Portage West Middle School

I love WMS! This is my son's 2nd year there, and our first year was wonderful! It was a big adjustment coming from a small charter school to such a large middle school, but the teachers that he had were super friendly, the office staff was wonderful, and even the assistant principle made an effort to make sure my son felt welcomed. I can't say enough about the wonderful staff that is there at West. The academic emphasis is great and they are quick to follow up on any behavior/bullying issues.
--Submitted by a parent

My child is finishing up their 2nd year here at Portage West Middle School & I couldn't be more happier with WMS. They offer excellent academic program & extra curriculum that challenges my child without overloading. Maintaning a 4.0 pt. taking both plus math & english classes, while playing on school teams & attending after school clubs. Finishes the majority of homework at school. Any homework brought home is completed in most times in 30 mins. or less. As a single parent/single income my child states never having expirenced any teasing or any comments concerning our lower income/smaller home. Having problems in elementary finding friends, has too many to count good friends in all grades at WMS, many who live in those big, beautiful homes. And has loved WMS from the first week of 6th grade. My child & I are extremely happy & pleased to be part of WMS!
--Submitted by a parent

THis school is amazing in education, however, the children here arnt very nice, most of them are docters children or other people with a high paying job's children go here. The kids tend to make fun of other kids, say if they dress poor or live in a small house. It is very cliquey here, so if you are looking for your child to fit in, I would recomend portage central middle or portage northern, there are a lot of 'popular' kids that like to put down some of the students. You can compare the social life to the t.v show 'gossip girl', I would totally recomend this school for education, but not for making friends.
--Submitted by a student

This is a great school academically for the average kid. The homework load is immense and the school takes pride in its homework volume. The teachers are fabulous but some work needs to be done to have a healthy culture for the kids. It is very cliquey and kids that are perceived as differnt for any reason are ostracized by the general peer group. This needs to be a top down solution.
--Submitted by a parent

i just started hear and im already loving it the teachers are nice and helpful its great things here great friends and stuff its the greatest school i might ever hane gone to
--Submitted by a student

Two of my children spent 3 years here. They had a great education and a great exposure to other ethnicities and religions. The students put on an excellent musical every spring. Honors (called plus) classes are available in math and language arts, but the regular classes are an excellent education and do not prevent a student from taking honors or IB classes in high school.
--Submitted by a parent

Academic programs are very good and there are great programs for students that do not have special challenges. Children with special needs are are more of a minority in this school, who's student population tends to be more economically advantaged. There is general lack of understanding regarding medical conditions, and there is judgement about what conditions are 'real' by staff. Work needs to be done on the tone of the way professional staff present themselves, and resond to what they perceive in their own personal prejudices. There are only a few who truely know how to deal with a child that does not fit the usual mold and these few have hearts of gold.
--Submitted by a parent