Gainesville Middle School

The school is data driven. Discipline is a major concern, and improvement doesn't seem to be in the cards. Students are walked in a straight line, like an army to lunch, the library, and they have set bathroom breaks as a class. This is implemented because of the large amt of fights in the bathrooms and halls. Anyone can look it up on YouTube. The administration doesn't take discipline serious, they just move students who are repeat offenders to different teams so classrooms are disrupted by students on a daily basis, because the teachers have no one to back them up with discipline. Most school systems would of suspended students but for some reason GMS never does, they just move the repeat offenders around in the school causing more disruptions. Gainesville City is known for not retaining students so students find out early they can slide by and fail, but they will still be passed. This provides the middle school with students below grade level in most classes, therefore making a way for more discipline issues. Its a terrible cycle no one seems to be looking at how discipline and retention could fix this system's issues quickly.

The teachers here have bent over backwards to help my 6th grader succeed. The administrators and counselors are available and helpful and they know the students by name. This school has a lot to offer!

I've been here since 6th; I'm in 8th. This school is really for underachievers. Very low standards. Minimum grades are set to 50. You won't get lower than a 50 for missing grades/inadequate work, unless the class is a high school material class. There's minimal freedom, too. Teachers will walk you to lunch, in a line, then your class will all leave at the same time. There are certain times for locker breaks. Your agenda is your hall pass; you need to get it signed whenever you're going out during class time. You'll most likely have the same people in your academic classes your entire middle school career. No joke. The students move in packs from one class to the next. P.E. is what they call five minutes of "warm-up" (I use that term loosely) and time to play afterwards. Dress code sucks, as most schools' do. No leggings (God forbid underwear lines), plain white t shirts (some gang thing several years back), etc. This school is not diverse. Mainly Hispanics, then African Americans, then Caucasians. Expect a couple of racists & conservative teachers. And personally, I find the 8th grade principal unpleasant in many ways.