no they don't all suck
MS is a tough time for a kid but the schools don't all suck.
Mine has been having really steallar teachers for the most part and really interesting solid curriculums. Not perfect, but solid. I supplement some stuff at home on my own.

Sorry your school sucks - maybe try to find the good parts and talk them up to your kid and then supplement the less than good parts on your own.

I have had two kids go through Westland Middle School. Seems like it went pretty well. I mean, the middle school years are awkward and tough on kids, but the school seemed fine and kids seemed to learn.

I've been disappointed in my kid's MS experience. Huge classes (32+ kids), teachers with hundreds of students who don't have the time to offer much help, and limited extracurricular activities (I've been shocked at how few sports are offered each season, and how few kids are accepted onto make the few teams that exist.)

What sucks about it?

Absolutely LOVED Loiederman MS - its a hidden gem with a great principal, inspiring theater teachers, and all around solid staff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS actually runs a junior high model but calls it MS because it’s grades 7-8. A

Where?

Years ago some were just 7-8, but as in 30 years ago. Most if not all are 6-8th.

30 years ago, MS were 6-8th in MCPS.

Cedar Grove ES has pictures of a 6th grade class from c. 1980, so yes.

It’s a tough time for kids. Lots of changes happening that make learning and socializing difficult. That said, we loved our middle school and thought they gave our child a great experience. Child disagrees but may change mind in retrospect.

Anonymous wrote:Nope hs and es suck too. It's really bad admin who mismanage the teachers leading to low morale, job insecurity, and teaching kids it's ok to be criminals bc everyone will just work to be hush hush; as they take it out on teachers who do their jobs reporting.

Not really. A lot of kids seem to prefer HS much more than MS, and ES is much better for memories than MS. It seems like many kids don't seem to get much enjoyment or forget a lot about middle school because it's apparently so "cringe" to them.

Anonymous wrote:Nope hs and es suck too. It's really bad admin who mismanage the teachers leading to low morale, job insecurity, and teaching kids it's ok to be criminals bc everyone will just work to be hush hush; as they take it out on teachers who do their jobs reporting.

my kids enjoyed HS a lot more than MS. There are more clubs, activities and freedom.

Nope hs and es suck too. It's really bad admin who mismanage the teachers leading to low morale, job insecurity, and teaching kids it's ok to be criminals bc everyone will just work to be hush hush; as they take it out on teachers who do their jobs reporting.

Middle school is tough all around. Kids in different stages of development. A lot of change socially as schools get bigger and different classes all day. Hard to maintain consistency across teachers.

My DD hated middle school- w school. I think it was the constant busy work

My son is having a great middle school experience. I've actually been more impressed with his middle school than either of his MCPS elementary schools.

Only agreeing because it’s middle school, don’t expect your kids to love it. Two of my younger children went to Wood and the oldest one went to Loiederman.

Wood was..interesting. It’s not terrible as many parents with kids there say but academic wise it would be a mediocre school. There aren’t really any programs that the school offers. Both my children still had some decent social life at the school and both did clubs and volunteering for SSL hours. My eldest loved Loiederman. We requested that they would go there for the art program and it was great. It isnt really a good school if your kid isn’t in that art program but you could still allow them to do the clubs.

Anonymous wrote:Around USA, middle school is the weakest link. It is 3 crucial years of wasted opportunity that will impact your child's future and make them ill-prepared for HS and college.

This is the time that parents need to supplement, accelerate and enrich to their max capacity. Also, start putting together a team that supports your child.

Well said, thank you.