Woodland Middle School

Two of my sons have completed Woodland and my last child is currently attending. The principal, Mr. Morwessel, is great. He has high academic standards and keeps the kids under control. When the students are in 8th grade, they can take classes at Scott High School (provided that the student is doing well academically) that count as high school credit. The students transition easily to high school. Scott High School recently hired a new principal who's wonderful. He has turned that school around. It's a great place to learn whereas the kids used to have a little too much freedom in the halls.
--Submitted by a parent

My son attended Woodland Middle School for grades six through eight. He could not have had a better experience. I found the teachers to be well organized and clear in their expectations dealing with classroom work, homework, and behavior. The band director, who began teaching the year my son began school at Woodland, was extremely effective and produced wonderful sounding middle school bands. The choral director is also outstanding. My son's writing won a regional gold award and was sent to New York to be judged through the Scholastic Writing contest. His seventh grade teacher was instrumental in helping him with this writing piece. Extracurricularly, my son played football, attended dances, and took part in a leadership program. He is very prepared for high school and I thank the staff at Woodland for getting him ready. They did an excellent job.
--Submitted by a parent

My child, who is a very bright young lady, was not very focussed and not pushed enough. The teachers that have been there for the past 2 (almost 3) years have much more than overstayed their welcome. I am sending my daughter there again this year only because she has insisted on staying there for her 8th grade year. I was not pleased with the lack of attention that is given to the students. I, quite frankly, am sick and tired of it. To MOST of the woodland staff, you have dissapointed me greatly.
--Submitted by a parent

I am very pleased with Woodland Middle School. My daughter was transfered to Woodland from Ockerman Middle because of the way she was being treated by the students and staff. Her grades have improved greatly from making D's and F's to A's and B's. She is so much happier now with both the students and staff that I have decided to enroll my 6th grade son there this year.
--Submitted by april howard, a parent

I am very concerned about what is going on at Woodland Middle School. The teachers are only concerned about discipline, detention is handed out constantly. My son was an all A student at Hinsdale Elementary and is now failing 2 classes at Woodland. When I try to email the teachers about his work, I get no responses. It is very frustrating to deal with the staff there. My son will be attending school elsewhere next year!
--Submitted by a teacher

I have had two children attend this school. Have been very satisfied overall with the education and discipline.
--Submitted by a parent

I could not have been more dissappointed with Woodland Middle School. The school has a focus on dicipline and not education. My daughter - who had never been in trouble at school - was constantly worried that she would receive after school detention due to the constant use of detention as punishment on other children. (My child never received any form of discipline) The teachers my daughter had did not want or welcome parental involvment - it was clearly seen as a inconvenience. The homework - over an hour daily in math alone - was busy work and not necessary. The teachers were generally unorganized. I will not send her back to this school or this group of teachers.
--Submitted by a parent