McClure Middle School

Everyone knows that teachers need smaller classes and more time with students but McClure really shows it, in the 2011-2012 school year they only had 1 teacher of each core class for each grade. While the majority of the teachers are very good at what they do, they lack the time and energy to do it. The schools bullying policy is atrocious with problems going unnoticed unless someone reports it to the councilors, and even then very little is likely to be done.
--Submitted by a teacher

There were some excellent teachers at McClure and some frankly atrocious teachers. Most teachers seemed overwhelmed with their workload and seemed to view parent communications as an inconvenience. The biggest problem with Mc Clure is the lack of leadership on the part of the Principal. Bullying was a big problem. Large problems were ignored and there was an overreaction to small conflicts between students. Overall if we could do it again we would not have sent our student to McClure. Hopefully they will get their act together, the community is counting on it.
--Submitted by a parent

There are many teachers at McClure who are just wonderful! (Though a few who are OK) The music program is excellent with a very good teacher. For transitoning the new 6th graders they have a very good program called WEB (where everybody belongs). It teaches the kids many new skills, getting comfortable with the school, and the 8th grade WEB leaders become their first middle school buddies.
--Submitted by a parent

Our family attended the open house event on March 24, 2011. We live on Queen Anne and have a 4th grader at John Hay School so we were learning about and touring McClure School for the first time. Overall the school seemed just OK and I worry about 3 mediocre years there. The competent and engaging Language Arts teacher was the highlight. The Science teacher was enthusiastic and hands-on. The other teachers we saw were just OK. The principal's response to a parent's question about PTA involvement and fund-raising was disappointing because she seemed to be saying that students don't really want their parents to be involved much any more (sigh..this may be true), and beyond purchasing a some specific equipment items (her example was music stands), the school was doing alright and she understands how growing teens will consume more of a family's funds. I wonder if she realizes that Hay & Coe parents tend to have the time, funds and interest to make their child's public school the best it can be. This is a huge opportunity for community relationship building with the QA neighborhood, as well as improving the vibe and atmosphere of the school. Hopefully she'll think big!
--Submitted by a parent

I agree the school does little to communicate what needs to be done. Especially for 6th graders that are transitioning. Some of the teachers are even mean. I do not recommend this school. They actually suggested that my young daughter take the Metro bus alone. I am appalled. I will try to get my child in private school next year. She was at the top of her class last year and this year is just awful so far.
--Submitted by a parent

The grade 6 class entering this school for 2011 is amazing. I just see tons of parent evolvement that is going to enable change and improvements especially with the new school plan in place. McClure is a queen anne school very local and convenient, safe surroundings. We met with the Math teacher and are very impressed. Our kid is doing excellent in math and I am not at all worried about the level of education he can achieve at McClure. See you all next year!!!
--Submitted by a parent

I keep hearing really great things about McClure and am so excited about how many of my son s friends from Coe will be attending next year. The level of parent involvement at Coe elementary is outstanding, and with so many students from Coe s 5th grade class attending McClure next year, the school can only get better. The open house for incoming 6th graders was very informative and I was really impressed by the principal and all of the teachers I met. My neighbor s son is an 8th grader at McClure and she s very happy with their ability to provide academic challenge to her son whose IQ is off the charts. I m looking forward to seeing even more positive changes in this school and am glad my son will be a part of it.
--Submitted by a parent

The school gets a disproportionate number of students who travel from the Central District and thus gets proportionately less parental involvement from those parents because of distance and transportation issues. The school can use all the support it can get.
--Submitted by a parent

I am a student at BHS currently and had my last year at McClure Last year. Coming from John Hay the transition was quick easy and painless i met great people and had great grades. But after reading through all of these reviews im a little appalled and actually laughing at alot of the bad review, McClure (as with all middle schools) is what you make of it. People are bussed in all throughout the city making it amazingly diverse and multicultural. In my graduating class from this school i do not know one person who actually tried to get good grades who didn't get the grades. The teachers are amazing i had a great experience being a t.a. for a year for the autism teacher (great program look into it!). Ms.Pritchett Is Fabulous and all of the other administrators are too! Don't listen to the bad rep this school gets!
--Submitted by a student

We have a daughter in her last year at McClure, and a son who will be in 6th grade at this school next year. Our daughter has had a very good experience at McClure and has benefited tremendously from the variety of students that attend there. We have always felt that she is in a safe and secure environment. We also believe that she has progressed very well from a social and academic standpoint. She is very ready high school. The vast majority of the staff seem very enthusiastic, sincere, and engaging. The new principal, Sarah Pritchett has really stepped up to the challenge and displays a great deal of energy. I have witnessed Sarah as she deals with the various students and she exhibits a natural ability to relate to the youth, and also displays a sensitivity to the differences between the various levels/grades of the students.
--Submitted by a parent