Southwood Middle School

Today, approximately 60 students were left behind for a field trip because there were not enough buses. GOOD PLANNING !
--Submitted by a parent

My 13 y/o child attends Southwood Middle School in Palmetto Bay. At present, she has a valid I.E.P. (Individualized Education Plan) calling for services in Language Arts, Math and Science for her Specific Learning Disability. I discovered during this evenings open house that Southwood Middle opted to placed my daughter in a combined class with 7th and 8th graders, classes that would clearly under normal circumstances be following different curriculums. Each class has from 19-23 students, very large by ESE standards considering my daughter IEP calls for smaller class size. Southwood is asking teachers to do the impossible, teach a large classroom full of children with varying learning disabilities, from two different books, two different curriculums, in the same short period. Another important issue is that 12 and 13 year old girls are sitting in the same class with 8th grade boys, in some cases as old as 14 or 15.
--Submitted by a parent

I went to southwood in 6-7 grade, unfortunately, i had to move out. There is a Lot of people complaining about this school, but as a student, i know what Southwood really is like. #1: Teachers DO care. There could be 1 in 20 teachers that doesnt, but C'mon, every school has that! #2: Lunch is not that bad! #3: IF YOU ARE BEING BULLIED AND TELL THE PRINCIPAL, OR A COUNSELOUR,THEY *WILL* DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, believe me, i went through that. #4: There is NO alcohol, and there are NO drugs! some kids were smoking outside, and they got EXPELLED, so dont u dare saying the staff does nothing about it. The magnet program is awesome! It is challenging, and the teachers are respectful and nice!!! Only one thing i can complain about, the grossness of the girls bathroom it IS nasty!

My child will be entering Southwood Middle School 2010-2011 yr. I have been aquainting myself with the schools administration for registration, class selections etc. for my childs enrollment purposes. The office staff has been considerate, friendly and thoroughly helpful. A schools management is easily revealed by the courtesy and attention a person is given. Southwoods office staff has proved hospitable in every inquiry I have requested with enormous cooperation. I am excited to meet the teachers, I am sure they will be as equally superb.

My son loves this school; The band arts program gets a 10 in my book.. My Son will be an 8th grage this year... absolutely excellent school!!!
--Submitted by a parent

My son was not happy at Southwood at all. I had to remove him from Southwood due to the non stop bullying that the administration did nothing about. He came home just about everyday complaining about the drugs, alcohol, and violence. He said he's seen kids bring alcohol to school, and he's seen kids smoking on school grounds. I just didn't feel like Southwood was a safe environment for my son to be in, and I didn't want my son to be the next victim on the news so when I saw nothing was being done about the bullying I removed him. I'm not going to talk bad about the academic system because academically the school is phenomenal, but how can a student learn at his or her full potential when he or she is surrounded by so many negative things that the school does nothing about.
--Submitted by a parent

SWMS's magnet strand is a great way for children to achive there goals. Teachers there are great, caring, and pushing.

I am a 6th grader at Southwood Middle and I attend the Art Magnet program. I have to say that this school is phenomenal. the teachers are caring and really try to boost up your grades. Most teachers give extra credit to anyone who requests it at the end of the grading period. I also think that letting us dress how they want really helps us express our creativity with the exception of baggy jeans down to knees and what not. So once again... i love Southwood!!
--Submitted by a student

My son is new to the school this year, but so far I can not say anything negative about the school. I am happy that he is excited and feels comfortable with the teachers and school.
--Submitted by a parent

I went to southwood grades 6-8. I have to say that the magnet program is a waste of your time. I was a dance student, and in the dance magnet we did nothing every single day. The dance teachers just sat on the computer emailing, while you did nothing. All the magnet strands were like this. I was in the gifted strand and the academics were very challenging, i learned a lot from 3/4 teachers. But every school has one teacher who does nothing. Now my younger sister is going to middle school and I wouldn't want her to go hear.
--Submitted by a student