Dexter Middle School

The seventh grade language arts teacher, the seventh grade science teacher, and a substitute teacher during the science teacher's maternity leave, are three of the meanest and unprofessional teachers I have ever met in my life. Under the direction of the current principal, they are blatantly failing my daughter, which up until this year had a 3.0 GPA. I think teachers and administrators like this should be run out of town. The principal will not return emails. Parents have little or no say to what happens at this school. If you have an alternative school that you can send your child, please do so. Under no circumstances should your child attend Dexter Middle School under the current administration.
—Submitted by a parent

This school has the most inferior administration of any school I have ever worked with. The teachers are great and do what they can with what they have. The teachers work well with parents and are involved with the pupils. The administration and office staff conversely, are rude, unprofessional, lack communication skills and refuse to work well with parents. Disciplines are inconsistent, with no apparent rhyme or reason for making reprimand decisions. This would be an outstanding school with a different administration and office staff.
—Submitted by a parent

I have to say that all the negative comments posted are right in line with my experience! I think that there is no rational explanation as to why a parent wouldn't be allowed to have lunch with their child. The diciplinary process is VERY inconsistent. The office administration is unwilling to acknowledge parents. Very unprofessional. My child now attends another Shelby County school and is on the honor roll, enjoys going to school and has excellent conduct marks. The administration should be removed and placed on probation. Dexter failed my child and other from other posts!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is pretty good. My child has been happy here and is getting a good education--she was involved with UofM's Summer Scholars program--so proof her grades are good. Your child will the get the education you push for and you have to push to get info from teaching staff--but they are responsive---if YOUare a responsive parent.
—Submitted by a parent

Overall, it is a good school--not great. It does not offer most of the school related activities other SCSK Schools have like clubs and extra-sports programs, but it does have the basics.
—Submitted by a parent

Its ok with the teachers and staff they are real nice but its just a big hassle to buy school uniforms
—Submitted by a parent

Dexter Middle is a very good school. The administrators and teachers care a great deal about the students. I know what a bad school is and it is not Dexter Middle. My daughters love the school as well. There is some room for improvement as with anything in life. Overall I know that the teachers do all that they can for the students.
—Submitted by a parent

Dexter Middle School is a GREAT school. The teachers and the administrators do a great job considering the circumstances. The parents that made negative comments are probably those that are not involved or those that think that their students are perfect. There are no perfect students/parents and therefore there are no perfect schools. PTA is available for all parents wanting to be involved in school activities. Our enrollment is low. This school year, we have had Open House, Curriculum Night and Parent Teacher Conferences. The same parents and students show up every time. It is easy to sit back and say what a school is not when one is not actively involved in helping to make the school and your student what they could be.
—Submitted by a parent

I just graduated from Dexter. Some of the teachers are really great but some just don't have the passion that other teachers do. Ms.Bazar and Ms.Clark are awesome teachers, they are my favorite from 8th grade. My favorite from 7th are Ms.Feltus and Mrs.Scissom.
—Submitted by Emily Vogelsang, a former student

Understandably as our children mature into young adults, it is imperative that with the high percentages of violence in today's schools, it would appear that this school would encourage parent involvement, but the are totally against it! I don't care for the school for the inconsistency in discipline, the turnaround in teachers and the punishment of the students in class for the misbehavior of a few. Dexter's overall academic testing is poor and they choose to isolate the students from the parent. You can't bring gifts, eat lunch or bring lunch to your child. If you arrive at 7:56 a.m. your child is considered late even though school begins at 7:00 a.m. The board says the principal makes the rules! Oh my God!
—Submitted by a parent

This school has been a disappointment. We found discipline to be inconsistent and unbalanced. Academically some of the teachers are great, and others exhibit poor teaching or student/parent interactions. Few extra curricular activities are offered. Parental involvement seems low. Even though I believe in the value of a public education, and have always thought very positively of the county school system--I have given up and found another option.
—Submitted by a parent

I agree with all the neg. feedback here. We came from Cordova Middle (CITY SCHOOL) Isn't DMS a COUNTY School? Hmmm Funny they are worse on the ' dress code' ( another word for uniforms) Then the MANDATORY CITY SCHOOL Uniform, policy! A couple of his teachers keep us up to date, But, I have to say I miss Cordova Middle so much, I mean come on, there aren't many time he is late but if he is, I the parent have to walk him in, even if he 5 minutes late. He is old enough to go to the office and his own pass, just as he did at Cordova.I would do anything to go back to Cordova.
—Submitted by a parent

This Has to be one of the worst schools that my family has encountered. The office staff is rude and there is absolutely no support for the child or the parent. They failed us miserably he now goes elsewhere Thank Goodness.
—Submitted by a parent

Our daughter is now in her fourth year at Dexter Middle School, having attended since the second year it was open. She is now in eighth grade at DMS and we have had absolutely all positive experiences -- teachers: great; office staff: great: administration: great. 'Caring, competent, and conscientious' would be a phrase I would use to describe this school's staff and teachers. I'd love to start naming names of those who have been especially helpful and kind, but I'm afraid I'd miss someone so I won't go there. Every time I've visited the school (e.g., Father-Daughter dances, picking up daughter for appointments, dropping off items daughter forgot, parent-teacher conferences, school open house, awards cermonies), I've had such a good feeling about the folks to whom we entrust our daughter's education. She's a better person for having been impacted by these wonderful folks and we couldn't be more grateful.
—Submitted by Steve Holliday, a parent

We recently transferred to Dexter Middle. Academically, my child who is in the 7th grades likes her teachers; however, parent's don't count.
—Submitted by a parent

My family and I just moved to Cordova TN and Dexter Middle was the school appointed school for my daughter .. This school is very unorganized and has no sense of leadership .. I also want to sale my house and move so my child doesn't have to attend this school .
—Submitted by a parent

We moved from South Africa to Memphis last Fall and found Dexter Middle to be a fantastic School. Ms Pruitt and her staff are absolutely fantastic. My daughter's teachers have been crucial in helping with the transition to a new and unfamiliar environment. Next year my younger daughter goes to Dexter. I wouldn't have it any other way! Azy Pather
—Submitted by Azy Pather, a parent

It is an interesting experience. When I call the school, the woman that answers the phone always rushes you up and tries to get you off the phone before you finish explaining what your problem is saying 'someone will call you' but most of the time nobody does. When I send the note/letter to my son's teacher I don't get no answer or no acknowledgement whatsoever.When I leave a message for her she never calls me back unless I leave 3 or 4 messages at the same day. But she never misses calling us at hour house for fund raising stuff etc. But then again, there is a math teacher.Mrs.Gibson. She is a very good teacher. She always works with you and gets back with you everytime you try to reach her.And I am sure she really does care about the children that she teaches.
—Submitted by a parent

* i go to dexter middle and i love it * im in 8th grade and i cheer for them and havent had any problems * ive been going since 7th but have friend that have been there since 6th and love it too. the school is extra safe and even has a deputy on campus 24/7 ! * dexTeR iS a AwEsOmE sChOoL * i love it !
—Submitted by NiColE, a student

I agree with the previous feedback. I have 2 children, one at Dexter and one at ECS. One of the office staff is a very rude woman with some serious attitude problems. A parents first impression of a school is created upon entering the office and meeting the new staff. I cannot imagine who would allow such an unprofessional, rude woman to work on an everyday basis with our children. Maybe the decor should have been kept as it was and the office staff looked at a little closer before hiring them. To the rude woman: If you don't like children than you should consider a career change. The Board of Education will be contacted about your behavior.
—Submitted by a parent