Parkway Middle School

The city gifted cluster has isolated classes, and the teachers are great and give the kids a chance to grow. Though it is true there can be some violence among the general population, the staff has been working hard to lower that, and have been doing a great job. I think one of the reasons it's not an "A" school is because their objective in teaching isn't exams, it's life skills.

I would like to read recent reviews about the Parkway magnet visual arts program. Is it a safe and secure environment that keeps the children intellectually engaged?
—Submitted by a parent

City program - My son has thrived in this school. He is a very happy there and the opportunities to belong to different clubs has made him feel part of the school. He has friends in all grade levels, and the kids there are very polite. I visited many programs and this is a great one!
—Submitted by a parent

i went here 3 years ago for 2 years and to tell you this school is great if you live in broward estates or melrose park and manors area but if you do not i would'nt recommend you coming there the teachers and staff are great it's just the bad kids from my area that make the school terrible they start alot of fights over small stuff and have kids from different neighborhoods fighting afterschool pkwy middle bus alot of kids who live out west and from the suburbs(magnet program) here i felt bad for alot of them because the had to deal with the people i know who gave em a hard time and bother them the school is great

Would love to see more recent reviews (and not someone who attended 7-8 yrs ago). Parents of students in the CITY gifted cluster, how is it for your child? What are the strengths and weaknesses that you see at Parkway and how does your child like it? Thanks!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is HORRIBLE. I am now 20 and look back thinking wth was going on??? This school takes any kind of good in a child and turns it bad. The teachers are fed up with the lack of disapline and are done with caring, the students are crazy and VIOLENT as ever. I once watched a girl put the end of her heel through another girls cheek. The magnent program isnt even worth the trouble. It doesnt matter how nice they are trying to make this school by painting it or doing construction, the parents, area, and children will NEVER change!

GREAT SCHOOL! ! I will be glad when the construction is over. the parent drop off and pick-up area is a true pain. It takes me atleast 30 minutes on a good day to drop off my daughter. Other than that I love the school and the staff. Ms. Deas is the best.
—Submitted by a parent

this school is terrible it is under construction the teachers are in their own worlds sometimes.
—Submitted by a parent

Im a student at parkway and i will be leaving this year to high school(2009 -2010) I admitt that you have to have tough skin to go to parkway. Besides it's amazing performing arts program, the mix of acidemics is no joke. It can really mess you up in 6th grade if your not foucused. And next year its going to be more seriouse. If your grades aren't up to part you might just have to leave the school. Overall, it's been hard the last 2 years and in some way i wouldn't recommend going to this school if your not independent. by the way, they are doing alot of construction around school so lunch is kind of like being in jail and the building needs to be torwn down. Its in terrible shape!
—Submitted by a student

I Am A Current Student At Parway Middle And Am Graduating this Year 2008 Parkway Has An Amazing Preforming Arts Program, Security, students a brand new principle and a brand new attitude parkway middle is movin on up this year
—Submitted by a student

Parkway was a tough school to attend. Always under construction. Most of my teachers seemed to be in their own world, not their classrooms. But a few teachers and staff members managed to stand out. Thoes are the people I learned from. As for my classmates... some of their parents should have been more involved not just with homework. Overall, I still like the school and hopefully my son and daughter will attend as well.

As a parent I was very dissapointed with this school. The staff are rude as if you as a parent are a bother when you have questions or any concerns. When I say the staff I refer to the admin not the teachers. So if parents do not get envolved is due to the inmature employees at that so called 'A'school.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent I have found the communication to be very poor among the teachers and there concerned about student progress is very low. The [building] does need alot of renovation especially the ceiling the hallway of school. The staff in office is unprofessional in communcating to parents.
—Submitted by a parent

The quality of academic programs at Parkway is very low. The school is more concerned with Reading & Math scores than with the students exposure to new and innovative things. This is a performing art school and the children who are attend the school do not get exposed to the advantages of this program as they should. Parent involvement is low; the students are mostly concerned with cell phones, I-Pods, etc. That is one thing that will bring a parent out - retrieval of a cell phone. The teachers have no moral due to a poor administration. There was a great Intern Principal at the beginning of the year! This school needs a lot of work!
—Submitted by a teacher

this school is a good school can be better if the school did a whole transformation on a paint job, get out the portables, a new cafeteria, and gym ,the teachers care if you as the parent care first the principal seem to be too non chalant and non caring about the teachers with new ideas and I don't see involvement with students either my child has been there years and they only way she survived is because I kept the communication gap open with teachers via e-mail, conferences, and phone calls children are a product of their parents and I have seen some crazy parents that does not get involved with their child school work until its too late
—Submitted by lisa haynes, a parent

This school has been a big disappointment. Overall for a supposedly 'A' school I was really fooled and dissapointed.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school its just the comm. the probelem is, the students care more than what there wearing than the what they should. But when it is time to do test the class is dead queit everyone has there head in there books and doing what is needed to do. Everyone geats along with everone
—Submitted by a student

Parkway is full of talented kids. We had lots fun there.
—Submitted by a former student

Music:The teachers try very hard, the administration has opted out of the State Music competition which gives the students exposure to other schools and the music experience in general. This is apparently an administrative decision which defeats the purpose of having a music magnet school in the first place. Until the administrative attitude changes, I don't see this school being a meaningful part of the overall music program in this State. The teaching in the advanced programs seems to be very good. This opinion is based on the FCAT results of my student. Overall the school did not do well and remains a C school, and not meeting Federal standards. Overall the three years at Parkway were a poor experience, except for the quality of the in-school teaching in the magnet program, which was very good. I see teacher flustration with the poor administration.
—Submitted by George D Smith, a parent

Although lacking in excitement and sometimes order, this school is overflowing with artistic stimulation and originality. The performing and visual arts teachers are extremely skilled and display a very elaborate yet easy to understand ciriculum.
—Submitted by Jessie, a former student