Aliamanu Middle School

My daughter is about to complete 8th grade after being here for both years. She has had a few teachers that have been terrific by providing challenging assignments and being fair to the students. However, there are an equal number of teachers that do not communicate, hand out F's/D's with no feedback as to why?, tell the kids they don't like them and use profanity. Also expect your child to have a sub on a regular basis. Another problem is the limited communication-important things like ACT/HSA tests, award ceremonies, schedule changes are rarely communicated. Students have morning announcements--but it doesn't mean the information gets home. The staff at the front desk are always kind and I know the Asst. Principal has her hands full with the constant problems from gangs, fighting & bullying. Parents who can't afford to send their child to private school or home-school are left with little options. The best thing to do is try to get a GE for Moanalua MS, if you don't want your child to go here. Overall, my daughter made a lot of friends at this school & learned a whole lot of "street level" culture....she will need to have a tutor when we head to the mainland.
—Submitted by a parent

Should be a ZERO star. Horrid school. To echo the first reviewer, run from this school. Our son is an 8th grader at this school. From day1 it has been nothing short of a nightmare. He has been in this place a whopping two weeks and I'm ready to pull him out. On his very first day, his history teacher purposely kept him after class so he would miss the bus. Our son insisted he had to go or the bus would leave him, the teacher kept him anyway. As soon as the busses left, he was permitted to leave. Simply because he didn't like the way my son wrote down an assignment. here in Hawaii IF your child's school even offers a bus (many don't) parents have to pay a hefty fee to use it. About $300/yr. They accept cash only, no refunds. This same teacher is now threatening to dock him points if I do not provide our son with a red ink pen so our son can grade the other students papers! They're not allowed to use lockers, and all but 2 bathrooms are deadbolted! The gym teacher yells and hollers at the kids in a demeaning way. He's been there 2 weeks and has yet to be provided with a math book! In these two weeks he's seen his actual math teacher 3 times, the rest have been substitutes.
—Submitted by a parent

Anyone reading this, if you are reading this because you are trying to find out if this school is going to be good. Let me tell you from every angle NO! I have dealt with a lot of schools on island and by far this is the worst! Hawaii's school system is not horrible there are some great schools on island!! However this is not one! Run and run fast!! This school does not care about there special needs kids, let alone anyone else. There morals are so backwards. We send our kids to school to learn not play around! They have no lockers and expect these kids to carry everything!!! The cafeteria is horrible!! Just run and run fast and far!!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is terrible. School has been going on almost one Trimester and we are currently enrolling our 7th grade son elsewhere because Aliamanu is a complete waste of educational space. 1. My son needed to call me because he didn't have his ID, the office told him NO. so he couldn't use the bus home, which they took him to school without the ID, which is against regs too. and wouldn't bring him home, so we had to go get him, and all could have been fixed had they let him use the darn phone. He was trying to call me when class wasn't in session, and they told him No. His doesn't have a math book. I was told, that all schools are changing and Hawaii couldn't afford new books, so they just dont use the books. PE teacher cusses the kids out constantly, and no matter how many parent complaints he gets, he is still there cussing away and putting the kids down The material they learn is a joke. We wish we would have listened to others' warnings about this school and saved ourselves alot of money and stress. Getting him out of this school is by far the best choice.
—Submitted by a parent

We are new to the area and I have a son in 7th grade. We are a military family and all three of our children are going to 3 new schools this year. From our experience so far this year everyone has been great. The office staff has been friendly and helpful and teachers have contacted me personally by phone to introduce themselves. We had one incident that could have made my son's life at this school a nightmare and the VP was on it and took every measure possible to contain the situation and then phone me to come down and help resolve everything. I am previously from APG, MD and this school is a huge improvement for us from the Aberdeen schools in terms of action, communication and resolution. I am optimistic that we will have a smooth year. I have given it an average rating as we are still in the early stages of the school year and as of right now I have now qualms about having my youngest son start here next year.
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter and son goes to this school. My daughter attended last year, was beat up, phone stolen, and money out of her backpack during PE. They do not have lockers you can use. I have had two bad experiences with the Vice Principal and the Principal. Neither seemed to follow thru with any actions. When asked to provide a students statement from the student's parents to validate my daughters claim that she was identified as a victim early on they "lost" the statement. How convenient. Now this year my daughter's phone was stolen from the teachers desk. DO NOT send your children here if you have a choice. Very reason I WILL NOT be extending my tour here.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is horrible...my child has only been attending this school for about 3 months and has had several incidents with a bully...I have went to the school and have not been able to get anything resolved. They do not take bullying seriously at all. They have called the police department on one of the bullies before but the same student is still freely walking the halls of the school terrorizing more and more kids. I guess nothing will ever get resolved until someone is seriously hurt. I have pulled my child from this horrible school and if you are zoned for this school I do advise you to rethink letting them attend this school. The teachers don't seem to care, and the administration don't seem to care as well. The principle is never in the office. This school is not safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

