Bancroft Middle School

My kids that it has been okay but could be better

My daughter Just started attending Bancroft this year. I was a little spectacle about this school. But now I love this school. Teachers are willing to help students when they ask for help. I love that I can keep track of my daughters assignments and grades online. Amazing.

I agree that many of the teachers and staff at BMS are genuinely dedicated and hard working. There is a fabulous musical theater program directed by teachers with *lots* of parental support. The athletics program is headed by generous teachers who strive to include everyone interested. The teachers are dealing with a very diverse population, however, with varying educational backgrounds and many ESL learners. Some teachers handle these challenges better than others. Some of my son's classes were dominated by disruptive students; others were under control. My impression was that if my kid did his homework and was not disruptive, he pretty much would get an "A." I would have liked academic standards to have been higher and for critical thinking to have been more emphasized. While many parents whose kids did musical theater contributed hundreds of hours of support, the PTA did not enjoy as much participation. The teachers and staff have been trying to raise the school's standards--but budget restraints require parents and the community to assist our struggling schools. BMS would benefit from greater community support.

This school is like life, you get out of it what you put into it. If you are a parent willing to support your child's academic and extracurricular endeavors, then Bancroft can be a wonderful experience. My daughter has just finished her first year there, and has a 4.0 GPA, participated in the incredible Spring musical theater program (open to ALL students), cross country running team (open to ALL students), and symphonic band (open to ALL students). When I asked her who her favorite teacher was, she asked if she could pick her top 6 (hint: she only has 6 teachers). If you are a parent in the area and are worried about the poor reputation of this school, don't believe the hype. Principal Ferrer and his staff are working hard to turn this school around, and there is nothing better than feeling connected to your community by participating in the great American institution we call Public Education.