Independence Middle School

Hello, I am a current 8th grader at independence. This school is a little too strict and kind of treats us like elementary school kids. The food here isn't as great. The education is alright but sometimes the teachers get mad when I don't understand the lesson. What is good about this school is there is hardly ever any fights. But bullying happens quite a lot. The kids here are a little bit mean. They will give you dirty looks or say something mean if they hear a rumor or two. Even though this school can improve on something. I wouldn't go to any other school but this one because I have a lot of middle school memories now.

I am a seventh grade student and I came to this school in the middle of the year last year from Cincinnati Ohio. The kids at this school were not very friendly to me and cussed A LOT which is completely different than my schools in Ohio. The teachers were pretty nice but never informed me on what I needed to know about the school or their classrooms. The school also took a long long time to put me into gifted. I was gifted up in Ohio but for some reason they would not except my gifted testing down in Florida, so they told me that I would have to take it again. I was okay with this until I realized that they would not be testing me until 7th grade. Why it would take them so long, I have absolutely no idea. So my mother payed for me to get tested over the summer and I was once again identified as gifted. Now I am a gifted seventh grader and it has become a lot easier. The group of people in gifted are all together nicer in my experience than those in regular, but I have met some really nice regular students that are still my friends to this day. All in all I don't think that there is anything special about this school or that it is bad. It is just plain average.

My son also had a terrible time with the bullying at IMS!!! Nothing, absolutely nothing was done by the school police or the principal. The teachers had another student walk w/him from class to class as much as possilbe. There was NO, ABSOLUTELY NO ZERO TOLERENCE for bullying @ IMS! I pulled him out in the middle of Feb. 2010 because it was so bad! So he did all of 6th and half of 7th - I cried just about every time I dropped him off. He was depressed and had social anxiety. We live in North Palm and I had to drive him because the buses were so overcrowded and the kids from Riviera Beach were so prejudice, they were always picking on the white kids!! We hated IMS! Hate dit!!
--Submitted by a parent

my name is Nery, my Sons name is David he is in 7th grade- the reason why I tranferred my son IMS is becuase he was bullied at Howell L Watkins middle twice. since my son started IMS I have not had any telephone calls from his teachers, student counselor or the AP to discuss my son's grade, on the contrary all telephone calls I have received is to inform me that my son had to be picked up because he was given a referrral by Mr. Alli his reading coach (not the teacher to my knowledge before giving referrals there has to be parent/teacher conference. the last day of school I received another call from the school principal i was very irrate went to the school requested to speak with the principal she did not come to talk to me said she would call me as now now I am still waiting for her call. my son will be repeating the 7th grade. I believe that if the teacher would have shown more insterest to my son he would have done excellent. the teacher that constantly gave referral her name is ms. ali, why was she the ony one to give referrals? makes me wonder if she just did not like my son
--Submitted by a parent

our 1st year at IMS. 7th grade. my child is adhd and the teachers seem to be very receptive to helping my child stay on task and following through with the IEP. i am in constant contact with them about my child. bullying has been an issue and i don't think enough is done to deter it. there needs to be a no tolerance policy!
--Submitted by a parent

Independence Middle School is a great school! The teachers are nice and the principal cares. The teachers help you do your best. There is bullying but, this year the principal is stopping it. She is spreading awareness all over the school to help. I reccomend this school to all students if you want a safe and educational school!

IMS is ok i came in the middle of the year in 6th grade and took band it hass such a good band teacher even though i hope it stays that way because mr sonntag is leaving this year and i hope we have a good teacher also the dress code is soo riduculis it is crazy there are no good and cute collared shirts for girls unless ur willing to pay 40 for one at the mall the teachers are 2 out of 5 the adcanced classes are barely any different than the regular classes there is alot of cussing in that skool to but overall it is ok
--Submitted by a student

Being a 6th grader at IMS, I was coming into middle school with my head held high.The first day of school, I had my schedule changed to PE. I am NOT an athletic person at all and my mother igned the applicable opt-out-of-gym form and yet I still got gym. The first day I was put in all regular when I was supposed to be in FULL GIFTED!!! Another thing that was kind of annoying is the dress code. I mean collars. I have some adorable tops and they ARE school appropriate and they have sleeves but NO i cant wear the because they dont have a collar attached to them. But the upside is all of my teachers are WONDERFUL!!!!
--Submitted by a student

this school is really good. the teaches are nice and the eighth graders are not mean and there is hardly any fighting going on.
--Submitted by a student

love this school clean and nice and the teachers and students are all great
--Submitted by a student