Lamar Middle School

My daughter is a 6th grader at the Lamar Middle School/Fine Arts Academy. Making the jump from elementary to middle school is a big one for both students and parents so I am pleased to report that my daughter is thriving in this school. She is a student in the orchestra and can't wait to come home and practice her violin. She is also doing great academicaly and enjoys her core classes. Any questions that I have had have been answered promptly by her teachers, counselor, or principal. I feel that they know my daughter and look after her and that she is not just a number. She enjoys going to her classes, loves her electives, enjoys her Scottie Club, and wants to participate in school activities and functions. All in all, a great middle school experience thus far. I am excited for her to continue on at Lamar and I am excited for my son to start there next year.
—Submitted by a parent

My kids both attend Lamar Fine Arts Academy. They both enjoy middle school and especially all of the amazing electives that are offered. Just because it is a FAA doesn't mean it is lacking in other areas. My daughter is taking an accelerated math and my son took Algebra and now is taking Geometry. Also, they both take foreign languages-one Spanish, the other Japanese. The principal is awesome! PTA is very involved. Lots of neighborhood kids attend and it feeds into McCallum Fine Arts. Best thing about Lamar is the size-a small middle school with teachers and staff who know your child and help you when you need it. Very happy!
—Submitted by a parent

Our family is pleased with the choice to send our daughter to Lamar Fine Arts Academy. She is participating in band, volleyballl, Spanish, art, dance and all AP classes. The workload is challenging, but managable for our daughter. She has a wonderful group of friends and teachers. The band experience has been amazing! The leadership from the Principal has been outstanding. He has sought after grants, is proactive in planning for the Fine Art future of Lamar, is involved in a master plan and truly loves the kids. Lamar is full of enrichment, culture, cool parents and wonderful neighborhood kids.
—Submitted by a parent

Lamar Middle School's visionary leadership in our new principal has continued to increase academic standards and enrollment for neighborhood students. As a newly designated Fine Arts Academy, we are the only middle school to offer Art 1 for high school credit. Advanced academic choices and increased electives are continuing to increase performance. Athletics participation and performance also make Lamar a great neighborhood school choice. As a parent and volunteer, I have enjoyed the camaraderie and involvement that naturally comes from staying in our neighborhood.
—Submitted by a parent

What an amazing experience my daughter has had at Lamar Fine Arts Academy. Her artistic talents have been allowed to shine while still keeping focused on academics. The Principal is outstanding and the PTA has really stepped up to make this a very fine school!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter attends Lamar Middle School, and is proud to be a part of the Fine Arts Academy, but also enjoys the rigor of the other classes she is taking and the options in regard to electives. The teaching staff is a group of wonderful, talented teachers who really know their students and are available and responsive to them!.Principal Lewellyn has brought so much to the campus, and is equally available to the families. Our daughter has wonderful friends and is honestly happier than one would ever expect during "those middle school years". So happy to be a part of our neighborhood school!
—Submitted by a parent

Both my sons attended Lamar. My older son had no issues at Lamar. I am disappointed with my younger son's experience. He graduated 8th grade this year. It is our perspective that Lamar has little experience or interest in integrating students with disabilities into the life of the school, esp. extracurricular activities. Communication with special education staff was not good, we did not receive written reports on his IEP goals despite repeated requests.Expect to spend much time in advocacy efforts at this campus. There are some staff at Lamar that were engaged and interested in my son's education. I wish I could give a shout out to these people, but naming staff is not allowed on this site.
—Submitted by a parent

We are very pleased to have our daughter at Lamar. The workload in the AP classes is substantial and challenging. Her teachers are, to a one, experienced, pleasant, and respectful to children and adults. Performing arts - especially band - is crazy important here, and will become more so when the Fine Arts Academy starts up next year. And...gang activity? Seriously? When I asked my Lamar sixth-grader if she had seen any misbehavior, she responded solemnly "Oh, yes, there's a boy in my class who chews gum all the time. And once a girl got caught...TEXTING."
—Submitted by a parent