From the moment the Newcomers Orientation began I knew I was going to be disappointed. I have never encountered a principal so out of touch with the very people he should be reaching out to. After speaking with him briefly I was certain that he is far from an administrator. Of course he holds that title, but he lacks the credentials and sadly so do much of the staff. It appears the teachers here ventured into education for the purpose of the check and not so much the impact they would have on students. Upon finding out that my family and I were headed to Hawaii I was overjoyed INITIALLY. Oddly enough you come to realize that the experience of what is supposed to be paradise is NOT AT ALL worth your child's education. It has been almost a month since school began and if you could see the quality of work my daughter is bringing home you would gasp. Students are allowed to write in Language Arts the same way that they shorthand a text message. The learning environment is very chaotic. Students who want to learn are certainly at a disadvantage. Entering high school after attending a school like this is an absolute setback. Trust me I have heard several horror stories.
—Submitted by a parent

I have read several reviews and can unfortunately say I agree with this school's poor rating. Like others, I have had bad experiences with the administration and a couple of teachers at this school. Students are asked to adjust their ratings of the school/staff when completing surveys, which is highly unethical behavior. I attempted to work with the staff and administration to address some concerns but they were unreceptive. At one point, my daughter felt as if she were being harassed by some of the staff members--being called out in front of the class and other teachers. When asked about this behavior, the staff members had little I would NOT RECOMMEND this school to anyone. When you move to paradise, be prepared to homeschool your precious ones.
—Submitted by a parent

If I could I would rate this school a zero. The principal has never had any social skills with me. If none with me as a parent then I would assume none with the children that go to this school. The most of my child's teacher reflect the same non caring attitude and demeanor of the principal. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS SCHOOL TO ANYONE!!!
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of a student in AMS. My daughter recently got into drama. I contacted the Administrators & they didn't do anything to help the situation. My daughter was getting harassed & they STILL didn't say anything to help the situation. I know there is only 3 more months of school, butj I might think about switching her, because all of this hasn't changed; I actually think it's gotten worse.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of a 7th grader that is going to this school right now we moved here for the military station. This school does not know how to educate a child with learning disablities at all. I was actually told by the principle to take my daughter to a doctor and ask them what else I could do to help her because they dont know what to do to help her. she only has Test Anxiety and they dont know what that is. They actually said they have no idea what it is .
—Submitted by a parent

We moved here from MD and my son went to a national and state blue ribbon school where he was on the honor roll. He also has a mild form of ADHD and therefore requires a little extra help. Sense attending Aliamanu he has failed two classes and almost failed two others. I had a meeting with the teachers in the beginning about my sons issues. It was like talking to a brick wall. My son has a couple of teachers that are hard to understand and can't even figure out their own lesson plans. There is no way we could afford private school and I can't home school. Also the school liaison isn't any help either. This is like punishing our children. This has been a problem for a very long time and something needs to be done.
—Submitted by a parent

military families beware. If this is your only option: home school. My son did not attend school the last day of the year--It is known as "beat the howlie day". The textbooks' pages are torn and the monkeys are running the zoo
—Submitted by a parent

This school is mainly an outdoorsy kind of school. I am an eighth grader and many of my friends would rather be outside playing Basketball than in the classroom. Few teachers are nice and many are more involved in trying to communicate with us students (one teacher plays music in the classroom on a stereo). This school has 3 sports, basketball, volleyball, and track. On the last report card, many students that I know got below a 2.0 gpa.
—Submitted by a student

Couldn't afford private school, and I'm sure many military families with several children are in the same boat. My daughter graduated 8th grade but looking ahead, I fear for her transition to a new HS when we pcs in February. Aliamanu's standards are low, teacher apathy is high, and the admistrators are overwhelmed. There is significant racial tension among the locals and military kids. I wish we'd had more choices, and I wish I had more positive things to say, but truly, I'm just glad she's finished with this school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is the worst when it comes to teacher/staff involvement. When you have a question for the Principal or Vice Principal, they talk to you like you are one of their students. Definitely would not recommend to anyone who has kids in the military. Sometimes we do not have a choice, but if you do consider paying for a private school. Some of their teachers checked out long time ago and they are just collecting a paycheck and wasting DOE funds.
—Submitted by a parent

Classes are extremely easy here, some teachers don't care about the students and don't put any effort into teaching us. Yet, I have a couple of teacherswho are really great and really involved, it makes learning and getting good grades a whole lot easier.
—Submitted by a student

I think this school is great!!! the only thing is... Get rid of the uniform!!!
—Submitted by a student

We have a child that attends this school. Only one teacher uses Webgrader. He hardly ever has homework and he is not challenged. The teachers don't seem to take an active role. They seem more concerned with days off than with teaching the kids.
—Submitted by a parent