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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]JW has had a lot of issues, starting with administration.  The principal starts off way too strong every single year (taking away cell phones in a bin, screaming that kids can not move seats in lunch to talk to others, and cracking down on things in the hall.) Then it gets super laxed.  Then he leaves to another school and the school is just a mess.  There is always a new principal every year that has no idea what they are doing.

Cell phones are everywhere, all bathrooms smell like vape or weed and the lunchroom is so chaotic that many kids try to eat in teacher's classrooms. There is a ton of relentless bullying and the 8th graders last year and this year are by far the worst.  Boys and girls equally. Multiple fist fights a week too.

The PE department is strong, but they are way too laxed on changing and the kids are all in crocs.  Most other middle schoolers, the kids need to be out of denim and have sneakers on every PE class.

There is zero dress code policy at JW besides hats and hoods being up. A lot of girls wearing sports bras as shirts to school which seems really weird.

Phone policy is too laxed.  Kids use them all day and also all lunch period and in PE as well.

Teachers are hit or miss. Band/Chorus not that good. Theater I is super weak.  Clubs are only attended so the kids can hang out in the halls, make-up, or goof off.  They don't have strong clubs like best buddies or community service that other middle schools do.

Counseling is beyond over stressed.  They need at least 3 more counselors for the demand.  They did finally get a social worker, but she is only in for 1-2 days a week as she is shared by multiple schools. There is just not enough resources for these kids.

The worst part about JW is it is the only school that goes to RM.  Most other high schools have 2 middle schools that feed in and you can make new friends.  RM only has the IB kids who tend to keep to themselves as the high school has so many issues too.

We ended up pulling our sophomore out to private school this year and our current 7th grader(who we were hoping would have a bette year and is not)  is going to private next year.  We are just not happy with the RM cluster except for elementary.  [/quote]

As JW parent I agree with some of this. However, I am wondering how do you know all this stuff? Ie, I have no clue what other kids are wearing to school or what they do in clubs? Also as far as I know phone use is allowed during lunch.
May be I am a bit more "hands off" than "DCUM approved"? I do care about grades, but beyond that kids should figure out how to live in the complex society and "fight their own battles" so to speak. 
FWIW, I only had to deal with counselor once for a class change and they responded in timely manner and resolved the issue. I dont think DS even knows (or cares) who his counselor is.
[/quote]

I have kids at another MCMS and phones are not allowed at lunch at all. They are strict.

The one thing I noticed about JW is they have no one running traffic or carpool in the afternoons. Maybe it was only the few times I have driven by but it is so chaotic and we were stuck waiting 20+ minutes to pass the school on the road that leads to 270. When we pass, we see no one at the turn in or near the circle. Not sure who employees them but we have 2 people each day running our carpool line so it goes smooth. [/quote]

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