Most of the older reviews sound like they were written about some other school. The Lamar Middle School I know is a great neighborhood school. There are no gangs (!) and no unusual security issues. The fine arts curriculum is outstanding - in fact, Lamar Middle School is officially a Fine Arts Academy. The new principal is strengthening the alignment between the Lamar curriculum and McCallum's curriculum. My son is learning Algebra in 7th grade. He's also taking Japanese and robotics. He loves - and excels in - band. He'll have the option of taking a high school credit advanced art class in 8th grade. Check out the campus and website; talk to parents of Lamar students; talk to the principal and the teachers. It's an exciting time to be part of the Lamar community.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great middle school...My daughter graduated Highland Park elementary and some of her friends were being placed in other private MS. I am glad we decided to send her to Lamar, she is a straight A student and she has really enjoyed her time at Lamar, this school has a bad reputation but every child that wants to learn and is serious about their education and has parental support will do very well in this school, this is true for any child attending any school they will get what they put into, hard work and dedication will pay at the end. Lamar Fine Arts MS rocks..... I want every parent that is struggling with making a decision to send their child to Lamar...DON'T WORRY this is a good school!!!
—Submitted by a parent

Soon to be a Fine Arts Academy! Parent involvement is awesome. Scottie Dads come at lunch to let kids get outside...parents helped get safe routes - bus stops moved, striping for crosswalks, working on developing outdoor gardens. Dedicated staff, involved adminstration. all key elements for our middle school youth.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been an educator for 45 years and my positive experience with the Special Education Staff was A++ Never before have I had such a positive turn around for a student in need in such a sort time. They were dedicated, open, talented and tuned in! Thank you for your knowledge, expertise and competency. Keep up the great work.
—Submitted by a teacher

My son went to Lamar in 6th grade. The gang problems were so bad, and the school leaders were very uncaring, I had to pull my son out and put him in a private school. He is now in 7th grade at Redeemer Lutheran School, and is thriving! Lamar has a long way to go as far a student safety and academic acceptability.
—Submitted by a parent

Lamar has a caring staff, good teachers and a commitment to be even better. I have been impressed with their responsiveness to parent issues. Middle school is tough but they seem to be willing to be tough too.
—Submitted by a parent

Lamar is activity seeking improvement through the Fine Arts Magnet Middle School proposal, Safe Routes To School, mentoring programs and active PTA. The school is becoming more active in a relationship with the neighboring communities and is striving to regain the status of a neighborhood school.
—Submitted by a parent

Lamar used to be a descent school academically. This is no longer the case. I am glad my kid is out of there.
—Submitted by a parent

Lamar has very much in recent times diluted its academics in recent times. When my oldest son was there 9 years ago it was fairly solid academically. When my second son was there 5 years ago it was clear Lamar was going going in the wrong direction. Now my youngest child is definitely not being prepared for high school. She is in 8th grade but is being taught at a 5-6th grade level, even though she is in the 'advanced' courses. It is a real shame. Not clear where the blame lies or how to fix it.
—Submitted by a parent

I am surprised at some of the reviews I have read about children not being challenged enough at Lamar! Both of my kids are in Pre-AP and I feel they are definitely being challenged! Sometimes more than they want to be! Also, my previously shy children have blossomed at Lamar, participating in extra-curricular activities I never thought they would be interested in! Lamar has a great e-mail communication system. I know about upcoming activities before my kids do! Since my son and daughter have been at Lamar for awhile, they were used to the previous principal, so the jury is still out about the new principal.
—Submitted by a parent

The new principal, Eleanor Duncan, is fabulous! All students are important to her. She is at everything and gives 150%.
—Submitted by a parent

If your child is one who needs to be challenged academically & becomes bored easily when he/she is not, then this is not the school for you. My son is a very creative child who is also quite gifted in the areas of math & science. He was not challenged enough at this school & subsequently became a discipline problem. The staff & administration at Lamar chalked it up to him being an adolescent boy & doled out what they saw as fit punishment, rather than looking at the possibility that my gifted & talented child was simply bored & not challenged enough. Since pulling him out of Lamar & finding a school more suited to his personality he is back to his old self, making good grades & participating in extra curricular activities.
—Submitted by a parent