Martinsburg South Middle School

I completely agree with the parent that posted about how rude the teachers are in South Middle. The only kids these teachers want to help are their favorites and the ones that have ADHD they wont give a time of day...they are called lazy,problem student, and yeah I notice my son to was being written up everyday..he was in after school,OSS,and Saturday School seemed like every weekend. I meet with the teachers several times I have never been so humilated in my life after the meeting. Im a grown woman in tears by the way they talked down to me and about my son. I told the principal about how rude I was treat,and it makes me think this is the way they treat my son everyday and what he has to go through. It wasn't unitl one day my child came home and said a teacher was standing outside her door speaking to another teacher and noticed my son walking down the hall with kids around him and made a nasty rude bullish comment about my child that was the last draw I had enough I went to the principal and said I wont stand for a teacher bullying my child. They took my son out of school put him in a school for problem children where he has no rights or privileges. Horrible School Rude Teachers
—Submitted by a parent

I absolutely love South.. They want us to learn... I am in 8th grade now.. I would recommend this school for your child.. There is nothing strict about South they give us our freedom... I played basketball last year and they tutored our teammate since her grades werent very good, so that she could still play on the team :)
—Submitted by a student

this school is very strick and not sutiable teachers are too harsh on children the rules that apply are absurd! I have good grades but it is almost impossible to be out of trouble all year in this school it seems like you cant ever do anything right!

I have gone to south all 3 years. I am now in 8th grade. I am in all honors and i love it.The teachers are great and help you learn. I dont know wat that last parent is talking about. I love mr.Rodgers and he always says hi to kids in the hall.My aunt is a teacher at the school with the behavior disorder kids and hepls them alot and loves them all. I think south is a great school and i will miss it next year.
—Submitted by a student

I have been dealing with South Middle School for 2 years now. The teachers are very rude and even the principle doesn't know what is going on. Nobody wants to look at what the students are having problems with. My son has ADHD and is out of school more than in school due to supension. None of the teachers want to DEAL with him. They all tell me the same thing, 'he doesn't want to learn', but my son loves school and is trying to do better. Believe me don't ever let the school know that your child has a ADD or ADHD because they will be labeled as a problem from the beginning and to think they want more money!!! Jefferson Co WV schools help kids and help them understand.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a student at South Middle. Earlier this year, I was transferred to anther school in the county. I was, so suprised how much I missed South. I missed everything about the school : the teahchers {Who are the nicest people in the world} , students, addministrators, and lunch ladies. I am proud to call South my school.
—Submitted by a parent

I have had a terrible time with this school. My son was homeschooled last year so the transition back to public school was difficult. He had to get used to changing classes and having a locker. He is so scared of being late for classes that he won't use his lock and his books are being stolen. Met with teachers and they acted like they were doing me a favor by meeting with me. They said 'welcome to 7th grade. The kids need to take on more responsibility.' If my child misses a day of school the teachers won't come to him with work that he needs to make up. It's totally up to him to get notes from other kids. I don't know if it's just this school or all schools are this way but these teachers definitely didn't deserve the $1600 raise that they just got.
—Submitted by a parent

I love South Middle. I have gone there as a student before, and though some days were a little rough, what school doesn't have those days. I had friends who were always by my side, and if your child is not a troublemaker, like I wasn't, they would love it, because there is always something to do or try out for.
—Submitted by a student

I never seen a very excellent school, that does help children. I very please with the satification with the school.
—Submitted by Deborah Minor, a parent

Our family moved here from Fairfax County this past summer and I must admit it is very different education wise. My child often says that he has already completed his homework before he gets home from school. He will be taking a course next year in high school that he already took in the 7th grade in Fairfax County. I understand that every district is different but they need to play catch up in the academic area. Why isn't foreign language available to middle schoolers? I realize that there has been a huge population growth recently but that really has nothing to do with the courses offered. The teachers I believe are doing their job to the best of their ability, but as parents we have to be the voices for our children's education, get involved. They certainly are not going to ask for more advanced courses!
—Submitted by Tammy Riddick, a parent

the School has major problems I have moved to frederick MD to get my child away from this scool. the teachers do not seem to care about anything but a pay check. my duaghter started middle scool there and has never had a book to study from and then if you complain they tell you should have learned it in class or that you do not need them. I have been told to help her with her home work but have no book to see what they are looking for.
—Submitted by Bill, a parent

My daughter has gone to South for 3 years now she is in the 8th grade. They don't seem to like parents knowing what is going on in the classroom. My advice is to send you child to private school or homeschool them.
—Submitted by janet smith, a parent

My daughter has been there for 6th and is now in 7th. The teachers there are very stuffy and down right rude in my opinion. My daughter is very quiet and shy so they labled her 'withdrawn.' She has come home crying on serveral occassions because of the teachers making rude remarks. Not to her even, to other children. I even witnessed an incident myself where the office staff of the school screamed at a child to go get a drink because he was coughing too loud for her to deal with as he was waiting on his parent to come pick him up. How mean is that? My goal is to move to Inwood so my children will NOT have to deal with schools like this in the future!
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent of a student in 6th grade, I hope the curriculum/quality of academic programs is sufficient. I have an advanced student who very rarely brings homework home, but does it during school hours? I tell my child the returns are reflected by the effort put forth. He loves his teachers, especially his social studies teacher! I have had opportunity to call with questions and must say the teacher's response came quickly. My child enjoys band immensely. There are extracurricular activities for the children if they are interested. I don't see a great level of parental involvement at this school, but that could be due to the age of the children and their need to 'dis-associate' themselves from their parents at this stage of their lives! The biggest problem is overcrowded conditions and general repair of the school. Hopefully, these problems will be addressed.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a 6th grader at South Middle . He moved from Mill Creek. I am so disappointed in this school! They do not teach what is needed they said his grades at the start of the year were bad due to 'The Big Move' from 5th to 6th grade Bt second term It was the worst thing! how can you tell a child It's fine to have bad grades on time but, a couple months later tell him It's all his fault. My son had ADD,one teacher told me If he doesn't get It the first time sorry but she can't help him any longer the classes are too full to help him a second time.
—Submitted by Jamie, a parent

For the 2004/2005 school year, I have an 8th grader going to South Middle School. Our county is so over populated that 8 portable trailers have been added. All of my childs classes with the exception of gym and choir (which aren't traditional classrooms anyway) are in these trailers. There are 2 teams of 8th graders, one has lockers and the other does not. My child is on the team that does not. There is no place to store personal belongings. Backpacks are placed on a table for the day amongst everyones elses. You would think the county could meet the needs of our children by at least bringing in a portable of lockers.
—Submitted by a parent

Well I think this school needs to teach the children more stuff. Half the teachers does not teach the ADHD children what they need to learn. Also when a child gets into trouble I also think that they need to look further into the sitution instead of just picking a child to blame.
—Submitted by a parent