Caroline Middle School

This is my child's first year in middle school. So far I haven't been impressed. I thing they make it to easy to pass. They focus so much on the sol's that they forget about everything else. My child can struggle and fail everyday class work, but as long as they pass the sol's the school doesn't care. They also don't know how to handle children with emotional issues.
—Submitted by a parent

Caroline Middle School is doing a great job. The administration is very supportive of the community. The transition from elementary to middle school has been smooth thanks to the great teachers and administrator that takes care of issues that arise immediately.
—Submitted by a parent

Caroline Middle School has great administrators, teachers, and students.

The Caroline Middle School family is supportive of one another. The teachers, students, and staff are all dedicated to helping all CMS eagles "Strive for Excellence" in their academic, social, and personal lives! The teachers, counselors, and administrators are dedicated to lifelong learning and the students are cooperative and eager to learn. Caroline Middle School is a fantastic place to be! Go Eagles!
—Submitted by a teacher

The students are great and my co-workers are wonderful. Go Caroline!
—Submitted by a parent

Great staff....great parents....great kids.......awesome spirit!!! GO EAGLES!!
—Submitted by a teacher

This school was two of the best and worst years of my life i felt that in my seventh grade yr here i got more of an education then my sixth,but it not the most terrible school to go to they have a lot of ap classes and they have some sports but the sports are based on favoritism and is your not someone that tried out in the sixth grade you wont make the team.Now that i moved to alaska i feel like my school supports what the kids do and that anyone who want to join a sport can
—Submitted by a student

My daughter started sixth grade in CMS from a southwestern VA school. I had heard stories about Caroline schools and wished I had heeded them. After a month and a half, I pulled my daughter and my son from caroline schools and they go to private school, where education is valued and the students do not run the school. Parents need to get involved in their kids' lives, teach them respect for others and authority and not just let them run wild. Thank God, I was able to do this. It's time to move Caroline into the 21st century and put the administration in charge of the school and the buses, not the kids. I was amazed at the bullying that goes on there and the lack of control the bus driver's have. It's as if they have given up and are going through the motions...wait, they have and they are.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had to deal with Caroline Middle School for 3 long disappointing years. I feel that the education our children are receiving is substandard at best. While yes the school has a new principal he has indeed taken control of the school,there is no discipline what so ever. I did speak to him and he basically told me that the 8th graders were not use to strick rules due to the prior principal and he need to focus on the 6th graders. As for trying to communicate with the school, well, good luck getting a call back..that is if the front office actually gives the teacher the messages. The main problem is the teachers do not get the backing they need to do their job right.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a parent of an eighth grade student at Caroline Middle School. My daughter's sixth grade year was filled with problems, including not having enough advanced classes offered and having bullies pick on her. However, in 2006 CMS was blessed with a new principal named Mr. Pellegreen. He is involved with the students, walks through the halls and classrooms on an hourly basis, and seems to run a very 'tight ship.' More advanced classes have been offered in the last two years, and we have been much happier. I would like to see more electives become available, and I think they will in the next few years. CMS is getting much better!
—Submitted by a parent

The academics and teachers are average and the extracurricular subjects are fine also. I have a child with special needs which I do not feel were being met at Caroline Middle. I think the biggest problem at the school were the children themselves, which stems from lack of parental involvement. I know my child had a lot of problems at the school. The teachers cannot be expected to be everywhere all the time. I do think the teachers are qualified. However, I do not feel that they were as caring as in the primary and elementary schools. Mr. Pellegreen is a wonderful principal. I knew him from the primary school. I think eventually he can turn things around. Although I see it taking a few years to do so.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a current student at Caroline Middle School. I personally think that some matters arn't being handled properly. Like if you do something minor you will get in big trouble but if you do some major it is a good chance you won't get in trouble.But from my point of veiw the teachers are great they care very much about each student.We have great sports and things like that.
—Submitted by a student

I think that this school has very poor teaching, administrating, safety, discipline. They need new school books and better food. It has improved alot since became Pellegreen became principal. They discriminate on children from a certain part of Caroline. I am the parent of a student at Caroline Middle School.
—Submitted by Carol Sheperd, a parent

I think that CMS is a great school acedemically. The teachers are great and if students need extra help they will provide it.They have tons of sports including football and basketball, just to name a few. The students are great to get along with and everyone's great.Overall I think that CMS is a wonderful school. And a great learning enviroment.
—Submitted by a former student

I am a current student at this school (I am a 6th grader). My first year here has been pretty well. The principal is willing to do what it takes to make this school a better school. Most of the teachers care very much and want us to pass in flying colors. The extracurricular activities are starting up now we have spanish club, art club, softball team, baseball team, an open gym, and we have accelerated math classes. The cafeteria has good food most of the time (But one time almost half of the 6th graders got food poisoning). I am enjoying my year here, but one thing they need to improve on is the discipline people don't get in trouble if they've done anything serious, but if they did the smallest thing they get in trouble.
—Submitted by a student

I was a student of Caroline Middle School from 2001 till 2004, and I don't think people look at the good things about Caroline. All they focus on is the bad things. I was a straight A student and I knew many others. You can't base an entire school's reputation on a couple of bad kids who happen to be racist against each other. I thought that the school food was delicious, and as some parents may say the food is bad, how would they know? Did you go there in the past few years? The academics are incredibly good, and it's not the teachers' fault that Caroline Middle has such low test scores, it's the childrens' fault. Most of them don't listen or don't care. I believe Caroline is a good school district for kids who want to be there. The extracurricular activities are also very well put together.
—Submitted by Devin Familette, a former student

This school has a very poor administration. The principal is power crazy and willing to take out anyone who stands in his way. This is bad news for any students very active in the school. The overall quality of the school is very poor.
—Submitted by a student

CMS has always had a bad name. My child has just started this year and we have a good class from last year's fifth grade class. We also have a new principal who has high hopes for this school and also is very community oriented. I beleive with the proper guidance and management, we can achieve full accreditation. My daughter has a great bunch of teachers and there have been many new policies incorporated this year. I have high hopes for this school this year. I hope if finally achieves the success it most deparately needs. I wish them all the best and I will do what I can to support the staff. I will write again at the end of the year.
—Submitted by Carolyn Clarke, a parent

I am a local counselor and have worked with several students at this school. As with most Caroline County schools, this one is needs a lot of work. The teachers often cannot speak proper english themselves, and seeing teachers misspell words on the board is not uncommon. If your child has an IEP, don't count on the schools here to provide much. Caroline Schools pay their staff substantially less than surrounding counties attracting only the bottom of the barrel in educators, and adninistrators. Unless you want your child to receive a substandard education, I would certainly stay away from Caroline County at this point. On a positive note however, the school has a new principal and vice-principal who seem committed to making positive change.
—Submitted by a parent

After 3 years of our child attending this school, our experience has been that this is a substandard school in every way. Communications with the office are difficult (often messages not passed on), teachers are mediocre, course offerings are minimal. Tensions are high between the black & white population. Cafeteria food is really bad. School website could be more informative. Discipline is lax. Athletic department is virtually nonexistent. We are pulling our child from this school & sending her elsewhere in order to get the good education she deserves. Unfortunately, this is the only high school in the county & now we have to pay thousands to ensure a better high school education in addition to college.
—Submitted by a parent