Murchison Middle School

This is our only experience in a public middle school; our other sons went to a private middle school. Overall, the work load has been less in comparison, but I think our child got a good education. He took the "advanced" classes and has done well. Things that should change are all the "mini-tests" given. This takes so much time away from instruction/discussion time. Also, advisory is 40 minutes of the week and it just benefits a few. I'd rather see an "elective period" for "high risk" students instead of subjecting all students to advisory twice a week. Strengths: Principal. I have had several encounters with her and am please with the outcomes. She is not driven by donations and looks after the best interest of the students most times. Teachers: they have always responded to my e-mails and my son's teachers do enjoy their jobs and students. Weaknesses: bully policy interpretation. My son (and am learning of many other boys) was suspended in the 6th grade for pushing a friend of his, who fell into another kid. I thought this was an overreaction by the vice principal. Counselors: replace them. I haven't found any value; use their salaries on more teachers.
--Submitted by a parent

Excellent teachers lead by strong principal leadership, this school was a reference to my daughter and my niece. Congratulations and thank you.
--Submitted by a parent

Not good school for someone has a disablility. constant bullying by peers and too many students. Very very unhappy experience.
--Submitted by a parent

My child goes to this school and it is a very safe and highly educated school. This school has great teachers and focuses on education and IB. Murchison has many choices from music such as orchestra to lots of different languages like spanish, french, german, and chinese. This is a school you should you enroll your students in.
--Submitted by a parent

Murchison emphasizes a broad education for students through its International Baccalaureate program. My grandchild lives with me and she is delighted with her new sixth grade school.

Im a student at murchison,and i moved here in 6th grade,in the middle of march,and i got used to the teachers,and they sound like they dont care cause of some parents say that there child is failing from the teachers not careing,well they do care!im a 7thgrader and i was failing math badly,so it wasnt that my teacher didnt cared,i didnt care,so i asked my teacher for help,i stayed after school for tutoring,and i got help and scored the grade i wanted in math,and im passing math and its easier for me! cause i didnt care,the students have to ask there teachers questions,the teachers dont wanna help if you dont want help at all,so i love murchison,i made great friends and have great friends,any one would be lucky to go here,and i am lucky! and if your thinking about comeing here, then you should!:]]
--Submitted by a student

Very dedicated teachers who are interested in whether the children learn. The International Baccalaureate program is a wonderful opportunity for students interested in a liberal arts education from an early age, and the elective courses are as excellent as the required courses. Because of the size & diversity of the population, there are occasional disciplinary issues (e.g., fights) that arise, but overall the administration does a good job preventing these issues through policy decisions (dress code, etc.) and discipline after the fact.
--Submitted by a parent

MMS is great for accelerated students. MMS is NOT great for Special Ed students. Teachers don't go the extra mile for the 20 or so Spec. Ed students who need extra help. We had a great elementary! Now we have gone straight to sharks in college, even though we just finished 6th. There is NO transition from caring elem. to 7, 8, or even 9th. Teachers cannot put one student on an individual level, they treat one as all - They don't understand learning disabilities at all!!!
--Submitted by a parent

My son is in 8th grade and in special education and found out in 6th grade he is autistic. Most the time the teachers have worked with me on modifing my son's work and have done well in helping him most the time. My son does not go to the tutoring after school because it is so overloaded with kids that he does not get the extra help he needs with homework. In general, the school is good.
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers at MMS place importance first and foremost on student learning. Test scores are emphasized by district/state/federal officials, and yes, some MMS programs are driven by that pressure. Don't think for a second that teachers are happy about that! But via the IB program and other innovative teaching strategies, MMS faculty works very hard to elevate student achievement, learning, and global responsibility beyond test scores. Parents sometimes struggle with the fact that this is secondary school, and especially at the 7th-8th grade levels, teachers cannot call home every time a student misses an assignment. We offer many ways for parents to support student learning: teacher web sites, student agendas, after-school tutorials and homework center, and accessibility via email, to name a few. This is my 10th year teaching at Murchison. It is a great school and I am proud to to teach here.
--Submitted by a teacher