Wantagh Middle School

I have had 2 children at WMS, one an honors student and one who needed extra help. Both students were well served by the school for their widely differing needs. Also, when one child reported being bullied, the administration had the entire school attend an anti-bullying program in the gym within days of the report. Kids being kids, there will always be some degree of this and the cliques and all the other things I see people complaining about on this site, but it's no different from when we were kids - or how adults behave these days. It's human nature. Perhaps some of the parents need to teach their children that they aren't the center of the universe anymore. And the parents need to realize that these are the years of great development both educationally and psychologically for their kids. Time to start growing up.
—Submitted by a parent

Our child started WMS this year and had almost exactly the opposite experience to the last review. The teachers have been very committed to helping him adjust to middle school. For the first few weeks they had teachers in the hallways to help children find their way. Extra help is offered and encouraged by all his teachers. So far I am very happy. His guidance counselor is very dedicated and responsive. The board does need to find and keep a permanent high quality superintendent.
—Submitted by a parent

this school has way too many issues.The food is HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!! When my son went here on his first day he came home crying.Telling me that the teachers were yelling at him for being lost, they had no one showing them where to go ,he said a teacher yelled at him for asking.He told me that when he asked children they pouposely led them to a diffrent place.He never wanted to go back!!This school needs to change on desperate measures111

Dear parents and others alike The discipline in wantagh middle school is scarce and is really nothing at all the new principle is not to be trusted she is to believe that if a person is to defend themselves from getting hit there to get punished she also beleives that if the kid that should get in trouble is nice to the teachers an her self that the kid that told on them is the one to be blamed in stead of th E troublemaker and cause of her relation ship with some and barley any children in the school doesn't let most speak there mind and if they do they get in trouble as you can see there needs to be big changes in the school including principle and some staff that are concerningly harsh and cruel to some kids that are different from the pretty clones at this school Thank you

WMS is what the citizens make it. The kids are taught well by caring, superior teachers. If sports is emphasized, it reflects what the parents and board want. If you want a better science program, ask for it and pay for it. As it is, WMS has one of the most superior student support programs, their advisories, on Long Island.
—Submitted by a parent

Most of these reviews are written by parents who only think they know about this school. They, however don't have to attend the school regularly. I honestly don't care if they're in the PTA or not, because they will never know the school as well as us kids. Now, after an openning paragraph like that, you would think that I would rip this school to shreds. However, it is not all that bad. The food is fine, we have a good balance of homework for classes, and for the most part, the teachers are nice. However, some teachers don't care, or are unnecessaraly cruel, and let me make it abundantly clear that I am not just saying that because they yell at me for doing poor in class. I do think the school is way too sports focused. Also, punishment is usually too light.
—Submitted by a student

I am increasingly concerned about our children's experience in WMS. There is almost no more room for a child to have a balanced childhood; class time, homework/study time and playtime. The tensions are rampant throughout the halls, from admin to staff to children, all pressured to teach to the test. Children only memorize the volume of material they are faced with; resulting in low retention levels. They aren't learning well. My child is bright and he is being turned off. His healthy curiosity is being damaged. I'm sad to say all this. WMS was way better before NCLB. Parent who agree should write their congressman and get rid of yearly testing. It won't happen unless we do this. It's up to us. Our kids can't get back their childhood. Sad times, indeed.
—Submitted by a parent

WMS experience has been wonderful so far. They have been very good with helping our children with their independence and their accountability. All of the supportive services have been key as well. Dr.Stern is #1 , she really cares about the students.
—Submitted by a parent

Wantagh Middle school is excellent on their focus of integrating new kids to middle school. They do this by slowly letting them learn to switch classes and they use older kids to help the younger. One problem I encountered was the teachers attitude towards parents. They do not appear to care if parents work as 'they only work til 5' and they let parent pressure guide their judgements. This is a minor problem though.
—Submitted by a parent