Joseph L. McCourt Middle School

Wonderful school with supportive staff and teachers! My son has been here for 2 years. Transition to middle school was a positive experience that started with a cook out for the incoming 6th grade. Teachers were helpful and available if extra help was needed. Now my son is in 7th grade with a continued positive experience. Teachers have stepped up expectations with increasing responsiblity given to the students. Band, athletics, and foreign languages still available because of parental support for boosters, fund raisers, and actual coaching when needed. Annual Washington DC trip was a huge success with the students learning more about our nation's history than they even realized. Staff/teachers/admin at the school all just a phone call or email away and all willing to quickly respond and schedule a meeting if followup is needed on an issue. Expectations/consequences very clear for students (a MUST at this age) but kids are not "labeled" for poor descions/choices. Positive atmosphere at this school!
--Submitted by a parent

I love this school. Its great!!!!!
--Submitted by a student

The teachers at McCourt Middle School are amazing. My children have been privileged enough to have been guided by very caring faculty members. These teacher have gone way beyond the call of duty. Parents we need to realize that are children are handfuls sometime and we need to give these teachers the thanks they deserve. My child was in the seventh grade and on a team of two. He got the best education i could have asked for. They were in constant contact with me. I always want to say thank you Dr. Koutsogiane. She was the best principal that the cumberland school system ever had. As a parent and a former student, I thank you for everything you have done for my children and myself over the past 20 years. Again any parent looking to bring their child in to cumberland, McCourt Middle is the best placement for them.
--Submitted by a parent

My advice is to those who are new to the area and to the middle school to call the school and meet with the guidance councelor before school begins. While I was blessed with unending communication it appears some parents are not.
--Submitted by a parent

This school, its administration, and faculty need to realize that they are a huge problem for anyone moving into the town wanting a good education for their kids. I took my daughter out and placed her in private school. What are the parents blind? The parents in this town need to come together and demand higher standards for their kids. The classes are tracked and average kids who excel in at least one or two subjects are dumbed down. If you know someone, or you are lucky, your child may get one of the few honors classes. When in those classes, the faculty thinks higher level thinking is to take a timed test for looking up words in a dictionary!There is no respect for the parents or the students. It is just a bunch of teachers who lack professionalism and are protected by a union. Wake up people!
--Submitted by a parent

My child has been a student here for 5 months and I have yet to have a parent/teacher conference. By this time last year,in my child's old school, I had gone to an open house and met with teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

I am sad to say there are alot of problems with the staff. Several of whom should have retired along time ago.
--Submitted by a teacher