Bexley Middle School

BMS is an amazing school. Learning is taken very seriously, while fun activitys are always considered. Fighting between students is very rare, and everyone feels safe coming to this school. The block schedual means more time to work on homework, and a less stressful day. Through out the day each and every student has several chances to meet with any teacher of their choice. Teachers are fair and work hard to make sure every student learns what they need to learn. In addition to all this, the school offers many perks. Free lunch period, fun sports and student lounge are just a few of the fun options.

My son 8th grader recently said that while many of his teachers know their subjects very deeply (three of his teachers have PhDs) they are not necessarily effective- developing caring relationships with students, or conducting stimulating classes. Bexley's block scheduling can (and often does) mean an 85 minute lecture. My son, very bright and mature, doesn't have a close relationship to any teacher. As parents, we seldom get any feedback from teachers. On the plus side, there are several opportunities each day to get help or review information, and the intramural offerings at lunch have meant a great deal to my son. His gifted language arts often seems too focused on SAT vocabulary rather than critical thinking, writing and exploring literature. The school focus on testing is the fault of state and national accountability measures. Nevertheless, this is a community that values learning and kids.
—Submitted by a parent

Many of the teachers do not get personally involved with the students, and many are quite distant when it comes to making sure the student has learned the lesson well. The curriculum is cold and uncaring, and the school is overrun with designer tag clad students. Even so, the rigorous honors math program is a plus, along with the gifted language arts class. If you really want your child to learn, you would be wise to fight for the honors math, language arts, and higher language classes. I'm a bit disappointed with the science department, because it's quite easy to coast right through. If you send your children to BMS, make sure they are in the fast-moving classes, because the lower classes are just not up to the desired standards. The current principal is doing a great job, an is slowly trying to pull everything together.
—Submitted by a student

Since my son started 7th grade, it has been quite a challenge, but he has taken on the challenge well and stepped to achieve higher goals for himself. I feel the teachers have provided tremendous feedback and are always willing to give him further instruction upon his request.
—Submitted by a parent

Minority students are not adequately prepared, or school curriculum is not best suited for their needs/talents, even if the child has been reared in predominately upper middle class environments throughout academic career. Thus far, I am not impressed with the Bexley Schools. I have, however, been impressed with one teacher inparticular. Lang. Arts/Social Studies 8th grade teacher seems to give her all in preparing her classes. Other teachers seem to me to just 'be there' and expect the students to come to them versus the teachers intuitively sensing there may be difficulty with the student. Is the student comprehending each lesson? The student ran conference was a waste of time; I sit with my child daily and know what's going on. It's the teachers I needed to visit with.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is the best for anyone's child going into middle school. Each grade has a lot of fun during the 2 years.
—Submitted by a former student