Joseph Stilwell Middle School

I was terrified to send my sweet boy to any middle school so we choose jsmal after visiting on a full school day so we saw how calculated everything is right down to separate halls 4 6th grade and red shirts! They demand excellence but in a very hands on way

Under average.. the principal was never seen at the wing where students with more disabilities were kept. ASL

At the beginning of the year, every teacher is friendly and will tell you they are always accessible. Within no time at all, you will never hear back until you get a progress report/ report card. I always check my child's grades in Focus. I email the teachers to see if he can make up work or submit extra credit. I never hear back. One teacher even went as far as accusing my child over never doing a single assignment. Even falsely accusing him of goofing off in just her class. My child works very hard and we constantly check on his work. He has never gotten in trouble for behavior since Pre-K. In fact, any teacher will tell you, he is by far one of the most polite and responsible children you've ever met. He has never gotten a grade below a B until the last semester of 5th grade when his teacher gave him a C on grammar (Something that has NEVER been taught properly in the system and I have been very vocal about this issue.) He has struggled more this year and when we reach out to the teacher, we are ignored. One teacher caught my husband picking up my son and asked him what the problem was? He politely told them that I (his mother) have been trying to address the problem for months with no responses. I emailed after I was told this... guess what? No response. My son is in all honors classes. He is also gifted. (The school pretty much promised that even though they do not have a gifted program, they will work with him. That has not happened.) I regret not having transferred him at the beginning of the year. The recruiter who came out his elementary school sold him on how wonderful this school was. Please do not fall for it. The principal is self absorbed. The teachers really don't care if your child needs help. His math teacher refused to teach him a lesson that he didn't quite get. Flat out. He even signed up for a club, which we paid for- only to have it dissolve after Christmas break. Letting him come here is by far my biggest mistake. As soon as the district allowed us to apply for another school, I jumped on it. I will be driving my child across town next year which will be a huge issue but well worth it. My child has taken nothing away from this school other than a few new friends. I have also bought 2 pairs of shoes and 6 pairs of khakis to keep up with the uniform. Teachers will let them get oil based paint or rip them and expect you to deal with it.

This school was on the right track until it became a Military Academy Of Leadership. Both of my son's did very well until this change which I admit we opted in for. Now my 8th grader has learned nothing except science packets and uniform checks. The school needs to get back to actually teaching and stop worrying so much about the color of socks! Aside from about 5 very good teachers this is not a place to send your child if you want them to learn. They still walk in lines with line leaders and next year are expected to find their way around a high school campus. This has been a wasted year!