Washington Manor Middle School

Our school API score dropped again in 2011. It is dropping every year in the past few years. I am not sure that our school management and teachers are capable of doing their job. Our kids' writing skills are almost the same as they are in fifth grade. Last year eight graders are required to write only one or two essays in the whole year. There are so many grammar errors in my kid's essay which are not even corrected by teachers. We suggested that teacher should have given more essays to students but haven't gotten any response from schools or teachers. Unlike the management in this school,Arroyo Nearby High Principal required teachers to reply parent's questions within 24 hours. Arroyo high Principal evaluates teacher's performance based on student performance and parent feedback. For an example, he didn't mind to roll his sleeve and get down his knee to setup meeting chairs for parents without tie and suit. Now API score at Arroyo High is getting better every year. I hope our principal in this middle school get the job done instead of wearing nice tie and suit. In addition, Don't let students feel hostile from teachers. Teachers are educators not law enforcers.
—Submitted by a parent

In addition to the parent review posted on January 21, 2012 I would like to bring attention to parents that our children are 'in the hands' of teachers who are being paid to provide the best education our children so deserve. Are you involved in quesitoning your child on their views of the performance of education they receive from each of their teachers? Are you aware that aside from student bullying, your child might be subjected to "teacher bullying"....... please continue to spend time with your child and talk about their daily activities in school. The fun part of parenting is seeing our child be a successful and well educated adult.
—Submitted by a parent

It has fewer selective classes year after year since 2010. Good students don't have much opportunity to learn new things. School management and teachers give more resources to poor grade students who don't even care about studies than those students who like academic achievement. Our kids don't feel that teachers care about their academic interest. It may be the reason why this school AP score dropped significantly last year.
—Submitted by a parent

Reading some of these reviews brought TEARS OF FEAR to my eyes. DEAR PARENTS: Do you take at least 15 min. a day to show any interest in your childs daily activities in school? Have a REAL conversation with them on what they've learned today. Give them positive feedback on the subject. You might be surprised to find out that your taking a walk down memory lane with your child. They might educate you on something new in today's world. At least 15 minutes a day will be a wonderful start for you to be proud of that little one you brought into the world by helping to give them the gift of education. After all, we do want them to become successful so they're out on their own and not depending on us at the age of 25 do you? And who knows, they might not want us to live with them when we're older, but they might be able to help make our senior years a little more comfortable. No matter what age they are, don't lose the bond a child and parent should have. Please don't deny your child their right to an education they so deserve. Get involved to help them become successful. They want you to. If you don't care, they don't care. Parenting can be a fun 'job'. What is 15 minutes a day?
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school although it is a bit noisy. Their teachers are strict but nice, and gives us a lot of homework to do. My grades are getting higher and I'm proud of them!

This is my first year here, and also my last. The classes are over the top noisy. I sit in the front of the class in every class and still can't hear! My teachers hold everyone, including me, back after school because of how they act. They talk about things they shouldn't be saying. Teachers don't even catch the bad things that's going on in the school. They catch very little of it. A sub was in our class the other day, total crazy! We were watching a movie, I couldn't even hear it! Kids were throwing out the cell phones, throwing air planes. Gosh. Aren't we supposed to be learning at school? Not goofing around!
—Submitted by a student

WMMS is by far the best school there is, there are afterschool programs, a lot of them. Some for sports, art, and music. They even have one for if you need a little help with your homework. It's a fun place, you don't get overloaded with homework, and the teachers there are overall great. I would recommend anyone to go there
—Submitted by a student

The teachers there are very helpful. They try there hardest. But the students are very loud in class, I can't even get work done. They don't give out enough homework and the kids talk about dealing drugs and innopropiate things like that. This is why I am transfering out to another school with a better community
—Submitted by a student

i think this school is good just not great because students aren't good but the teachers are.
—Submitted by a student

My child goes to Washington Manor. Now he is in eight grade. His math teacher Ms. Cardakli is awesome. Whenever I had problems regarding my son's education she came up with great solutions. Thank you Ms. C. You are a great teacher.
—Submitted by a parent

I have gone to washington manor for about 3 years. I have been harrased and made fun of. I do not want any child to go through what I did. I would come home in tears almost like everyday. Most of the kids have access to drugs and distribute them around to other children. This school is not safe and I worry about the sixth graders. I don't want them to turn out like the current eighth graders... ): Keep our schools safe!
—Submitted by a student

Good 7th grade teachers but it is not safe at all and that is what i worry about
—Submitted by a parent

Good teachers, but did not provide a safe environment. When brought to admin. attention, did not receive any support and problems never resolved.
—Submitted by a parent

Washington Manor is a great community and I enjoy working there.
—Submitted by a teacher

I think the teachers at WMMS are great! I know that they are working extremely hard and enduring a lot of change right now. I wish I could be more supportive of that process so that it might ease the work for them a little. My child seems happy, although she complains about a lot of homework.
—Submitted by a parent

WMMS stays on track with the state required academic program. No complaints there. I appreciate that it has a music program; the drawback would be that there isn't enough instruments if students want to learn more than one. Students are encouraged instead to buy their own. I'd like to see more art forms taught, but they are only 9-week programs. There's drawing, dance, and Spanish. Sports appear to be lacking. PE is basically running. Any other sports are volunteer sign-ups for after school. On one hand, the students aren't overloaded or overwhelmed with homework. High marks for the teaching community at WMMS. I feel they are all quality educators and care about the student's learning.
—Submitted by a parent

Washington Manor Middle School has wonderful, caring teachers. The school offers many activities for the students and the music program is terrific.
—Submitted by a parent

My duaghter was falling behind in her homework. 2 of her teachers kept in email contact with me and got her back on track. She finished the year with four A's and two B's. I couldn't have asked for anything more.
—Submitted by a parent

I totally agree but 2 stars is too many perhaps 1/2 a star is more appropriate. 'I believe the culture of the students has changed drastically over the past few years and the administration of this school has not kept up with those changes. Students are different, more street-wise, beligerant, willful and lack respect for any authority. It makes it very difficult for serious students to comfortably function. The school has experienced many discipline issues than it has in the last 5 years. The consequences for this negative behavior has not been stiff enough, therefore it continues to affect positive results in the classroom and even within extracurricular activities, which have also dwindled. There's plenty of sports and not enough arts, academics, etc. '
—Submitted by a parent

This school is great! The teachers are very involved with their student's work, and the school is very safe compared to others in the city. Teachers come up with creative ways to teach the curriculum to help interest the students. Also, this school won an award for being a California Distinguished School. I'm sure that accounts for something! And there are great electives to choose for classes! All in all, if I were to rate this school, I would give it an A+. I am very happy with this school. --a former student