Downington Middle School

I have had two students in this school. Overall, DMS is an excellent school providing you have a willing learner. Under that premise, you'll find dedicated teachers, excellent opportunity for advanced classes, consistently high testing results and a general attitude of support. I cannot speak to complaints by others voiced here, but my daughters IEP was handled extremely well and I never have had any issue with guidance, staff or teachers being anything but professional. If results matter to parents reading this, we have one student who is a graduate here who is heading off to a top ten liberal arts college and many many past classmates are matriculating to our nation's top colleges and universities. I, for one, thank DMS for making my students more prepared to succeed in the challenging world they will face.
--Submitted by a parent

In three years I have had not a good experience with DMS, my daughter has an IEP for "specific learning disability" reading, comp and math... to get communication and support for her on a regular basis has been like pulling teeth. Meeting after meeting nothing gets better, last year I did take her out after a death in our family and home schooled her because there just was not enough support there.. and she has no behavioral issues or anything... She did amazing with home schooling moved up in testing and everything, but the socialization was just not there... so sadly this year I put her back in the school 8th grade and it is horrible again. It has taken since October for me to have a real response from the teacher that does her IEP to make changes. The principal is about bottom dollar all the way... no help there.
--Submitted by a parent

I am new to the Downingtown area and am stuck with a decision! I read the great schools rating of 9/10 but I see parents only give it a 3/5. As I remember my math 90% is not the same as 60%. Can anyone help me reconcile why the difference? As my only intereaction has been with office staff in getting my children registered, I must agree, the district does not do a very good job on customer service (the receptionist that scheduled my registration for my kids was rude).
--Submitted by a parent

Both of my children attended this school. I feel teachers there always blame either the children or the district for thier lack of teaching. The guidance counslers have a negative atitude and are slow returning phone callls
--Submitted by a parent

The District is so wonderful that it is disappointing to find DMS as a dark spot. The Guidance Staff are particularly concerning, and negative attention is the only kind given by the teachers to students. I find this very sad in the middle of a great district.
--Submitted by a parent

At DMS 'meet the teacher' in the beginning of the year, it was made very clear that a majority of the teachers do not want to communicate with parents. My son is on B team of 6 grade. Every teacher informed us that calling them was out of the question-you must e-mail them. Ok, I will e-mail, but don't expect an answer. Hey teachers, our children's education requires good communication between teachers and parents!!! I certainly hope to find things different in 7th grade.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been in both 6th and 7th grade here and I have found it to be a very good school. Sure she doesn't love all the teachers but over all she seems to be challenged and stimulated. The staff that I have interacted with have been very impressive. I think she will be well prepared for high school.
--Submitted by a parent

I agree there is way too much homework, especially for 8th graders. My son averages 4 hrs. per night and often must get up at 5:30 a.m. to finish. Some weekends, he has 10 or more hours. While the teachers are overall excellent, there are some standout bad ones. The administration is great at enforcing rules and status quo, not so great at problem solving. Although several of my suggestions were implemented at Downingtown West H.S., my suggestions at the middle school have consistently been ignored. Hope the new principal will change this.
--Submitted by a parent

My grandson is ADHD and has moved to this school from Florida. As difficult as it is to believe, there has only been negative attention given to him. At this point he is feeling very frustrated. An IEP is ONLY NOW(after a full semester) being approached. Granted, my impressions are secondhand but I am so disappointed in the entire faculty and staff. I think they are so lacking in compassion for kids and the desire to stay informed. I am a retired teacher and I know that it is more difficult to teach children with ADHD but the rewards are amazing. There is a lot of accusing to excuse their failures. Would hope that adult professionals can and will rise to challenges that are a part of teaching.

I am happy with the academic quality of the school. My sixth graders are happy and challenged. My one concern is the outrageous amount of homework they get. They spend hours upon hours on homework. It makes me wonder how I will be able to let them participate in extra-curricular things activities next year given the time crunch the homework/studying puts on them..
--Submitted by a parent