Washington Woods Middle School in Lansing, Michigan

“Discipline is a big issue at Washington Woods. My child has been harassed and provoked on several occasions and yet the principal does nothing to support me or the teachers who are dealing with disruptive students. I try to reach him after school, when I pick up my son and the principal has already left the building. He does not return calls or answer emails. Moreover, this school's extracurricular focus is entirely on sports. Music and arts are given little thought. In fact, there has not been a steady choir teacher since school began in the 2009-2010 school year. The jock attitude--might makes right--is prevalent. Culture is wanting and it breaks my heart to send my son to this school day after day. Some teachers care and are wonderful. I don't mean to be unfair to them. But this school has been an awful experience for my son and my family.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“The teachers in my 6th grade daughters Pod are amazing. Mr. Buckley goes above and beyond to keep these kids interested with hands on projects and age appropriate humor.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“this school is very good I was a student here in the years 2008/2009 and it was good mr.buckley is an awesome teacher and so is mrs.martin your child will really like this school”
This review was posted by a student.

“This school is great. WW DOES have yearbooks, some people may have started a school newspaper, field days, and extra learning activites. I am a student here and I think its really great.”
This review was posted by a student.

“I've had some pretty bad exsperiences at this school. We are not treated with respect and about 1/4 of the students at WWMS are self absorbed kids and and focus mainly on making other students feel bad.(trust me i've been through it)”
This review was posted by a student.

“this school is amazing in all ways possible. everyone is nice, im not afraid of being jumped, the teachers are nice the they teach stuff great. i get it and that's never happened before”
This review was posted by a student.

“Awsome. The best school ever”
This review was posted by a student.

“I was disappointed to see there was very little opportunities for extracurricular activities. WW students can't do yearbook, school newspaper, or other extra learning activities. Also, there was no end of the year field day, or service learning day. I think, academically, that HOPE is a better school, but WW is more nurturing. I will say the school counselor at WW is more proactive.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Discipline is an extreme issue in this school. I feel that the leadership of the principal is lacking. Children are disciplined in a very negative way. Positive behavior in children requires ongoing positive reinforcement. This is very rare under the present leadership. Communication should be a key component between administrators and parents. This school takes too much into their own hands, and does not treat children with respect. Also, the focus on the MEAP 'training' for the entire beginning of the year is way overdone. The focus should be on teaching the required material, not for the test, but for the future of our children. Way to much pressure is put on the children to perform on this test,”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Our experience a WW was not good, staff mostly concerned with apperances, and having these new programs, with not alot of substance. Holt has massacared their Instrumental music program,by cutting it to 2x a week,Don't they know that children involved with music learn better. I was so discouraged by WW that my other child is now enrolled at Hope. We will see how that goes.”
This review was posted by a parent.