Joseph H. Gaudet School

and a high five for Carmela gear that i give 5 stars for her hard work.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had a child at Gaudet for the past 2 years. We are a military family-- so move around a lot and certainly have many other schools to compare. Gaudet excels in creating a positive and safe environment for their students. The Principal and guidance counselors are extremely accessible and encourage parent involvement and feedback. I have found the majority of teachers to be open and responsive as well to parent feedback. Gaudet hasn't been given the respect it deserves and is continually underrated-- especially compared to Portsmouth Middle School. Last year, the 8th grade class at Portsmouth had numerous fights, drug and bullying issues. You just don't see that at Gaudet. Definitely worth looking it!!
—Submitted by a parent

I am a student here, I'm currently going into 8th grade, and I absolutely adore this school. I have read all of the other reviews and I do believe that it depends on what cluster you are placed in, and I think I was in the best clusters of the school so far. Trust me i do not like school in the slightest but i was crying on the last day of 7th grade, i miss my teachers so much! I was a barracuda, meaning I had Mr. Taylor, who might I add is the best teacher of all time, Mrs. Trefethen, Mrs. Zahm, and Ms. LaMond. I loved every class I had with them, I feel like they gave fair grades but I was a bit of teachers pet in Social Studies. Each class taught you some thing useful and I'm grateful to have met them and I was able to be their student

The only reason I am giving it one star is because I have to. I think this is the worst school we have had to deal with. My husband is in the Military so we move a lot. We moved out of Middletown due to our son having a very abusive 4th grade teacher Mrs. Ward. She called him names and belittled him constantly. He isn't the first student or the last that she has done this too. My husband and I talked to her about this and she did nothing. We spoke to the principle with nothing being done. Finally ended up going to the Superintendant. Again nothing was done about her abusive behavior. My son said he was scared to go to school because he thought she would hurt him. A child shouldn't have to deal with this.
—Submitted by a parent

We moved here in the middle of the year and my daughter is in the 4th grade. That meant here she had to be in the middle school rather than an Elementary school. I was very nervous about that but they do a great job of keeping the older grades separate from the 4th/5th graders. They never let them walk by themselves and are always in a group and with a teacher. Her teachers is wonderful-Mrs. Ward and has been very helpful in her transition. The academics are good. She is challenged and has homework every night. Her teacher is supportive and I am able to email her if I have any problems or questions. We are a military family and will be only here for a year and I feel that this school has been very supportive and has a good solid academic program. The Principle is out every morning and afternoon helping with traffic and greeting the kids. You don't see that all the time! Middletown school district in my opinion is the best. I have a son that attends Forest Ave and they share many of the same PE/Music teachers. I would recommend Joseph H. Gaudet.
—Submitted by a parent

Im a 7th grader at this school it is terrible. I wish I was a freshman because this school is terrible and the highschool (MHS) has a lot more freedom. I am The 9th Grade Leader. Students will know who I am but good for me not teachers because I have to complain about them. For the most part almost 90% of teacher I have seen are rude. They get mad for no reason sometimes. I am not being a stereotype and saying all of them are but honestly most I know are. The grading system is fake with numbers. It is confusing. The rules are so annoying even though I don't really follow most of them. You can't text or anything. In the highschool you can. Of course like al lschools the lunch is fake. I can't think of one thing thatis better here then in the middleschool 7th and 8th grade are my waiting years for highschool. Of coruse Aquidneck school was even worse. Btw I bring myownlunch because of this and anyways all they have is meat and i am a vegetarian.This school is AWFUL

We came from out of state via the Military and were stationed here in Middletown RI. I must say that I absolutely "HATE" this school. The principles and at least the one teacher that my son has are horrible. They don't care at all. They still run on a school calendar from the 1970's (makes no since). I feel they don't really teach, and that they just hand out worksheets and expect the kids to understand it. It's sad that people from this area don't realize how terrible this school, they just don't know better. And the principal thinks he is doing a great job, I suggest they go to to another state and see how a school should be run.
—Submitted by a parent

I have 2 sons in this school and I'm noticing the changes (negative) from when my oldest started....the classes are having to hold more and more students and the teachers are not as helpful/communicative with child's progress. The only way you'll know is from the report cards and even then the teachers don't really go all the way to help you out. Most of the teachers are ok to mediocre (as the student moves up the chain of grades). The focus is more on sports than academics at this school, There is no parent involvement in the 5-8th grades.
—Submitted by a parent

My children are currently in Gaudet. This middle school now holds the fourth grade and fifth grade students of middletown as well. My sixth grader is doing OK but she excelled at previous schools. My fourth grader ( who scored advanced in previous school)however has begun to hate going to school since coming here and her grades have gone down. There is no parent participation in the lower grade and NO communication as well. If there is a problem then you find out when report cards come out each trimester. And when you try to get help to fix the problems your child is having you get no help from teachers, couselor or administration. There is no other school for middletown 4-8th graders so this is your only option.
—Submitted by a parent

My son attended 6th at Gaudet and enjoyed it. The teachers are warm and friendly which puts the children at ease. Teachers are available via email, which was nice. There is not a gifted or advanced program. Instead, the confusing grading system keeps children and parents in the dark. Parents have no idea what their child's grades are until midterm reports. The children are given 1-5 for grades which do not equate to A,B,C,D,F. Very frustrating for military families since new schools do not understand the report cards. Despite this my son (who doesn't make friends easily) made friends quickly and wasn't bullied. The administration does a wonderful job keeping a safe and orderly environment.
—Submitted by a parent

This school maintains an extremely confusing grading system that doesn't seem appropriate for middle school but rather, elementary. Most parents don't understand it but no one seems to question or challenge it. It seems that students know that they can get by without a lot of effort and never meet a single standard but they will be passed anyway. Where's the motivation?
—Submitted by a parent

I went to Gaudet for 6th grade, and since i'm in the military, i had to move away. I LOVE this school to DEATH. The Teachers are really nice and fun, and know how to help us learn. If we get stuck, they set aside a time on their own schedule to help us out. The Schedules are great and flexible. Our extra activities, like after-school ones, are really good and organized. Drama, for example. While theres a lot of kids in drama, they can really use everyone. We had over 100 kids, and our school performance Annie was terrific. It's a very free place, doesn't hold you back AT ALL. You can be yourself, and actually HAVE FUN. Quiet frankly, being a person who's been in over 13 schools and only in the 8th grade, this is the best school.
—Submitted by a student

I think that this school is the best on the island. The teachers are communicative and committed. It is a down to earth school offering a solid program to the students.
—Submitted by a parent

Do not let the fact that this school is 'HIGH PERFORMING' fool you. We moved here from South Carolina last year, and I am not impressed with this school system. My daughter likes her teachers, but that is about all we like about this school. She is in the 6th grade, and I monitor her school work very closely. Her teachers are very aware of this, but yet I still have to send a note and question grades on report cards, before realizing there is a problem. Art, home economics & health are done on a strange schedule. My daughter took 2 art classes, 1 health and 1 cooking this past year. Each is about 6 weeks long. The daily schedule is on a 5 day rotation and is very confusing. Each day of the 5 days is different. Also, there is no Gifted And Talented Education at this school.
—Submitted by a parent