Ocean Springs Middle School

Husband was transferred and we moved into Ocean Springs because of the schools. However I am very disappointed. The Special Ed team is also not very good. We have lived in a lot of states and this district is one of the worst my kids have attended.
—Submitted by a parent

My son started OSMS this year as a 6th grader. He has transitioned very well and enjoys going to school. This school has an excellent band program that is recognized as the best in all of the Gulf Coast! My son never was interested in music or played an instrument until this year. I feel he has benefitted academically and socially from his involvment with the program. Communication with the teachers and staff is great IF it is initiated by the parent. Most to all information coming from the school must be gotten from their special website and it is the parent/students responsibility to seek it out. It is important to note that the district is currently building a new high school and they have plans to turn the old highschool in to a true "middle" school housing 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. This should solve any overcrowding issues.
—Submitted by a parent

We have two daughters at OSMS and I feel they are receiving excellent educations! When there is a problem or issue, I have found counselors to be very responsive and helpful. We have lived here just a little more than eight months, spanning two school years. Yes, it took our daughters a bit of time to make friends- it is hard as kids get older. There is some bullying but administration has tried to address this with special programs and 'teen leadership' classes. I would never excuse or sit back for any bullying but, sadly, it is part of the Middle School age group. Our daughters have become involved in various extra-curricular activities, love some of their teachers and like most of them, are genuinely happy to go to school, and have made some excellent friends.
—Submitted by a parent

The class offerings are good, but there is never enough room in the good classes and some kids get shortchanged. If your kid is at all 'different', he/she will be treated like a problem, not a person. Bullying is horrible and not much is done about it. Even when someone gets hurt it gets brushed under the rug or they find a way to suspend everybody.
—Submitted by a parent

this school is the best school i've ever been to
—Submitted by a student

I went all three years through this school, and I am now in 9th grade. This school system is terrible. I am actually being pulled out of Ocean Springs, and being put into St. Martin. This school has horrible standards, and the administration has no understanding of the students educational needs. Okay teachers, but terrible bullying problems, and horrible education. By far a terrible school for anyone. I don't recommend this to anyone at all.

I have read some of these reviews about how great OSMS is and I had to laugh. As a parent of a special needs child in this school, I am very dissapointed at how the administration is running the school expecially how they treat children with disabilities. OSMS has a big problem with bulling, which they continue to ignore. They only teach what is nessisary for the students to pass state test. The teachers are not all good. Principals are never around when needed and don't communicate with parents. if you are thinking about putting your child in this school I would keep searching, but if you have no other choice then make sure your child has an advocate to protect their rights. I don't recommend this school to anyone.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been at OSMS since 6th grade, I am now in 8th grade.Overall the school is pretty good, but there are racial boundries even some of te teachers carry out. There is also lot of bullying towards kids who are slower than most. The teachers are good,yet they most care about how we do on state tests. Admistration usually dosent care about bullying unless it is extremely overbaring.
—Submitted by a student

Ocean Springs Middle School is a awesome school,however something needs to be done about the ongoing bullying. A Parent.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has been attending the OS school system since 1st grade. Although I loved the elementary school, I am having issues with the Middle School. He has always been a very good student, but now he struggles for even B's. Now that he is in 8th grade, I worry about his study skills when he enters High School. I am also not at all impressed with the scheduling of classes. I admit that because of work, I cannot volunteer much time at the school, but at home I am very involved with my son's education. I just don't feel the Middle School is providing my son with the quality of education I expect.
—Submitted by Eileen, a parent

No school is perfect, but this is a school that offers a quality education and is a very safe environment. I really like that the school has three wings that primarily support one grade per wing. This helps to keep students in their own peer group and adjust to moving to different classrooms without the fear of bullying. Another big plus is the parents. The parents are involved and don t depend on the school to instill values that mat be vacant at home. It makes it much easier for teachers to teach.
—Submitted by RPM, a teacher

I've been to this school since last year. I love it here. My cousins have all gone to this school and so will my siblings.
—Submitted by a student

I'm in 8th grade right now i'm taking algebra I and Accelerated English and french are my most difficult classes. I love the middle school. i've been in O.S. Schools since i was in Kindergarden. I've been in the gifted Ed. since 2nd grade. All of the kids are nice we have got great teachers, great sprots programs.
—Submitted by a student

Wonderful parent involvement. There are about 60 students on a waiting list for gifted and talented services that the school is not providing for. You move to an area for the best schools, but do to overcrowding your child does not get the services they might in a another school. They do take their state testing extremely serious. They are strict on attendance because it affects their funding. There are great teachers that really do love what they do and the students do learn.
—Submitted by a parent

GREAT SCHOOL. We moved here this year from the St.Louis area and our son ,who hated school before,is now actually enjoying it. The teachers are very good and easy to talk with and the positive vibe just oozes out of the building. Great school I would encourage anyone to try to live in this district if you are looking to move into this area
—Submitted by Mark, a parent

Very Good School! Really helps my kids in all subjects. Great community support! No Problems so far!
—Submitted by Brian, a parent

I have been to OSMS for all three years. I have noticed that the school is so worried about state tests scores that we only learn what is going to be on the test. I believe this much concern is harmful because we learn almost the same thing each year. Most of my teachers were really good taking time with each student to help them, giving extra credit, and tutoring. Some of my teachers; however, clearly didn't like kids, teaching, or have the patiences to do so. They were rude and unhelpful except I learned how I don't want to be. Most of the administration seemed to want to do the least amount of work as possible. I have only done a few but I heard from others friends that the extra activies are great.
—Submitted by a former student

I am now an 8th grade student at the Ocean Springs Middle School. I have been through the ocean springs school district since kindergarten. The middle school is a great school. Everything is wonderful but the students. The students bully, i have gone through that once this year for the first time, the students are also very disrespectful and they dont care about their education. The extra activities are really good. There is alot to choose from. There is softball, football, tennis, soccer, cheerleading, dance team, and alot more to choose from.
—Submitted by a student

I'm in 7th grade and i have been going to OSMS since 6th grade but i have been in the school dis. since i was in 4th grade. If i had to rate OSMS between 0 and 100 i would rate it 98.9. the reason I don't give it a 100 is because i think the food could be better, I think we could have nicer books, in my world history class we are using text books from 1993!
—Submitted by a student

I graduated from the Ocean Springs School District in 1990, and I vowed my kids would also. Being a military wife, we have traveled and attended a wide range of schools from year round schools, to traditional schools and NONE of them compare to the education that my kids receive from Ocean Springs. I am so happy to be back here and getting my kids the EXCELLENT education they deserve from caring teachers. The Ocean Springs School district listens to parents and are willing to do whatever they need to help. My daughters elementary teacher volunteered her 'personal' time to stay after school and assist my daughter in getting back on her reading level. This teacher did not have to do this, she did it because she cared and as a parent I appreciate that.
—Submitted by a parent