Home › Forums › West Seattle Schools › Any feedback on Madison Middle School?
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January 31, 2009 at 10:39 pm #589642
WestSeattleCougParticipantI’ve got a post looking for feedback on Hope Lutheran and now we’re possibly looking into Madison MS for our 6th grader next year. I’ve heard both good and bad things. She’s coming out of the private schools since Kindergarten so we really want to make sure it’s the right decision; her tuition next year goes up so much that we really don’t think we can continue down her current path. She has lots of friends who would be going there so that’s not an issue; quality of education and safety are paramount in our decision. Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated!
February 1, 2009 at 4:41 pm #656890
yikesMemberI also have a daughter who is transitioning from private schools and will be going to Madison (we think). She has dyslexia and has been in schools that focus on coping skills in this area.
I would really appreciate hearing from other parents about their experience there….
Thank You
February 1, 2009 at 6:19 pm #656891
TraciMemberI substitute teach there on occasion, so I have just a little insight to offer about Madison.
I have been blown away by the kids there every time I’ve subbed. They really are remarkable, and given “that age”, it’s even more impressive…They’re rowdy of course, but generally really sweet kids. The teachers I’ve met are very involved, the front office staff is remarkably nice – I wouldn’t hesitate to say THE nicest staff I’ve known in all of Kent and Seattle.
Hope you get a parent’s opinion, but as a sub I give it two thumbs up :)
February 3, 2009 at 1:50 pm #656892
AnonymousInactiveHi,
Thanks for sharing your ideas and views with us. I’m a new one in this forum. Please keep updating me.
CSK
February 3, 2009 at 4:18 pm #656893
PDieterParticipantWe had a very good experience at Madison. Early on we felt our very good student could be challenged more and went to her teachers and asked them to expect her to operate at above 100%, they responded quite well and kept her challenged and encouraged her growth. She “graduated” last year with a very positive record and experience. She’s turned that positive experience and dynamic staff interaction into a dynamic educational experience at The Center School with several other WS students.
I’ve also learned some more about Pathfinder lately and hope that you have learned about their program to see if it fits your child; that school’s got it going on as well.
February 3, 2009 at 4:39 pm #656894
GAnativeParticipantEducationally Madison is fine but whatever you do don’t plan a vacation for the last week of August! Because that is when the 6th grade orientation is and if you miss that it’s like pulling teeth to get any info out of the school.
I can’t tell you how many times the answer to my questions was “that was covered at the orientation” only for me to reply “we missed the 6th grade orientation because I didn’t know about the orientation in April when I planned my vacation” and have to ask my question again…
February 7, 2009 at 5:26 pm #656895
WestSeattleCougParticipantGAnative,
When you said “the last week of August”, can we assume you mean the last week of April? I’m definitely planning on calling the school this week to get all that info, but your post sounded like your April vacation coincided with the orientation. Luckily we’re taking our vacation earlier!
February 8, 2009 at 1:27 am #656896
addParticipantI’m not GAnative, but I’m pretty sure he/she is referring to the actual 6th Grade Orientation night which is scheduled during the last week of August, a week before school starts (but you wouldn’t know this unless you are enrolled in the school and get the info letter in June I think).
My son is in 8th grade at Madison and has had a good experience academically and socially, both of which I was a little worried about initially – would he be challenged enough and would the large size of the school present problems socially? I will say that communication from the school has improved markedly this past year – it was my biggest complaint the first two years. I felt like I never knew what was going on since they seemed to rely on the kids to pass on all info, and we all know how well that works. All in all, I would say it’s fine.
February 20, 2009 at 6:08 am #656897
BobLoblawParticipantThe Loblaw household cannot give Madison enough praise. Wonderful in all regards. We can send our children anywhere (not trying to be all hoity toity), but choose Madison on purpose. If only our children could go there for 9-12.
March 11, 2009 at 10:34 pm #656898
LexMemberBoth of my daughters graduated from Madison and I must say I was very pleased with the education they received and the administration. Ms. Hudson (not sure if she is still the principal or not) was amazing and so was her entire staff. Any concerns were addressed in a fair and objective manner. As with any school it has its share of kids that have issues but that comes from lack of parent involvement. regardless Madison did all that they could for those children and developed many activities to try to build parent involvement. its an very diverse school which was fantastic and they have an inschool health center so i never had to take time off of work to take my child to the doctor how great was that!!! my daughter did have an incident with a special needs kid punching her a few years ago. It was handled well by the school and my child felt very safe there.
March 13, 2009 at 3:58 pm #656899
jsrekdMemberWe have a 7th grade son at Madison, and we too were pleasantly surprised. Dr. Hudson is still at the school, and she is wonderful. I was concerened about the size, and his safety, and I must say neither of these have been an issue.
They run a tight ship, have a “dress-code” of sorts (no baggie pants, no spaghetti straps or bellies showing), have very high expectations both socially & academically – and the vice principals are AMAZING – I only hope they’ll be there at least one more year ;-)
The music program is also very good, I’m surprised at each concert how good a middle-school orchestra can sound!!!!
March 13, 2009 at 5:19 pm #656900
addParticipantI made a comment above but one thing I would like to add is that the teachers are very responsive. Every time I have emailed with a question or concern I have received a prompt and thoughtful response. That has always made me feel that my kid was in good hands and that his teachers were paying attention.
March 13, 2009 at 7:41 pm #656901
AdamOnAlkiParticipantI will not lie to you: I absolutely hated going to Madison.
However, that was also 12 years ago and most likely things have been changed, hopefully for the better, but at the time I felt that the administration had absolutely no control over the kids, the parents lacked any sort of interest and the school was more of a 8 hour delinquent hang-out rather than a building focused on pushing education.
But that was 12 years ago. And boy am I glad to be gone.
March 13, 2009 at 10:36 pm #656902
CaitParticipantI, like Adam, went there back in the days when it looked like and was basically run like a prison. I have some great memories there, though. Most of which having to do with being an ill-behaved 12 year old. So will it scar your babies for life? Most certainly not. Are there other, better options? … I certainly hope so.
March 14, 2009 at 7:08 am #656903
AdamOnAlkiParticipantCait, did we know each other while at Madison? Describe yourself. You sound familiar.
March 14, 2009 at 5:56 pm #656904
CaitParticipantI was the 4 foot tall female 6th grader with facial tattoos and muttonchop sideburns. You look familiar. lol
March 18, 2009 at 6:07 am #656905
AnonymousInactiveMy youngest humanoid attends Madison and loves it. This is the only school he’s ever attended where they play the latest hip-hop hits on the PA system every morning, and where the pledge of allegiance has been supplanted with melodies such as “Low” by Flo-Rida.
“Apple Bottom jeans (jeans), boots with da fur (fur)”
Way better than standing there with your hand on your nipple!
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