Azalea Middle School

My son has went to this school from 6th to 8th grade.. I must say I was worried about it when he first started.. because he is a very quiet child. But he has done great.. The Teachers are amazing and have always kept in touch with me even if it's too tell me he is doing a great job or he has been too quiet again.. he hasn't had no problems at the school. His grades are amazing and if he need to stay after the teachers are always there to help.I have nothing bad to say about school or the staff they have always been a great help to me and my son.. I think half the problem with schools these days is the parents.. You don't let the teachers do there jobs.. This school is great..
--Submitted by a parent

I attended Azalea immediately after I left St. Pius X in the sixth grade (I had to leave because my parents couldn't afford it anymore) and in my first quarter at Azalea I was assaulted 6 times. I was bullied because I had no friends at the time, but I made it out alright and gained a reputation of not only being able to defend myself, but also for defending others like me. The behavior of the "bad" students was a direct result of their home life; I actually ran into one of my bullies from Azalea while I was in college, and he apologized to me and actually bought me lunch. While I was there (1998 - 2001), I met some of the most important people in my life, and one of them was a teacher. He did more for his students in three years than most will ever do in their entire lives, and it's sad to say but it is true - he was an exception to the rule and without more teachers like him, and without some of the staff I had when I was there, I can only imagine the school has fallen back into social disrepair. There are probably dozens of kids being bullied by kids who don't know any better. The public education system is broken, but a single teacher CAN make a difference.

This school is terrible. My son has been diagnosed with a mental disorder and started last year. He has been beaten up by bullies four separate times on the bus and after getting off the bus. Everytime this happened the faculty (dean and principals) made him feel as if it were his fault. the first time he did not fight back and was beaten badly and also reprimanded for not going "straight home" after school. The second time he was suspended for pushing the 3 students back as they were hitting him in the head. Yesterday he came home with a swollen eye and cheek and we were told this morning that it was "mutual combat" so he will more than likely be suspended again. supposedly he "mutually" decided to fight four other guys who grabbed him from behind and held him down while beating him. We have nowhere to turn to for help on stopping this from happening.
--Submitted by a parent

The teaching staff has been wonderful, but the upper management needs to be replaced. The lack of intervention the dean's and principal have in the inappropriate behavior and bullying is unbelievably appalling. The coaching staff uses inappropriate language towards the students and does no show support nor sportsmanship during games.
--Submitted by a parent

Hostile learning environment. Student discipline is a joke. Assaults by students on other students are each treated as separate events so a history of repeated threats, abuse and assaults by one student to others is not taken into account. This is due to the leadership of the principle. When talking to the principle you feel as if you are bothering her. She doesn t hide her contempt very well either. Most of the teachers are fine if not great but the school is a breeding ground for bullies. It took the school a full quarter to find a Latin teacher for the advanced students making them work that much harder to catch up during the second quarter. Then there is the fact the school is falling apart.
--Submitted by a parent

This is an awesome school! It is one of the best in the city. I feel most parents, students and teachers complain because they have never experienced any other school in Norfolk. Azalea is definitely the best in Norfolk. As a teacher, I love going to work at Azalea. I have worked there for many years and we are a family!
--Submitted by a teacher

This was my childs first year in middle school and I had hoped that it would be a wonderful experience. But, all those hopes have been dashed. he comes home angry, in a rage or crying about how aweful the teachers are, the administration shows no concern, even when in a face to face conference with a parent. The principal comes across as 'why are you here and why are you bothering me.' I would not recommend this school to anyone. In fact the best thing the city could so is close it down.
--Submitted by a parent

It's my last year at azalea and the only thing that makes this school survivable is great friends and teachers. The school it's self is falling apart. When it rain chunks of the ceiling falls. A complete hazard to our well being but all they do to fix it is put cones around it.One of the girls bathroom is closed of due to a fire the have yet to fix that. It is always cold in on one side of the building and drafty windows do not help.On a better note, as a student in the honers cluster all the teachers are amazing I love them all. And I've made great friends this year (and crushes). If you can deal with a few unsafe things it makes for and amazing school that I don't want to leave. I love this school even if its falling a part.
--Submitted by a student

i also used to go to this school, and i thought that the learning structure was very well put together. i also say that the overall connection that the teachers had with the students was great-Brennon Kroon put this
--Submitted by a student

I used to teach at this school. This is a very out-dated school with old equipment and classrooms. The school had very bright and wonderful students; however, a majority of the students were reckless, irresponsible, and generally distruptive to the educational process. Parent teacher contact was highly encouraged; however, it rarely produced any changes in student behaviors. The administration was not present and often arrogant in regards to teachers concerns and questions. The schools achievement numbers have been progressing, but those numbers always seemed 'sketchy' to the teachers at the school. The website is only good for contacting teachers through the email pages My tenure at this school was a horrible experience and I would not reccommend this school to any child, parent, or teacher. I have since moved on to another school in the Hampton Roads Area and would give this school zero stars if that was
--Submitted by a teacher