Cooper Middle School

My daughter has had a great experience at Cooper. The students, teachers and administrators create a supportive environment in which a child can thrive. The curriculum is challenging and engaging - and the teachers are highly motivated to teach and support the students. Thank you to the Cooper community - -keep up the great work!
—Submitted by a parent

I found this review dated Feb 2005 and could not agree more with this parent. Our child just completed 8th grade and so glad to be out of this school. There are some excellent teachers at the school, its just not the majority of the teachers. This school is filled with bureaucrats who dislike children, they are rude, immature, and irresponsible administrators. This school should be audited and the staff relieved of further responsibility. They intimidate students and parents utilizing dictatorial beureaucratic policy and proceedural arguements. They are skilled at deflating the confidence of children and are intollerate of parental rights. They do not respond to emails or parental concerns except to dictate their own position. They are non-negotiable and non-cooperative and most unpleasant.
—Submitted by a parent

Things I like about Cooper Middle School: 1) if you reach out to the teachers with a concern, they are very responsive. 2) The frequent emailed progress reports. It makes it much easier to keep track of how your daughter/son is doing at school. 3) The curriculum is challenging, whether you are an advanced student or not. 4) The band program is comprehensive and successful. Things I don't like about Cooper Middle School: 1) "My house is bigger than your house." I know it's endemic in schools with a lot of rich kids, but since when have we quit teaching our kids that it is in poor taste to brag about how much money you have? 2) Like most bigger schools, you must be ever-vigilant and an advocate for your child if they are struggling. 3) No school sports. 4) The crazy-long bus ride down Georgetown Pike if you don't live in McLean.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm currently a student at Cooper and it is a grat school with amazing after school activities.

Teachers are great and the school provides lot of opportunities for both academic and extra-curricular activities. Their focus in theater, PE is very good.
—Submitted by a parent

I currently go to Cooper and I like it a lot :) I Just find that my math teacher is kind of crazy...

Cooper School is not always the best choice for your kids - particularly if they are boys. I think every parent I have spoken to that has boys has a story to tell about a bad experience their son has had. Some of the administrators were good, some not. Our experience is that girls are overwhelmingly favored. Not a good situation for your son. I did notice that they have new male VP's. Hopefully that's been a good move. Cliques start early in McLean -- many form by 4th grade. This is a very cliquish school. That can be hard for some kids.
—Submitted by a parent

I currently go to Cooper Middle (8th grade) and while I think it's an excellent school I would like to make three points 1) in my grade we have had some outbreaks and issues 2) the grading scale is set to change in September of 2009 and 3) there is actually a new principal at our school, Mr. Tyrell (I don't think I spelled that correctly) I have had a great time at Cooper the teachers are all very kind and like to offer extra credit (good for kids who fall off the blck a lot) !
—Submitted by a student

Cooper is an amazing and very friendly school. It has tons of kind and caring students and teachers.
—Submitted by a student

Cooper is the best school experience I have had. I don't understand what people are talking about when they say that middle school is the worst years... The teachers are very motivating, and always there to help. Being directly by the nation's capital brings in some money... and some very interesting and diverse crowd of polite, smart, hard working students. For example, the other day 20 students where choosen to go to the capital with a senator whose son goes to the school. Probobly one half of the school's parents works high in the governmant. At this school is is expected to succeed, and even with an off gradeing scale (of an A being 94%-100%, 93%-84% being a B) the students definetly succeed. Mrs. Randall, Mr. Franklin, and Ms. Clena do not put up with nonsense, and things that would happen at other schools do not happen at this school.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a student at cooper and so was my sister and we both think it is the best school because all of the teachers are so nice
—Submitted by a student

I am a current student at cooper...and i think its the most amazing school anyone can think of...teachers are all awsome! they know their subject really well... Every kid in the school is responsible and wants to be some one in the future. The school is super safe, fights and any kind of mischive barely ever occurs. The school is clean and is very practicle. It has so many different activities to choose from, you will definately enjoy this school.This school has been the best school i have ever been to. And trust me i have been to more 6 schools around the world! My time in cooper will be soooo memorable and im sure if ur kid goes here, they will not ever want to leave.... i cant believe its my last year in middle school! woah!
—Submitted by a student

I have found the teachers and staff to be highly cooperative and supportive in an atmosphere of overwhelmingly high parental and social expectations. The lesson plans are creative, the activites offered extensive. They are right on the mark as far as making the children responsible for their own actions, which includes the academic as well the social. They negotiate the landmines of high expectation parental 'supervison' exceedingly well.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is filled with bureaucrats who dislike children, they are rude, immature, and irresponsible administrators. This school should be audited and the staff relieved of further responsibility. They intimidate students and parents utilizing dictatorial beureaucratic policy and proceedural arguements. They are skilled at deflating the confidence of children and are intollerate of parental rights. They do not respond to emails or parental concerns except to dictate their own position. They are non-negotiable and non-cooperative and most unpleasant.
—Submitted by a parent

I'm a student at Cooper and it is awesome! The teachers are all so nice and the principal, Mrs. Randall, is really cool. Also the director of student services, Mrs. Boak, takes the time to learn the names of 99% of the students. Cooper Rocks!
—Submitted by a student

This is a wonderful, focused, and safe school. The test results show the high academic achievement of the students due to a dedicated and highly trained staff.
—Submitted by a parent