Monongahela Middle School

This administration will put up smoke screens in order to hide their incompetence. The bullying issues get handled, simply because they have to -- NJ state law. They DO NOT always get handled properly. This school turns a blind eye to bullying especially if the bullies are on a sports team! They have 0 tolerances for bullying and yet if the victim fights back their attacker they get punished; it doesn t matter if the victim was bullied over and over again by their attacker. It s a 1 Size Fits ALL mentality. The administration is part of the problem not the solution. For a middle school, the staff has little or no understanding how to handle this age group. These children are not treated with respect by the administration; therefore they do not respect their peers or the authority. The ones that are respectful get overlooked and slip through the cracks, because the administration is busy dealing with the problem kids. Academically this school teaches to the standardized tests because their test scores are low. This school wants little or no feedback from the parents. I DO NOT recommend this school. You have a choice. http://www.nj.gov/education/choice/
--Submitted by a parent

I have to say this school has some quirks and stuff but has much improved. I have to say with the law that Governor Christie passed on bully it has much helped. I am over weigh and have been teased when i went to a near by school, Good Intent. I never really got help with it but In Monongahela, I've had that problem disappear. Also, There teaching staff is good. Not great nor bad. Some teachers are ridicioulous on their rules and some know how to get kids to learn something. I would recommend this school to any student going into the grades 7-8.

The kids in this school are under the care of incompetent teachers and administration. They have ridiculous rules and yet the kids come out of the school completely unready for high school. All this school cares about are the standardized test scores, and even then they aren't that good. I would not recommend this school to anyone that is interested in enrolling their children.Special Education needs to be improved immensely. I know many other parents feel the same way and yet the board does nothing. It's a shame that the few good teachers get mixed in with the rest.
--Submitted by a parent

Parents concerns are swept under the rug. The staff and especially the administration can do no wrong. The teachers are not available for extra help even when asked over and over again. They learn about long ago civilization yet do not no anything about the Constitution and country we actually live in. We have to fill in the gaps and yet the teachers complain about contracts. The kids do not come first. The administration will do whatever they have to on order to cover up inconsistencies in their actions and words. Unfortunately, I have to agree with the other reviews. In a heartbeat I would switch schools if we had any other options. I truly wish that the teachers up to the superintendent cared about the kids first and not just how they look to others!!
--Submitted by a parent

I rate this school 1 star for having the school door open. Overall there is no control in school. Students are violent and the school administration cover up all the attacker actions. Worst part the school deliberately violates and refuse to comply with American Disability Act. I am surprise the state has not step in to review the school records. No superintendent willing to stay to clean up the problem. There has been no permanent superintendent in this district to stay. The school principals govern and cover up everything. I agree with the comment below.

The teachers at this school only care about getting a pay check. Students are lumped into masses and are treated like prisoners. Teachers do not care if students are actually learning nor do they care about the individual student. Students are prepped for testing but do not have skills they need for high school. Special education is joke- students grouped together at all different learning abilities. Some student can barely read and the curriculum is just jammed down their throats. Special education do not get to participate in activates like science labs. Students are suffering and meanwhile teachers just sit around and complain that making 50-80 grand a year for working 185 days isn t enough. No wonder Governor Christie wants to reform schools and union- this is a prime example!! I was not a Governor Christie supporter until I saw how a NJ school really worked!!

Personally, this school is the best place to send your child. The teachers and staff are exceptional, the students always come out everyday learning something new. Also, besides learning they offer fun filled spirit days for your child to express themselves. I must say, this school is fantastic.
--Submitted by a student

As you can see from the Special Needs scores, the learning disabled are almost forgotten. The program at this school is the worst I have ever had the misfortune to deal with. My son wasted 2 years at this school. My son had the SAME reading level going into this school as when he came out.
--Submitted by a parent