Richard Henry Dana Middle School

I strongly feel that this school has a pretty good academic program for their honors program. However, my experience outside the classroom has been terrible. I was so scared as a sixth grader because most people seemed so disrespectful; i saw countless fights and heard everybody swearing. I faced a lot of bullying issues but that is inevitable at any school. The teachers were very supportive and they helped me when I was faced with problems. Yet that didn't stop my peers for harassing me. I attended for a year and a half and I was so grateful once I left.

We've had a great experience at Dana--really great leadership, the teachers love teaching and are great role models, the PE program kicks butt--and lots of school spirit--refreshing. They are doing a great job, more parental involvement is needed.
--Submitted by a parent

the best teacher is ms rollins sheis awesome!!! i would reccomend her to anyone out there

Overall this is really a good school. It is much better than another middle school across town with a gifted magnet. Any review you see that focuses solely on the negative is clearly biased and is done by a parent or student who was most likely in considerable trouble at the school. Even with the cuts that have taken place in education, Dana continues to strive. There are dedicated teachers who care about the students, an outstanding band, an "honors" program that has eighth graders scoring higher on the state tests in geometry than the local high school. Every school has its problems. One of Dana's is the lack of parent involvement. Most teachers use an online grade book to promote transparency, yet less than half of the parents log in to check their child's grades. (Yet, they blame the teachers) The sixth grade teachers are caring and work to promote success, and do expect work to be completed. If you have a question, drop by the school and ask for a tour. 9 times out of 10 you will see how great the school is.
--Submitted by a teacher

I love this school so much it was an awsome time there that i had! i enjoyed every teacher there. some people say tht it was a bad school and that theres a lot of fight but theres not that was all in the past. there are alot of great teacher there like mr.cortes,mr,quan.mr,garvey,and more and there pe department was just outstanding . made a lot of new friends that is a big part of my life. there sports and band are awsome ~john muto

I'm saying the school is average~ it isn't terrible and it isn't exceptional. My child went there for 6th grade and will be returning for 7th grade. My student loves going to school because she is involved, has good friends, and the teachers know her. We did have one issue of bullying earlier in the year, but that was immediately rectified once I sent an email to theschool counselor and school district. In fact, it led to the bully getting counseling about bad stuff going on at home, and a tolerable relationship between my child and the bully. The only thing that really irritates me is the short lunch hour for that volume of students, Oh, her math teacher was awful. Lost my child's homework weekly. I ended up scanning her math homework onto the computer nightly to ensure she wouldn't have to keep re-doing work the teacher lost.
--Submitted by a parent

I totally agree that Dana is sent up like a prison. Most teachers do not care, especially the Dean. . I told her about bullying issues and she told me my child needed to find new friends.The prinicpal just hides to avoid accountability. I took my child out as well. It is not acceptable to put our children in this type of environment. It is not ok, and parents should be more responsible and involved to change it, instead of accepting it. If these children were adults, in the real world, they would be in prison for assualt. This school needs new teachers and staff who care for children and not a paycheck,
--Submitted by a parent

My son went to this school for for half a year. I was not impressed at all. He was in all honors classes. I felt like the staff was unfriendly & the principal was not helpful. I asked that a school counselor talk to my son due to him maybe not adjusting well, being new school and all for him. And they were very unprofessional in my eyes abt the whole ordeal. The school looks like a prison. I hated dropping my son off there every morning. And I believe theres alot of racism there. I would not recommend this school to anyone.
--Submitted by a parent

re: the review on June 20th. Just a friendly reality check: that's every school, mall, park, etc. Kids have little self-control & that includes filtering the material through their brains before expelling it for all to hear. My opinion as a parent is that Dana rocks! The school has great security presence & takes the zero tolerance policy toward bullying & other quality of student-life issues seriously. My son is a 2nd year student & from our introduction to the present, I receive weekly emails & prompt responses from his teachers. The staff is concerned with academics & an environment that nurtures excellence among its 11-14 y.o population. Additionally, they are warm, friendly & respectful to both students & parents. Life's not perfect & flaws are everywhere, but aside from mundane gripes that are common to any middle school campus, Dana provides a quality environment by caring & well-qualified staff.
--Submitted by a parent

very eduacational great teachers good kids have high sat scores getting higher
--Submitted by a parent