Pinckneyville Middle School

I had two children attend this school and one that still currently attends, I have had plenty of doubts regarding this school. I moved from Marietta City schools and this Gwinnett county school does not even compare to those schools. First of all leaving Marietta city I left so many programs FREE to my children they had before school, afterschool, during school, and Saturday school help for my children. They offer none of these things, my daugther just start high school and I am please with Norcross High but pinckneyville sucks. My son has 3 classes and the classroom average is a U you tell me whats the problem.
--Submitted by a parent

Im uncertain, at this point, of how great this school is. I transfered my daughter here because I had heard great things from former parents and students and our other Middle School in Norcross has some serious issues leadershipwise. However, on the first PTA meeting/Curriculum night, my doubts were sparked. The Principal, speaking over the video system, was attempting to explain why Pinkneyville did not make AYP this past school year when she said something that really was insulting. She was going through the breakdown of math score by each Sub-Group and when she spoke of the ELL (English Language Learner) sub group, she said "You know, the ones you would expect to not do well". Being a teacher, myself (at an elementary school) and a mother of half hispanic children, I was really shocked by that comment. It was as if she was saying that just because students speak another language first, that limits their abilities to be successful. I truly hope she sees and understands the error in her statement or she LEAVES. I also hope that this is the only problem we encounter with this school.
--Submitted by a parent

This is a very amazing school. I am a parent of currently one child that attends Pms. I am close friends with a few of the teachers and i trust my child with them. However some of the teachers could be a little more caring. My child has been screamed at for no reason at all once. I do not appreciate that at all. Overall I love Pinckneyville Middle and I recommend this middle school to any cautious parents.
--Submitted by a parent

I went to Pinckneyville Middle School and it was the best!!! It's the awesomest school---middle school in the world! from 05-08 09ish.It's awesome!:)
--Submitted by a student

My daughter is an 8th grader and my son is in the sixth grade here. They are both doing very well in the Gifted program and extremely happy with the foreign language program (French and Spanish), orchestra, and other extra activities. They love going to this school and refuse to miss classes even when they are sick. Having graduated from an excellent highschool in Asia, and attended an university in Georgia, I can tell you that I am really impressed with the teaching quality of some young teachers at this school, especially in Math and Science. This is a wonderful school with many caring teachers, excellent curriculum, and various enhanced programs for all levels of students. If a student wants to do his/her best, there is ample opportunity here, with so much help from teachers and school adminstrative staff to achieve the goal. We are very happy with our choice of PMS.
--Submitted by a parent

Both my children attended PMS for 3 years. As a PMS parent for 6 years, I have seen the school go through many changes. One thing that has not changed is the excellent quality of instruction. My students were pushed to perform to their highest abilities. My daughter graduated as a National Merit Scholarship recipient and my son is enrolled in Gwinnett's accelerated math, science school, GSMST. They were both prepared for the rigors of Gifted and AP classes by PMS. My daughter ended up earning 33 credit hours through AP and IB tests for UGA. The schools she attended prepared her to excel on the national tests.
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers really don't think about their impact in the students' lives. Their descision could control the way student wants to live. All they think about is doing their job. They don't try to interact with the students. Sure, they give back nice comments every now and then, but that's a overstatement of how the relationships are. The younger and 'fresher' teachers actually talk about the students 'after' interest, how they are outside of educational views. However, the older and 'hardened' teachers do not think in their actions. Hey, we go through years of going to school just as you do so why not understand that we are so unaccustomed to having things you can't control rule over your lives.
--Submitted by a student

I actually really like this school. I do not really agree with the last student that commented- not everyone gets a's. The advanced classes do give way too much projects though- It seems like I spend more time coloring than learning sometimes.
--Submitted by a parent

Pinckneyville is a good school. Some of the teachers could use some training though. The connections courses are very fun and interesting. I highly recomend the music courses especially the band. Overall I am impressed with the school.
--Submitted by a parent

I am very displeased with the academics here. We are literally spoon-fed information. The only way NOT to get A's is to not try at all. We don't deserve any of the prestigious awards! It only APPEARS that the student body excels academically. At any other school, most of us would fail every class with the new challenges presented. And that's what worries me - we can't know if we are excelling in science, or just being tested on simple, unimportant facts. As we prepare to enter high school, the teachers there tell us to, 'Take the hardest level class you can succeed in.' We may think math is easy now, and sign up for a Honors class - only to realize that the new standards are more than we can handle and we weren't as smart as we thought. Don't go here!
--Submitted by a student