Chastain Middle School

I retired after teaching 20 years. I loved every minute of it. My last five years were at Chastain. Teaching was tough when I started at Chastain but every year since then showed measureable progress. I believe that is because of the teamwork and camraderie of the teachers. I plan on keeping in contact with them and administration because they are some very talented and caring professionals. I do miss the "teaching" part of the job and the kids who want to learn...even with the difficulty some of them had. I will not miss the paperwork and endless meetings, the piles of documentation (much of which was CYA and had little other use), and in particular, I will not miss the whining and interfering parents who thought they knew more about classroom discipline and teaching than we did. Oh - and this would include the spoiled trouble making students who were enabled by these same parents - who were absolutely convinced that their kid could do no wrong. That part of the job I will not miss.

I went to Chastain 2006-2008. It was one of the most embarassing schools i've ever been to. With all the commotion going on at the time, whenever I'd be out and people ask me what school i go to and I said "chastain" they would soon begin apologizing about how they've heard what a bad school this is. I hear that once upon a time this school was pretty good. In the 80's. I think they should start from scratch and have a better program when it comes to discipline because I hated the fact that school seemed like going to a zoo every day. I really begged my parents to put me in private school during those horrible 3 years of Chastian, and though they never did, I am glad that I survived such a joke of a school.

Chastain's principal is clueless about teaching and learning for middle school students. This school was much better with the last principal. I feel sorry for the students who will be damaged by such a lack of leadership. This school is losing awesome teachers each year that this principal stays at this school. He has no true sense of the importance of a safe environment conducive to learning or a productive environment conducive to teaching.
--Submitted by a teacher

Chastain is ...... not a bad school..... i go..... my grads are not bad it a grate school for your kid to have fun.. learn..... and more ...
--Submitted by a student

When my child attended Chastain in the 6th grade, I was not impress with the school. I was so adamant about my child not attending this school. However, I have observed a 101% academic attitude and the A's proves it. Continue to move forward Chastain.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is in the 7th grade at Chastain this year and the excitement he has for school this year is truly contagious. I attribute this in great part to the number of great teachers he has and the support sytem Chastain is developing. I am continually impressed with how well mannered the students at teh school are and to committment of its parents, teachers and staff to make / maintain Chastain as a Great school. Chastain 'You Rock'!
--Submitted by a parent

The new administration has made a positive impact to Chastain Middle school this year and it will only get better! Behavioral issues begin at home and are not the schools main task, it is the parent's. Safety and Discipline is a shared task between the parent's and the school. As is education, children should not be handheld to obtain an education, they should be given instruction and guidance, this too starts at home. All in all I am pleased with Chastain Middle School for both my children who are in 7th and 6th grade.
--Submitted by a parent

I was a parent of Chastain Middle School. I removed my child from that school as I was not content to have my child be a future hindrance to our society. Grades given, not earned is not helpful to children for the future. Look to the future now, don't send the children out to be a hindrance.
--Submitted by a parent

I taught here for a year in 2006 as well as went to school here in 1989 - 1990. Wow the change in the school is drastic! Behavior is a major issue as the school is overcrowded and poorly managed. I will not send my child here.
--Submitted by a parent

This school is not all that great. I went there for 2 years and I must say that I did not enjoy them very much. The only reason I stayed there for 2 years is because of the APAC program.
--Submitted by a student