Dunnellon Middle School

This is a wonderful school! my son has been going here for 2 years and he will be in 8Th grade next year! he had some "peer" issues but solved easily with the help of dean Thomas! the problem stop right away and the children got dealt with properly. the teachers are very helpful interactive caring people. the staff was very nice and helpful One of the science teachers won science teacher of the year award. i would recommend this school to anyone!!
—Submitted by a parent

I only gave 1 star because there was no option to give none. I talked to teachers and guidance before sending my children there; they warned me highly against it; due to transportation issues I had no choice but to send my child there.The dean Murphy must have been an angry prison guard somewhere, bullying students and singling them out for harassment. My child had straight A's and was in advanced programs, he has threatened to quit school if i send him back there next year. He will be going to Belleview or Lake Weir High where the staff is actually qualified and that atmosphere of the buildings and rooms are clean and kept up.
—Submitted by a parent

Every parents nightmare... My daughter is in 6th grade at Dunnellon Middle.. Im not even sure where to begin .. the first problems start with a female coach at the school that is allowed to humiliate children..example: a heavy set boy was looking for a pencil as the coach was speaking.. so in front of 2 full classes the coach exclaims.. "what are you looking for a cookie?!?" how horrible.. she also acts like she cant read and calls Hispanic boys named Jose Josie.. on several occasions she was rude to my child fortunately I was able to get my daughter out of her class.. next there is a teacher who if your child scores under a 95 on anything he gives it back and gives the child a 55 F until they get the 95.. so even if your child turns in a 91 A he/ she will be required to do it over and over or will be given a 55 F instead of the 91 A they originally turned in.. I understand teaching "mastery" as the teacher calls it but there is no way my child should be given an F just because she didnt get an A+.. my daughter had a C in this class.. after raising cane to get this changed my daughter's grade went from a C to a B in 1 week.. prior to DMS my daughter was an honor roll student.
—Submitted by a parent

I dont have any reviews to give about this school but I noticved that alot of these comments are dated. Are there any parents out there that have experience with this school in 2010? I am considering sending my son here for fall of 2010 and would ike to hear some more recent feedback from parents...my child has some learning disabilities and will need some extra support from the teachers and staff....will he get it at DMC?

This school totally disappointed me. My daughter started in this school after having an excellant academic run at Romeo Elementary(A honor roll every year). She started in this school, and in three weeks the staff had her not wanting to attend there anymore. The guidance counsler(Sugar?) was of no use when I tried to get involved, asking for help. After five weeks in this school, and feeling that my daughter would possibly lose her love for school, I pulled her from DMC and enrolled her in a private christian school. Needless to say, my daughter,my wife, and myself are sleeping better at night, knowing that she will continue to get a better education,with an added bonus of having god loving teachers that love and care about her. Be careful parents! Stay involved with your children's education, and make sure you know whats going on with their enviroment. They're your biggest investment.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm reading alot of bad things for DMS and not good.I do not feel this is true,I am involved in my sons grades and I talk to his teachers all the time.The best teacher at DMS iS ms.Wiggins.Out of all my children they all loved her.
—Submitted by a parent

The facility is older then I am. It is a property that has been denied the funds it needs to bring it into this century. Some of the older teachers are very pleasant and motivate the children. It has an excellent FFA
—Submitted by a parent

I have not been too impressed with the teachers at the middle school. I tried to get them to help implement some things with my oldest daughter to no avail. I don't know how I am going to get through another year with this school if the teachers don't get more involved with the students and teach them something besides how to pass the FCAT.
—Submitted by Tawana Cape, a parent

Could not get teachers to communicate in most cases. Was refused a parent conference because 'it was too late in the school year.' However, teachers would not return phone calls. I don't think my son has learned anything in the past two years. SAC meetings are so early in the day that parents can't be involved... probably because they don't want to have any input from us. The whole even/odd/half block/half not schedule sets up students for failure.
—Submitted by a parent

I am so glad that I do not have to deal with the faculty at this school again! There are a few good teachers, most don't have the time for one on one with the students. I have had some dealings, with Mrs. Thomas and found her to be helpful.Some of the teachers would rather let students write them letters telling them why they wouldn't like to do an assignment that grade the assignment.Amd if you student tries to do the assignment and it isn't quite right, they get no credit for even trying. When the students who wrote the letters get credit..is this supposed to be fair?? I feel sorry for all the parents whose kids attend this school!
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with the last comment. I too an not happy with DMS. We moved from another county where the teachers did care about thier students. Here at DMS I myself have had issues with the way the Deans run the school and the Principal has no say in anything. My child was in advanced classes and DMS did not offer anything. Unfourtunately, I still have another child in this school and what surprised me the most was that my other child who's academic grades were not the greatest and was failing three subjects got promoted and the one with the learning disablity was held back. The school here in Marion County in my opinion stinks. They are more concerned about themselves and not the children.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had children go through DMS under the leadership of 3 different principals. The current principal, Jane Ashman, is pitiful. She does not support extra curricular activities. She has done away with the Drill team, Drama CLub. THe Student Council, which used to participate in numerous community activities has fallen to the level of non-existence. All advanced curriculum has been taken away so that advanced learners are no longer challenged. THis is so disheartening. I am to the point that I cannot wait for the end of the school year so that I no longer have to deal with Dunnellon Middle School and it's lack of proper leadership. I am currently saving money to send my last child to a private school rather than have to deal with DMS again.
—Submitted by a parent

Some teachers good, some bad. Overboard on disciplinary issues. Guidance department is useless. Lack of communication between teachers and administration. Principal seems to be way in the background and not helpful.
—Submitted by a parent

Their band director/chorus director, Mr. Stallings, is coolest teacher!!
—Submitted by a student

Mrs. Thomas, the dean is useless. I've contacted her about issues with my son. She says she will look into things and call back and never does. Some teachers are good, others not so great. Hope to see an improvement on dealing with parent concerns with new principal. I personally will not deal with Thomas again if I have any concerns this year.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is o.k. Some of the teachers are great some are bad what else can you say... The parent involvement could be more and they are having a new principal this year so you never know what that will be like. Overall it is a very good school.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are more into rules then teaching. No room for child advancement! Teachers not taken to task after many parental complaints.
—Submitted by a parent