Barber Middle School

I would rate my experience at Murray F. Barber Middle School a 3/5. While the school it's best to follow state and county laws they mainly cared about the test scores and the overall look. While unlike many other schools the teachers there do care about the students and their ability to learn and retain. The fine arts could absolutely be improved along with many other things. It really is great school it just has a lot of kinks to work out.

The main reason am giving this school an average grade is the curriculum. If your child is not into the performing arts he/she is doomed. My son had 2 classes of PE! and yet was lagging behind in math. In 7th grade I practically begged for extra help, summer school, anything to help him improve in math. Nobody came to our rescue. His 8th grade math teacher didn't even want to deal with him from day one! Literally! Now that he is in 8th grade that's when they are scrambling to take him to a remedial class. And he is not alone. Most of his friends are in the same situation. The principal is effective and most of the teachers are great. But they really need to do something about the curriculum...and fast.

Would like to see test scores improve. More programs need to be added desperately. Some kids have physical education for two class periods due to the limited space and only a few elective classes being offered. Needs better books and updated Technology in the classrooms. The teacher are amazing and caring. Administration handles issues swiftly and accordingly. My daughter loves the school, but academically it needs improvement.

This is a title-1 school in Cobb county so it's course offerings, schedule and often course load are dictated by the county. That being said, my son has been there for 2 years and we have been really pleased. All of the teachers seem to care and want the kids involved, the music, dance, fine arts program is extensive and their communication via technology is very helpful (each teacher has a blog and they update it every day - not just a forgotten page in cyberspace). They all focus on helping the kids learn organization and multi-tasking. Very pleased. I saw a poster complain that there weren't organized sports held at the school specifically and that is because in the state of GA middle school programs are run via the high schools. The city of Acworth also has a huge extensive football and basketball rec-league program that plays in the Barber middle school gym.