there...
--Submitted by a parent

LFMS is a great school, providing many opportunities for students. The Orchestras are incredible and the choirs are great. There are some bad teachers but overal, im proud to be a LFMS BEAR!!
--Submitted by a student

Las Flores is a wonderful school. We have had 4 kids go through and 1 more to go. Most of the teachers are great and the work is challanging. 3 of my kids are in the GATE/AAA program and that program has been especially good. I know all of my kids have been well prepared for high school. The only down side is the size. I always wanted a smaller school and LFMS is very large but my kids have never had a problem with it.
--Submitted by a parent

If you have great kids that don't misbehave and need minimal supervision, this school will work for you. If you have kids that need a firm hand and a bit of individual assistance, forget it. It's a tail wagging the dog classroom culture with no teacher discipline. They use detentions which are ineffective. Teachers are overwhelmed and cynical and there is a focus on negativity (blank looks and no ideas at P-T meetings) instead of positive help. They need less muddled general organization and more effective Positive help and Inspiration. Come on Las Flores, get some backbone in your classrooms! Absolutely Nothing after school for 6th graders and all parental info meetings during the day - we're not all stay at home moms! We left.
--Submitted by a parent