Providence Middle School

My opinion is that one of the assistant principals at Providence Middle in Richmond VA shows blatant racism for certain children who are not of specific ethnic groups. This person allows certain groups to wear pants showing their underwear and high heels for these particular girls. This principal specifically calls out certain children for minimal disciplinary situations and allows others to be allowed to bully students, wear inappropriate clothing and basically act any way they want. I definitely love the diversity of the school and believe the teachers accommodate each and every student. I also believe that having a person in such a high level administrative position allowing them this kind of freedom is detrimental to each and every student at this unique school and can make for a horrible middle school experience.

This school has a lot of problems esp. with the adminstrators you have one that will talk to the children like they are nobody. Parents please listen to your children when they tell you that the male adminstrator talks to them like they are nobody believe them have walked up on them before. I love my children& no child is perfect, they are no saints, yes all of them do things that will make you angry. But at this school they are the worse. everybody needs to be respected whom ever they are. Parents please listen to your children something needs to be done the students are always in the wrong if a teacher or administrator says they are wrong. Thats not how it is suppose to be their is always 3 sides to a story their side the childs side & the TRUTH! Not with Providence Middle School though right is right & wrong is wrong I will not put my other child in this Horriable School. I can not tell any one what to do but listen to your CHILDREN PLEASE PLEASE I know that they don't always tell us the truth but please this time listen.My child was bullied in the 6th grade nothing was done but when they took up for them selves they suspended him! teased 7th still going on still nothing done.
--Submitted by a parent

We recentely relocated to Virginia and I was a little unsure of what to expect from this school and the children in it because of a few negative posts on here. However, I will say that my daughter loves this school. She has had a few instances with students but she stands up for herself! If it gets to a point where I feel I need to intervene then I email the teachers and principle (I always get a phone call back and updates). As parents we need to step in and take action if needed. We cannot expect teachers to handle or be aware of every situation that goes on, and our responsibility as parents doesn't stop just because they are at school. The post from 2/15/12 all I heard was you told your daughter to keep telling different teachers (which is the right thing to do), but maybe its time for you to contact the teachers and or principle via email or phone. To the parent who posted on 2/16: the answer is simple, parents have to be involved and communicate with teachers and principle, and not put off our responsibilities as parents onto teachers just because our kids are at school!
--Submitted by a parent

I am new parent to Providence Middle School and my son has not expressed any negative behavior being shown to him. Your comment posted on 2/15/2012 really disturbs me and I bothered about any child being tormented at school. Whatever the issue the administration (leaders) are responsible for the safety of all students. This is a problem and how do we as parents fix this?
--Submitted by a parent

This school as really gone downhill since the recent principal and school board officials have come on. I've lived in the area for 10 years now, and I put two other children through this school. My 12 year old daughter has been getting absolutely tormented at this school. She has told me about kids bringing pills and weed to school, and trying to get her to use them in the bathroom. She was being picked on by another girl and physically being shoved and elbowed as the girl walked by in the hallway. I told her to keep telling the teachers and principal. It continued. I told her to tell the guidance counselor. It continued. They kept telling her to just ignore it. Just ignore it? Are you kidding me? One day during lunch, the girl smacked her in the face so she left the lunch room crying and called me to come get her. They suspended her for leaving the lunch room. She has also come home with answers to their SOL tests, which is a big part of how the schools get their funding. I'm in shock at the things going on here and the lack of caring from the school board. I'm trying to get my daughter out of here ASAP. Please, keep your child out of this school.
--Submitted by a parent

My wife and I enrolled our two middle schoolers in this school despite warnings from friends in the area not to enroll them here. We had to move because of a job relocation and were having trouble finding affordable housing in the area, accept for houses in this school district. Now I understand why houses are cheaper in this school district; nobody wants to live here! Our son went from straight A's to C's and D's, and our daughter went from A's and B's to three D's and an F. Fighting and out of control children are rampant at this school. When we contacted administrators about our son coming home crying because he was being bullied, we were told by administration that it was part of life and he'd just have to ignore it and figure out a way to move on. The school board was also no help. I can tell you, the one review is spot on. This school is definitely the ghetto school of Chesterfield. We are moving out of this school district asap!
--Submitted by a parent

Also wanted to mention that this school does a very poor job of preparing the students for High School. Both of my kids (one in honors classes one not) rarely had homework. This block schedule does not work as kids have instruction for 1 hr or less and then they get to do whatever homework they have between this SOAR time or the unused 30 mins or so in each class period. Maybe if they went back to 6 classes a day same classes every day these kids would - one have some homework to keep them busy in the afternoon but over all are kept busy in school and these behavior issues would cease.
--Submitted by a parent

PMS is pretty much known as "the ghetto middle school" in Chesterfield. When they put in new administration my 8th grade year I was glad it was my last. Fights increased and as far as I've heard they've done the same thing since. Definitely 1 of the more diverse schools also. Even though the academics aren't terrible, they don't prepare you for high school as well as I had hoped. Overall decent school.

The teachers at this school are wonderful but the school could use some financial help. My child has been on honor roll ever since she started school here. She has done better at this school than she did in elementary school.
--Submitted by a parent

My child attends Providence Middle, and I can't believe some of the stories she tells me. The teachers care about the students, but it seems like they can't do their job because of the number of students who are unruly and have parents who don't care. Although my interaction with the administrators has been positive, they need to address the behavior problems so the teachers can do their job. My child has told me stories of teachers being physically and verbally attacked by the same children day in and day out because the administrators won't suspend them. Safety should be a top priority in any school!
--Submitted by a parent