Borel Middle School

It’s a great school with encouraging people.

We've gone through 3 Principals in 5 years. There are a high number of students who's families are struggling financially and unable to make donations to the various fundraisers. Under 25% of our families join the PTA. The office is understaffed and often overwhelmed with students who require discipline. The facilities are very old and in need of repair. There is an emphasis on equalizing the classrooms so that the over achieving students are separated and sprinkled in among the underachieving students. This system isolates intellectual peer groups and puts pressure on the overachieving students to assist the underachieving students. The classrooms are often loud and many teachers spend a great deal of time trying to deal with disrespectful students who are not interested in learning. The saving grace in this institution are the handful of amazing teachers who have been given too many students and not enough resources, but are dedicated and good at what they do.

There are a lot of things to like about this school. The instruction is generally good, although many teachers use points and grades as behavioral consequences. The teachers are up to date on what Common Core has in store for them but can improve how they communicate that to parents. My child's English teacher has done a very good job of scaffolding instruction to build on what he already knows. Like many middle school math teachers, there seems to be an over-emphasis on answers over process but the method of instruction is sound and assessments are fair. What seems to be the biggest challenge for Borel is how to transition new 6th graders to a much different school structure than elementary school. While basic study skills are introduced, some classes jump immediately to multiple choice exams and a much more high school way of instruction. In many ways 6th grade has more in common with 12th grade than the 5th grade they just completed. Teachers need to be much better and more competent users of schoolloop as a tool for revision, intervention and parent communication. It has so much potential that is not currently being realized.

Disappointed in teachers the way they deal with the ADHD students. Disappointed in teachers with there following through with what they tell you in a meeting. I'm hoping next year will be better.