Whitehall-Coplay Middle School

My daughter is a special needs student and this school as well as the actual school district goes out of their way to make sure she and the other students like her receive the best possible education. The Whitehall/Coplay school district is 1 of 3 school districts my daughter has attended since she started kdg. We lived in another state,(FL.) and that school district was so lacking in the basic keys to special education teacing due to money constraints my daughter was lost in the regular classroom that she was placed in.. We moved back to Pa. because that is the state I am from and I knew if my daughter was to receive a decent education this would be the ideal place. The teaching staff, as well as the district staff are very supportive. They are up to date on the latest tools needed and used for students of special needs. My daughter is treated as a in dividual not just a number. She has thrived in the 4 yrs. she has been in this school district. I highly recommend the Whitehall/coplay school district in pa. to anyone who is considering moving from another state or from another part of Pa. The district isn't just for special needs students, they are excellent in their overall general education of all students.
--Submitted by a parent

WCMS is a great school! The teachers actually teach the children! (something many teachers today forgot how to do) Coming from the school my daughter previously attended, this is a whole new, wonderful experience!
--Submitted by a parent

We moved here from New England. The school does not feel welcoming to parents. My husband and I have both visited the school on separate occasions. The front office staff is not at all friendly. The principal is pretty standoffish. I don't think he would know who I was although I have been volunteering for a year. There isn't enough emphasis on reading and writing skills. Our 6th grade student, who is in the upper classes, rarely has homework and when it is assigned, it's essentially busy work, filling in the blanks, easy math, drawing, map making. There are no summer reading requirements, nor are there any long term research projects assigned in any of the grades that I know of. I would say compared to the school we came from, this curriculum is very light. Teachers accept mediocre work and discipline is lacking in terms of acceptable dress and behavior.
--Submitted by a parent

We moved into the District in 2007. The faculty shows smiles and greetings whenever we make a trip to the school. The education and care they provide is well above what we expected.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been in the Whitehall Coplay school district since 2nd grade and each year it gets better and better. She is very comfortable in Whitehall and the thing I like the most is the programs they provide for being bully free and drug free. My daughter also received alot of help when she was having trouble in Math and she went from an F to an average A-B after tutoring, they take the time to work with your child and it is one on one.
--Submitted by Mercedes Wagner, a parent

Outstanding academic programs. Students are especially challenged in Mathematics.
--Submitted by a parent

great school kids have lost of fun and they learn alot
--Submitted by a parent

I currently have a son in the middle school and a son who graduated in 2000, from Whitehall. after living here 5 years we are very pleased with the quality of teachers we have encountered! not only are they Professional but we have also found them to be Warm and caring as well! They truely Do Care About The Individual Child,and through their teaching ,I have Found They also open doors for children they wouldnt otherwise experience! A Few Examples are Learning to play Chess,on the teachers own time after school with a Chess Club! Also Learning about Minerals and Rocks, by intertwineing it with the days lessons! The Teachers in Whitehall have opened many new doors for my sons and A Parent could not wish for a BETTER SCHOOL District!
--Submitted by Catherine Grisafi, a parent

Overall, WCMS is a good school. The curriculum is on par. The student ethnicity is diverse, however the teacher population is not. This is my daughter's 2nd year here. She did well last year and my expectations were met. I had small complaints. It's not a GREAT school, but I know it could be worse. I am not thrilled with the size of the student body. There are 10-12 classes per grade, which constitutes about 1500 students altogether. Because of the size of the school, younger students have to be in 7th or 8th grade to try out for sports. Also, there isn't a breakfast program at this school. The teachers seem to really care about the kids and are attentive to parent concerns. My greatest concern is that percentages of students on and above grade level in math and reading, is decreasing each year.
--Submitted by Leslie, a parent