Fruit Cove Middle School

Im going to be new at this school in 7th grade because my schoo last year was horrible. I would love this one to be nice and hopefully be some nice kids. :( Wish me luck.

After reading some of the most recent previous posts, I would say they are all valid. Not everyone is horrible, there are some kind and caring souls at this school; also some wonderful teachers. with high academic expectations. That said, the school is more similar to a military base than to school. Dress code does seem to be up there on the top of the list, sometimes to the point of ridiculousness! The principle is more concern about policy than individual students, many times policy is in direct opposition of what is good for a particular student. Students are classified by FCAT scores (Yes, really) and as a parent you have NO flexibility to undo a poor placement decision. If you have a child who desires to up the any and try a higher level class, sorry you are already pigeon holed. More parents need to speak up about poor policy. Most parents are too busy earning a living and leave the school in charge of decisions pertaining to their children. Also, everything costs money and lots of it! Not exactly equality in education if you've recently lost a job or don't earn the big bucks. Free after school activities are non-existent and even band class comes with a fee.
—Submitted by a parent

This is my child's 8th grade year and he is really looking forward to it. 6th grade was a difficult year of transition, but slowly things improved. Middle school is not a time for parents to unplug - you still need to watch and intervene when necessary. Should you have to, I have found the staff to be very caring. Not everybody - that's not realistic. There are a lot of good people working at FCMS and a lot of good kids, too. Hang in there and ask for help when you need it.
—Submitted by a parent

over the last couple of years, I have lost faith in the principal, deans, and teachers at FCMS. This school like others in the state is struggling with the new budget cuts, and I think it affects morale. The school now lacks enthusiasm for learning and extracurricular activities. I am actually relieved that this is the last year and my last child to attend FCMS. Looking forward to more involvement by my student and me once he hits high school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is very fake. I've had a friend go through depression and drop out because of harrasment. She went to the dean and the students who where bulling her only got a warning and the harrasment continued. She eventualy dropped out and is now in depression. She was going to go to creekside but now she's not because the people of fruit cove. The staff cares more about dress code than the actual students safty and feelings. I've had friends who where being harrased and they got in trouble for nothing and the people who where harrasing them didn't get in any sort of trouble. Not to mention, the teachers are crazy (most of them, not all) all they care about is the school LOOKING good. Once you see the true colors of this school you see how fake it is. I'm in 8th grade and counting down to the days until I can get outta here and praying my friend will come out of depression and go to creekside (although unlikly) Thanks fruit cove, thanks for making the worst middle school expirance for me and my friends......

My experiences at FCMS have not been great. Most of the teachers are great but some are horrible, uncaring. I believe the principle is very unfair, also doesn't know whats going on in the school. My daughter is in 8th grade and glad its her last year at FCMS!
—Submitted by a parent

I find that the use of technology is abysmally poor. While teachers and parents are asked to communicate via email, I hardly get any responses to my emails from the teachers. Further, there is no consistency in the use of learning tools amongst various teachers in the same grade. For example, while one science teacher is meticulous in providing online assignments and links to various informative sites for students to visit and learn and practice for FCAT, other science teacher for the same grade is oblivious of the very existence os such resources. Overall a good school. If your child has special needs, then you have to advocate hard to get what you want.
—Submitted by a parent

Fruit Cove Middle (Go Flyers!!!) For my sixth grade year was pretty good. I liked most my teachers (Advanced) and didn't 'dread' going to school. The principle is very stict about the dress code. Very. So if you are new to the school, make sure everything is within dress code. After school activities are so much fun, I just wish there was more variety. The dances were boring unless you were an eighth grader (They had themes and decorations). I'm going into my seventh grade year and looking forword to cheering at the games!
—Submitted by a student

Awesome school worthy of anything very clean and I feel safe when I'm at school!
—Submitted by a student

This school is clean and provides me comfortability for it being my first year. The teachers challenge quite enough. I'm in advanced classes now and i'm debating on whether to take AP classes?!. Anyone have any ideas about them?
—Submitted by a student

My daughter used to struggle with math and reading, and over the course of 2 years, she is now in adavnced courses for both, due to the outstanding teachers and after-school help sessions. Fruit Cove is a great school and any parent shouldn't give sending their child there a second thought!
—Submitted by a parent

Some teachers do not adequetly prpare students for highschool, while others tend to overwork their puplils. Not all classes are entirely efficient or beneficial, though others prepare student for real-life problems.
—Submitted by a student

I recently went to a meeting and heard the new principal speak of his ideas and plans for the school...I think he has the right idea. I loved the previous principal, but I think the new one is on target. I am sure there were adjustments during his first year, give me a break, the man is human! But, I think if people would talk with him and inquire about what is going on and see the research instead of going be the experience they had with 1 or 2 teachers, they would have a different attitude and opinion. The nice thing is that there are parents trying to get involved and staff trying to work together with that. I had a few years between one child going to high school and the other child starting middle school, and I'm impressed with the changes, I feel more welcomed participating than before.
—Submitted by a parent

Some teachers do not prepare the sutdents well for high school. They spoon feed the test info instead of teaching mote taking and test preparation. They just want the students to get easy A's. There are a few outstanding teachers who not only teach the material, but also do an excellent job of preparing students in high school. Hopefully your child will get these teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

The school is good overall academically but it is under new leadership and it's suffering due to this. The last principal was excellent with the students but the new principal is taking away programs and activities that have been there since the beginning. He is unresponsive to parents and the students are not happy in the school anymore.
—Submitted by a parent

The quality of the math classes at Fruit Cove suffers when the teacher uses AR math. When the teacher uses AR math to bypass in depth instruction of the math concepts the student is robbed of the understanding of math. It may help with FCAT scores but it does not teach true understanding of math concepts. Parent involvement is good. Sports programs could be added. Teachers need to work on the perception of their students that they do not care about their students.
—Submitted by a parent

We are an A plus school- we score this consistently. Teachers would have to be great... I disagree- there is discipline.
—Submitted by a parent

Academics fair. School nice & clean. Principal good, tries to improve academics and student behavior. Most teachers are mediocre quality. They make little attempt to control the kids. This causes better behaved children to suffer (some talk & all get punished, etc.). They set poor examples on behavior as well. Will observe bullying and do nothing! The lack of discipline is my biggest complaint with this school. Lack of discipline with staff and students.
—Submitted by a parent

Overall the school is fine, just a few things I do not agree with. I do not agree with the time a lotted for the children to eat lunch, my son has come home several times saying he had to stand in line for 15-20 minutes and that only leaves him 10-15 mintes to eat. Also this time is for playtime/social time so of course a child is going to throw away lunch to talk to his/her friends. finally, I had actually called the PTO about his matter and have not received a response. Thank you....
—Submitted by Candice Lippy, a parent

Our child has a learning disability. We have been very displeased with this school's attempt at providing our child with the tools and resources he needs. We moved here from another state and our child was making incredivble progress there. We feel that this school has done close to nothing for our child.
—Submitted by a parent