Crabapple Middle School

Half the school year has passed by and I still struggle with communication with this school. The PTA is very unorganized and not very helpful getting started as a new student. The staff is sometimes clueless about new rules. The rules also don't always make since to a parent. The rule book is not even handed out till about the 3rd day of school. Had they gave us the info that is in their agenda before school we would have been 100% more prepared. The block scheduling and have a subject every other day is confusing to my kid and the high school the feed into does not have this type scheduling so I fear 9th grade will be an awful adjustment again. Teachers are starting to put up websites for their class but sometimes they are not kept up when you need them most. I do have to say the teachers try to be there for the kids before and after school. Some teachers take discipline to the extreme. Some use their commonsense.
--Submitted by a parent

I am currently a student at Crabapple. My 3 years of being here have taught me a lot. The teachers are very generous, always offering help, and have fun activities planned for students. Today (December 20, 2011) we received news that Crabapple has been awarded the honor of being a Lighthouse school for the third time in a row, because of the excellent students, staff, and curriculum. Dr. Buhl, the principal, is always meeting trying to meet new students, and he does what he thinks is best for the school. Even if the students or staff don't always agree with what he decides. I would recommend this school to everyone who's child is going into middle school, or moving into Roswell.

This is our first year in this school and my child is struggling with tons of homework nightly. Detentions are out of hand at this school. Students are given detention for misunderstanding homework assignments or misplacing a paper even on the first offense. This is devastating to a sixth grader who is not used to this type of discipline. I also don't agree with what happens during detention. If the child does not complete the homework they sit in detention writing down the code of conduct. what does the dress code, prohibited toy/electronics, gang relations have to do with incomplete homework? All this manages to accomplish is take away more time from the gobs of homework they have. Communication is not easy with many of the teachers. I hope this new principle turns things around in a big way. I can not really rate the principle at this time but the school as a whole as been very disappointing even if my child is a A/B student. My child begs to not go to this school. I have not seen much organization with much of the staff in any situation I have been involved in. They call this school the Lighthouse school to watch. I am not sure why.
--Submitted by a parent

i attended cms last year. it was awful. I was not in the tag program and had a really tough time all three years. The Principal worshiped the talented and gifted(TAG) students while she targeted the average students just waiting for one to slip up. I also was going to attend the D.C. trip for eighth graders but i was not able to go because i got up from my lunch seat to get more food because i was hungry. As a result of this, i got ISS. My parents has already payed the money and were expecting a refund, but no the principal took my parents $400 dollars and used it to help for the trip. Even though my mom has asked many, many times before the trip for the money and when she was first informed about the trip it clearly stated there were refunds. Terrible school.
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers at Crabapple seem incredibly dedicated to the students. My children enjoy going to school at Crabapple. It seems to be a very well run school and I highly recommend it.
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers and staff are excellent. They do a great job handling a very challenging age (adolescents)!
--Submitted by a parent

Dr. Jarrett runs a tight ship at this school. She has to in order to insure the safety of our children. The other middle school in our area is not so tight and the gangs rule the halls, bathrooms, cafeterias, etc. Dr. Jarrett may be strict but I know my child is not afraid to go to the bathroom at this school. The academics are also good at this school. I'm not a big fan of the block scheduling as the feeder high school does not follow block scheduling. But the academics are strong and most of the teachers are good. Some are not but that's like any place in life. Overall, this is a good middle school for my child and I'm very happy with the school.
--Submitted by a parent

Crabapple is a fair public school that receives students from two exemplary elementary schools. Students who are in the TAG program will do fine. Students who are not in the program will have a tough time. The principal is a dictator and the assistant principals are slow to respond to parent concerns and slower to respond to discipline issues. The feeder high school - Roswell appears to be better run. The school does pursue awards which is helpful in keeper home values high. My recommendation would be to seek out private school options for 6th - 8th grades and re-enroll in public school for high school.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is a student at CMS, He absolutely loves it. I have had nothing but great experiences with the staff. The help they have provided us during this very trying year, compassion and understanding of several family issues has been overwhelming! If you get the opportunity for you child to go to CMS, do it!
--Submitted by a parent

I'm a student a CMS, and i have to say that the classes and teachers at CMS are truly extraordinary. CMS does not focus on state standards of test scores, they focus on each stuents individual needs, they make sure every students on track.
--Submitted by a student