Ooltewah Middle School

I went to this school from 2009-2012. The teachers didn't really care and the principals didn't either. Everytime my mom would call the school they would never answer. When you went to the office the secretary (Mrs. Harrison) would always be talking to another lady and you would have to wait 20+ Minutes just to talk to her! If your an athlete you get special treatment and special grade uplifts. Mrs. Rice was the only teacher who cared about you. She would take every second of time to make sure you succeeded. She was AMAZING.

We have been very pleased with OMS as a whole. I think the teachers are there for the students and we need to support the teachers. I do receive emails and notes from the staff as appropriate. They seem to plan a lot to keep the kids involved.
—Submitted by a parent

I have to agree with prior comments. There is no communication between teachers, and/or the administration with parents. I have written e- mails, left voice mails for the principal, assistant principal and other staff, nothing. Not even an acknowledgement that the messages were received. I guess I have to go to the school board and let them know , that teachers are under the impression, that they can do whatever they want to do to students. That includes demeaning and unprofessional behavior.
—Submitted by a parent

Post before me must be from someone who works/worked at OMS or has some other tie to this school. I agree that parents need to be involved in their child's learning but when it boils down to it, they are sent to school for a reason and that reason is so the person with the degree can teach them. I'm not sure how OMS ends up with high scores because my child is an honor roll student there (consistently) and yet she has never heard of many things I knew when I was her age or grade in school! If this school was so great she would know these things and MUCH more. She is a smart child but even if she wasn't I think at this school she would still be making the honor roll. If you want your child to get a great education, pass on this school!
—Submitted by a parent

It seems to me that if a parent has a problem with their children learning it is extremely easy to blame the school or the teacher. From my experience with 6 children and 100+ foster kids in more than 20 years it is in fact not schools and teachers but often parents. Most kids today are NOT engaged and feel no need to be before they ever walk out of their front door. If you are plugged in to OMS, and involved with teachers, afterall you are partners in your child's education, you will see success. OMS is an excellent school with outstanding teachers. The teachers care and are concerned about all kids. OMS consistently scores in the top percentile for academic success. Teachers are professional and continue to earn high marks in their state evaluations and local recognition. You want your child to do well, get involved and see.
—Submitted by a parent

As a student I did not like it, but that had to do with other students...mostly. Atheletes seemed to get special treatment and bullying was everywhere. I had a son attend this school for over 2 years, hated to see not much had changed. The bullying is still there strong as ever. I made a tough decision to let my son stay with his father during school years to avoid having to send him to this school. My other children will surely be attending private schools by middle school age! The teachers here for the most part are helpful and caring. Most of the parents dont want to admit when their child is dishing out the bullying and pretty much turning a blind eye to their behavior.
—Submitted by a parent

Agree with parent who says that the administration avoids parents. I actually left notes on the principal's door to call me about a serious matter at school, left several messages, and was ignored. I had to go to the school to find all of the principals yakking outside the day that my student was physically attacked by another student at school. The teachers don't communicate, there is no online grade or assignment checking system, and I haven't seen that my child has learned very much in this school except to not try to achieve. In addition, they take the children on extremely expensive field trips. Don't sign your child up if they might not can make the trip later! If you do, the teacher will threaten that you will 'pay now or pay later' and that they will hold the child's report card until you do.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the worst school that my children have ever attended. The lack of communication among the administration is horrible. I have had two sons go there and I am working a second job to make sure that my daughter doesnt go. The principals and vice principals will avoid you at all costs. When a parent makes actually 14 phone calls and leaves messages each time and does not get a call back there is something wrong.
—Submitted by a parent

I go to Ooltewah Midle School, and I think the administration is great. And their teachers are awesome! Keep up the good work Ooltewah Middle School .
—Submitted by a student

My daughter went to Big Ridge Elementary School in Hixon and had wonderful teachers and an amazing Principal. We moved and she went and currently goes to OMS, what a change! I am disgusted with the lack of Safety that OMS provides. Principal Abernathy hasn't got a clue! Only a handful of kids actually follow the 'strict' dress code, just make a trip up to school and watch the kids walk down the halls and see for your self. Pants hanging down low which is not supposed to be happening, Bullying, Harrassment you name it, you will find it at OMS!
—Submitted by a parent

My oldest kid loves going to this school.The teachers help you when to need it.
—Submitted by a parent

We are new to the area and was pleasantly surprised with the dress code as of Sept. 2007. There is a dress code, but school logo hoodies are allowed to be worn everyday and jeans on Fridays. Khaki pants that have small cargo pockets are allowed (it may not say so on their website, but call the school and ask the secretary). My son says that he likes the school and it is not as strict as the school he came from out of state. He likes the environment, other students and maintains honor roll grades.
—Submitted by a parent

Students here want to learn. Because teachers want to teach. Teachers here know how to challenge and motivate students. Teachers really care about students and students achieve. Ooltewah Middle is by far the best school in Hamilton County. Top web site in the system for any school with numerous awards. State scores prove that academically Ooltewah Middle is the place to be in Chattanooga.
—Submitted by a teacher

My family is new to the area and we have received a ton of help and encouragement from the OMS teachers and administrators. Their kindness and enthusiasm is greatly appreciated. I wish the school building was in better shape, but the staff is what's really important. My wife and I are very engaged in our children's schooling and I would be the first to criticize if I felt it necessary to do so. OMS is a fine school.
—Submitted by Ralph McDarmont, a parent

Our Children have always attended other public schools in another state, until fairly recent. My child is currently a student at Ooltewah Middle, and I'm at a loss to understand many things that occur within the school. There is a matter of the 'dress code.' Any given day you will go and see kids in direct dress code violation, apparently there are 'favorites'-many of them. If the teacher likes you, you do not have to conform to the dress code, but the child beside you better. It appears to me many of the teachers are no longer excited about teaching. Perhaps the low pay and all the additional work has caused some of the teachers to look past the students in hopes of retirement. For my child that has always been treated with respect and kindess by the other teachers, in another, this is extremely difficult to accept.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a veteran teacher at Ooltewah Middle School, which gives me an opportunity to know first-hand what kind of teaching goes on at our school. The test data on this site is old, so let me tell you about TCAP scores from May 2005. Ooltewah Middle School was the TOP MIDDLE SCHOOL of all Hamilton County middle schools on 'value-added' scores in 3 out of 4 categories: Math, Language Arts, and Science. 'Value-added' assesses how much students learned in one year. It measures how effective each teacher has been in imparting knowledge to students, even those who came to us performing below grade level. These kinds of scores are a testimony to the quality of teaching that goes on at my school. What a great place to work! Elaine Hutcheson, Cracker Jacks Team. 6th Grade Science
—Submitted by a teacher

I have had my child in two other middle schools. I have also had other children in other middle schools in Hamilton County. Ooltewah Middle school is the best school in the system. Academically, there is no other school challenging my child and providing them with strong curriculum and enrichment.
—Submitted by a parent