Sligo Middle School

My child is currently at Sligo and I am requesting a transfer to another school. While the school has some great teachers - the band teacher is wonderful - my child has been bullied so extensively and pervasively that I no longer feel my child is safe at the school. There appears to be a culture of bullying at the school. The assistant administrator has tried to help, but the principal won't even meet with us about the problem.
--Submitted by a parent

Both of my children have attended Sligo Middle School for all 3 years -- the older one finished in 2009, and the younger one is "graduating" 8th grade this year. We stuck with the school because we hoped it was improving, but instead most things have deteriorated over the 5 years. There is a new focus on discipline this year, but that has very little impact on the main problem for the better-prepared kids -- the fact that the school does not challenge them. Except for math, classes are not divided by level of preparation. "Advanced" English is not at all advanced. (This is NOT the same as what "Honors" English used to be.) Parents are sometimes told that in the heterogeneous classes, teachers provide extra enrichment or other extra material or work for the more-able kids; but that never happened with either of my kids in any class. There are some bright spots--some talented new teachers this year, a wonderful Spanish teacher, both band and chorus, and school plays. But if your child is capable but not necessarily self-motivated, s/he will not wind up doing much work, and will not be well prepared for higher-level classes in high school.
--Submitted by a parent

I've been going to this school for three years. I've always thought that the teachers and admins were great and that the after school programs were amazing. But this school just isn't safe!! the worst part is that the teachers don't really do anything about it and what they do do isn't enough!! everything else is great though
--Submitted by a student

Sligo Middle School has a horrible disciplinary problem. There is no leadership from the principal and the teachers tell me they don't have support from the administrative staff. Kids curse out teachers, fight in the halls and disrepect staff. My child will not return for 7th grade
--Submitted by a parent

This was SUCH a wonderful school. Even though this isn't a wonderful, magnet school, the students are challenged well and know that many people believe in them. Though Sligo isn't the best school out there, I love it.
--Submitted by a student

I have had a pretty good experience at this school, and the discipline is not always what others have said. The English program is great and the band/orchestra and chorus teacher are very good and experienced! The worst department is the science department every year they have hired new science teachers for almost all the teachers.
--Submitted by a student

This school is not a positive environment. My son says he 'endured' the year. Now that school is out, he seems back to his old self. The discipline situation seems to be a big part of the problem. We are considering private school for next year, despite the cost.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter attended Sligo for 3 years. The school has terrible problems with student discipline, and while there are a few good teachers, the school is unable to attract and retain even minimally adequate teachers, largely due to serious problems with student disipline (talking in class, massive food fights at lunch, students threatening and assaluting other students...). Other than math, there is no tracking, and effectively no GT. Last checked, test scores and other ratings place Sligo at or somewhat below average for the nation (but in the lower third for Montgomery County) - however, scorse are artificially buoyed by the relatively small group of students whose academic performance is in spite of the shool's shortcomings. Sligo and Montgomery County adminstrators are more inclined to defend the status quo than to address the schools problems, even when directlly confronted. I am greatly saddened by these trends at Sligo.
--Submitted by a parent

I am increasingly concerned about the discipline problems at Sligo. My child no longer finds the school to be academically challenging, saying that students talk over the teacher and the teacher has to repeat herself constantly, making for a boring class. She seems disengaged and is becoming increasingly social as a result.
--Submitted by a parent

sligo rocks its a great school and the teachers are really cool
--Submitted by a student