Elgin Middle School

I enjoyed sending my son to Elgin Middle School. The teachers and administration are delightful. There were always enough books, computers and other supplies for the students. Parents need to GET INVOLVED! Most the parents do not get involved, maybe it's because in the part of town zoned for this school they don't speak English? Anyway, I think Elgin Middle School is great!
--Submitted by a parent

I think Elgin Middle School is a great school. The problem is the parents in the area. They expect the school to raise their children. There is so little parent involvement that many of the children do not reach their potential. The teachers can only do so much. Once the child is home there is no way a teacher can control whether homework is being completed or if a student is studying or not. These parents need to quit making excuses for their shortcomings! My child learned a great deal at Elgin Middle School and did very well on the TAKS tests. He is now at Elgin High School doing very well in all of his Pre-Ap classes.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has many teachers and other staff who care and are doing their best. It is small enough to get to know students and families. It has some truly great teachers and has made some significant improvements in recent years. That said, it has all the problems associated with poverty, non-stable populations, and the unreasonable crushing pressure of federal NCLB requirements. High turnover at the leadership level doesn't help. If your child goes to this school and you wish it was better, join the PTSA, meet with teachers, visit classrooms, go to school board meetings, volunteer, mentor some kids, etc. Schools get plenty of criticism, what they need more of is support.
--Submitted by a teacher

I just moved to elgin and have a 6th grader in elgin middle school the one thing that bothers me and him is that there are no textbooks for the students to take home to review or study
--Submitted by a parent

I sincerely hope that things can turn around at Elgin Middle School. I have lived in this community for many years but elected to educate my child privately, sending him to EMS 7th-8th grade. While I don't believe that was a mistake necessarily, I can see how it would for a child who does not have a strong educational background. We saw things get better but there is an incredibly long way to go. Discipline is a huge problem, textbooks are not plentiful enough for kids to bring home a copy to study, no lockers. The new(est) principal was a great VP-let's hope he turns things around! Some great teachers, but I cannot recommend at this time.
--Submitted by a parent

Whoever said this school was a good school is in dreamland. Teachers do not control the kids, the content of the course work is so behind other schools, that its SCARY. My kid made all A's and B's while attending, but when I started looking at what he was studying, it seemed as if his eighth grade math was at a third grade level!! Since all the money goes to athletics, you would think the coaching quality would be better then it is! Wrong. And Never any homework, Why? Cause they don't allow kids to take home the books!!!!
--Submitted by a parent

I must admit that when I moved here I was very excited about the school. It seemed to be a wonderful small school. I was immediately disappointed. I feel that this school is far behind other schools and there seems to be no structure. Kids are running wild and basically doing as they please. My daughter's grades have gone down and I'm afraid that once we move her to a more adequate school she will be so far behind. There is no textbooks for the kids to take home and no homework at all. I do have to say that so far there are some teachers who seem to be trying very hard and want to assist in anyway possible. But at the rate this school is going I feel that the school will not be able to retain these good teachers. I cannot recommend this school at this time.
--Submitted by a parent

I have thre children tow whom have passed through the middle school and one who will attend next year for her final year. When I came to Elgin in 93 it was because of their schools and the small hometown charm. I have seen teachers and administration frustrated at the deterioration of this school and the entire school system. Currently I can not recommend these schools but am working with many parents to go forward and take back our schools so my children and children to come will flourish.
--Submitted by Scott Smith, a parent

This school is far behind other middle schools in neighboring districts. My oldest child went to this school for three years. I moved this child and my middle child into another school district a few months back. At this point my children are playing catch up. I feel this school needs a great deal of work. They are failing the children of this district in every way. The children do very little course work, have no reward system, this school offers very few extracurricular activities, and the children are pretty much running wild. Oh, and should I mention the fact that this district has a brand new multi-million dollar sports facility at the high school and no text books for the eighth grade students to take home. I personally think this districts priorities are backwards.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has some major problems that the faculty seems not to want to admit it goes on there. These kids are so out of control. There is no homework for my 6th grader. If she is absent for a day there is no make up work. My neighbors moved their kids to a different school district and realised how far behind Elgin really is. There is no motivation to accomplish anything. We have been in this district for a year and a half. My daughter will not be going to this school next year. I just hope that she wont be to far behind. There is no communication between the school and parents. This district needs a major overhaul.
--Submitted by a parent