Bennett Middle School

i think bms is okay. fights don't happen to often. if you have a child who might go there, i would look at other options although the education is excellent. the teachers are wonderful but the students are terrible. we don't have an air conditioner so it is miserable on hot days but don' jump to conclusions. it is an okay/good school.

i hate bms. for one, there's no air-conditionong. and the summers are terrible when it comes to temperatures. also, the school is ancient! i want ot know how old that building is. the only good thing about the school is the teachers. i <3 the teachers. well thats meh review.
—Submitted by a student

This school rocks i learn so much theres never any fights and its the best school
—Submitted by a student

well bennett isnt the greatest school but the teachers are cool for the most part. and they try thier best to give us an education. sure bennett doesnt have any a/c and the heater make a ton of noise sometimes but its a good school. i have a ton of friends and it makes school fun. the classes are okay too though. as for the fights they dont happen that offten now.
—Submitted by a student

I attend Bennett Middle school and personaly I don't like the conditions of the school but i like going there. I've read alot of reviews about how the school has alot of fights and the teachers arn't that great and so on. But things have changed alot from what these people call 'typical BMS'. I like most of the teachers I've had along with the administrative staff. They do there best to help us as students learn and achieve the goals that have been set out for us. The way my 2 1/2 years at bennett have gone, I'm glad I go to bennett middle school.
—Submitted by a student

I give this school a thumbs up for the outstanding effots under the conditions they must confront. The teachers and administrators work hard to help every student.
—Submitted by a parent

This school isn't recommended for anyone who is looking for a good environment for education. First of all, it's an old school without a/c. Secondly, I came to dislike the overall mood of the school, which is aided by several fights throughout the year in cafeterias, classrooms, and hallways. Teachers aren't the issue. It's the students and their lack of ethics as they grew up in an area where behaviors do not set themselves as a priority in schools. I did like the band program here, and the director is in the top 30% (in my opinion) compared to other middle school band directors.
—Submitted by a student

Let me put it this way, driving down College Avenue (the road the school is on), I had a fight break out around my car in the middle of the street in broad daylight last week. Around thirty or so kids were gathered around and suddenly five or so of them began fighting for no reason. The sad thing is, all I thought at the time was 'typical Bennett.'

This is my child's second year at Bennett Middle. The number of students, the noise (at certain times, in the halls) was a shock to me at the beginning and I still find it daunting. I believe the teachers do make an effort to control it but at times(I sat in the main hall during Education Week) you can't hear youself think. In my experience, the there are some excellent, some good, and some OK teachers. There's no getting around the fact that there's just too many students per teacher in this school! The teachers deserve credit for managing. The teamperature fluctuations in the classes are quite noticeable..you can go from needing a thick sweater in one class to wishing you were in a Tshirt and shorts in another(this was in November, so imagine what it's like in summer). Remarks posted April 19, 2006 (coddling,non-academically oriented community)have no place in education.
—Submitted by a parent

This School has bullies bad students no air conditioning The teachers are the only good thing about this school but the principle is horrible.
—Submitted by a student

As a parent I really give the teachers and administration an A+ on effort. Although the building is old, the staff does their best to educate the kids and it showed when this was the only middle school in the district to make AYP. I felt my daughter was safe. There were no daily fights as one review stated. It has regular middle school issues but the administration was on top of things. Get involved parents.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a very dangerous place to send your child. Bullying and disruptive students combine with a complete lack of willingness on the part of the administration to do anything it to make this a very dangerous place. Most of the teachers are great but it was an impossible place for my child to learn. We have had no help from the Principal who from what I understand is not respected by the students or the staff.
—Submitted by a parent

The trouble with BMS is overcrowding and coddling of students who don't belong in school. There are many low-caliber students who bully others. The academics for GATE are pretty good, overall. In GATE classes the children behave as well as college students at SU (where I teach part time). In non-academic classes, look out. The Band program is wonderful, and the BMS band wins awards regularly. They had a large number placed in the 2006 All-Shore Band. I worry mainly about safety, fire in the building with overcrowded hallway, and bullying. Considering the rural, non-academically-oriented community from which it springs, Bennett is probable the best bet for middle school. I think the sixth grade should be returned to the elementary schools to relieve the crowding.
—Submitted by a parent

Wow, BMS is such a wonderful academic school. I think if it was more 'up to date' the school would hit records! Thr really only bad things about BMS is that there is no air condition! The teachers are amazing! My child has had great experiences at BMS if only it was better built and had more money.
—Submitted by a former student

This school has way too many fights, there is at least 1 fight a day there, i t is outrageous. The hallways are extremely crowded, you are getting pushed along by other students.
—Submitted by a student

This school is increadably overcrowded. 20% of the people that attend this school don't even have lockers. It reaches an average of 90 degrees f. in the spring and summer. Although this school is increadably hot, and increadably over crowded, this dose not stop the roach population from increasing. There are at least hundereds of roaches hiding in the halls, and in the lockers of the fortunate few who were able to get them, and in the class rooms. In short, this school dose have good education and teachers, but the conditions in which the students have to learn is rediculous. The asphalt roof retains the heat, and the windows don't let in any air. And finally, the computers are older than any that i've ever seen. I would know working in the computer buisness industry.
—Submitted by Chris Killmon, a parent