L. Douglas Wilder Middle School

There a lot of rumors about Wilder being ghetto,hood and ect. But the truth is the only thing truly wrong with the school is the students. All because of the things we hear in 4th and 5th grade some or should I say most of them think it is their duty to act in such a "ghetto' manner when half of which are just faking it so they can get along through with ease. Although there is one thing all the other schools will never have. One our brave,loving,strong,understanding, and pure excellent principal. We also have nothing but the best teachers who treat each child with respect and value us as young adults and take crafting our young minds to become future leaders and important people in our communities very seriously. A student at L Douglas Wilder Middle School 7th grade 2011

I went here from 2006-07 to 2008-2009 and i never really liked it there and i had some problems there as well, but the teachers were really cool and they tried to help you pass for the year. I know people who are from the hood and i can understand why they act the way they act. But i love the friends i still have from there

As a parent and a teacher, I have the unique opportunity to evaluate this school from both sides of the desk. The teaching staff is well-qualified and the leadership is outstanding. My children are very active and enjoy going to school. If given the option of sending my sons elsewhere, I would absolutely choose Wilder. Go Wolverines!
--Submitted by a parent

My child was one of the few Caucasian children at this school, and I was worried about his safety. However he has adjusted fine, and he really likes it there. There have been brawls in the boys bathrooms, so they are now locked all day. The young men are all polite and I am very impressed. The girls still scare me. They are loud and very rough in nature when in a crowd together. The wrestling team was a very positive experience for my son. The majority of the teachers are very kind and accomodating. They have awesome after school programs where my child gets to learn to cook and swim, and these are provided for free. They also feed the family as well 2 days a week.
--Submitted by a parent

Wilder has grown leaps and bounds since I began teaching there five years ago. The environment and morale of the teachers and students has changed for the better. Becoming fully accredited has changed not only how Wilder is perceived by the larger community, but how students and teachers feel about themselves. The teachers genuinely care for their students at Wilder. They are well invested in their success. At times, it is frustrating that more parents aren't involved, but many of the parents of Wilder's students work at least two jobs to provide for their children. There are a myriad of social organizations, school wide discipline incentives, and support programs that have recently started at Wider to increase the self-esteem, health and study habits of the students. Wilder continues to move forward towards a bright and continued successful future!
--Submitted by a teacher

I was very disappointed with this school. My kids came from an excellent elementary school so it was such and adjusment to this middle school. I felt like the principal shoed alor of favortism and did some unfair things. She made promises she did not keep.
--Submitted by a parent

As a student i like the school because of my friends but i was mad it took us a while to get accredited but i'm happy we finally did
--Submitted by a student

My son attended public school for the first time this year and the experience has not been all good. My son is having difficulty adjusting to the public school culture. The atmosphere is too relaxed and my son needs structure. The majority of my son's teachers are great. They correspond with me and they really work with my son, but I feel that there is not enough school to parents involvement. The relationship feels distant to me. At his previous school I knew his friends, their parents, teachers, and principal on a personal level. Since my son has attended Wilder his grades have slipped drastically and his attitude has changed. He's a good kid, but it the culture at the school. Not the teachers, but the student themselves. My husband and I have decided to send our son back to private school.
--Submitted by a parent

This middle schools format is great for the child who has been taught (in elementary school) skills needed for prepartion of independence. My child who is in the six grade at this school has a difficult time adjusting lack of the support provided. I consider myself a active parent and knows the importance of education. However with the lack of the support that my child and I have recieved through out the school year really upsets me. Things occur at the school and there is the expectation that your child will inform you (positive or negative). It is difficult to follow up with any homework given when you don't know if homework is given. Yeah the teachers tell you of the Henrico web site where you can see weelky assignments, but most of the time its two or three weeks behind. This site is monitored and completed by the teachers.
--Submitted by a parent