Hilton Head Island Middle School

i love this schoolbesides the fact that there is skillstutor and that i feel that it just is a subsitute for a teacher to teach! you cant turn to someone for help! and it is also very hard if you do not have a compuher at home, because ifyou stay after school then you can only stay for 30 minutes and you dont want to go to the public libary and sit for hours when you have other homework too! overall i love this school! i really love the keyboarding!!!!!!
—Submitted by a student

It's a great school to go! My child love it there!
—Submitted by a parent

I used to go there and I didn't like it at all. The classes are huge, and unless you grow up in that school, the teachers seem to pay no attention to you. The school is really confusing also. The hallways are all mixed together, and I got lost a lot. I can't even remember doing homework in here either. The only thing I remember doing is drawing a poster for History class. I definitely wouldn't recommend this school.
—Submitted by a student

The high staff turnover and the low test scores speak volumes. The administration is nonchalant about the issues and they are rarely available The graffeti in the bathrooms is graphic and disgusting and remains despite complaints. There is no provision for safety for the few groups that meet after 4:00. The doors are locked and there is no access to a phone. Needless to say parents who can afford priviate schools opt for that.
—Submitted by a parent

Hilton Head Middle has been a fantastic school for my daughter and her friends. They love the freedom here, yet still folow the strict guidelines. The music, art, and sports programs and electives here are very entertaining for my daughter, and she loves it! Parents and the PTA Staff here are very involved, and always have fundraisers and after-school programs to support the school and student. Rachel enjoys going to school- and she wouldn't trade HHMS for the world!
—Submitted by a parent

Hilton Head Middle School is an excellent school with a great staff that is VERY responsive to parental concerns. The AdMin works hard @ making the campus safe and making the education of our children a priority. The parental involvement is strong and encouraged. Discipline is tight and the consequences are well spelled out. The teachers that we have encountered have been very open and interested in our child's progress and willing to go the extra mile to ensure his success. This is our 2nd year at the school and I have been extremely pleased with our son's experience so far.
—Submitted by Ruthe Ritterbeck, a parent

I have a daughter who has just completed the 6th grade and she had a series of great teachers with a few acceptions, but no school is perfect. She had a great education and was asked to go to JrNYLC for her academics. I think that this school offers so much if the student has a thirst for knowlege, it doesnt have to be a ton either. She has two younger brothers who look foward to going to this school.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is in the 6th grade and I think the teachers feel they are too good to teach these student. They spend more time screaming at them and scaring them than getting to know them and help and teach them. My son has never had any trouble with teachers til this year when we moved here last fall.
—Submitted by a parent

'This school is amazing! My oldest daughter, Kelsey goes to this school an she loves it. I think this school provides a safe atmosphere which is great because if she feels safe going there, I feel safe taking her there.They have a great staff. She has some wonderful and caring teachers, as well as a caring principal. They also have a strict disiplne system as well. I have decided that when they are old enough,I will send her two little sisters there as well.'
—Submitted by Kelsey Simpson, a student

Both of my children went through this school and we had a very good experience. I always felt my children were safe and that the faculty cared about their well-being. They received an excellent education in a nurturing environment.
—Submitted by a parent

I would not recommend this school under the leadership of this principal. There is no discipline in this school. Childern are not safe and the principal does not care. We are now looking for a private school now to finish out the middle school years. We do NOT recommend this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a daughter in the 7th grade who is doing excellent and having a good academic experience at HHMS. The quality of the majority of the teaching staff is excellent and the leadership and commitment of the vice principals is very good. This school is working to offer a wide range of students what they need to get a good education. From remedial reading and ESOL classes to Gift and Talented program and advanced Math classes students are given the opportunities where they need it. Classes are offered to students that enable them to receive high school credit such as language, computer keyboarding and algebra. The size of the classes are all under the state maximum of 35 and in most cases under 30 (the goal of the school is 20-24 students per class). The related arts are probably the one area where the school should expand its offerings....a third language, bring back culinary arts with a strong teacher, range of art classes (various mediums), dance and strengthen the band and music program. The sport offerings are strong for this middle school but could offer to girls more although not all students are athletic or have interest in it. Other extra curricular offerings such as after school clubs in drama, computer, dance team and other areas would provide a more diverse atmosphere. We have found HHMS to be a good school with more offerings and academic foundation than other schools in this area (including private).
—Submitted by a parent

If you are looking for quality education in a safe environment, keep looking. Poor leadership breeds poor teachers resulting in weak academics.
—Submitted by a parent

My son will be going into the seventh grade this year and I have debated whether to put him in a private school. Last year was not too challenging - he had to do a project that he was required to do in third grade! Thank goodness he saved the parts and pieces and all he had to do was put it back together again. Even his spelling and English lessons were reviews of what he has already had. I know the teachers have to do or teach what they are told to do, but to repeat what was done in the third, fourth and fifth grades. One teacher, who was really very good, kept the kids in alll of her classes confused constantly. Many of the teachers had to teach more than 2 subjects and the classrooms were overcrowded. There are a lot of bright students who go there but get left out because of the students who do not want to get an education and cause problems. They are only there because they are supposed to be there. They don't care about learning nor do the parents. So the students who want to learn don't get the attention they need. We are hoping that seventh grade will be more challenging as my son is looking for a career as an engineer.