Birch Plan in Larkwood by Thorndike Development, Raynham, MA 02767

Raynham Middle School (RMS) — Read This Before EnrollingIf you are a parent looking at this school, please read this entirely. I recently finished my time at RMS, and the current 2.5-star rating does not show how bad this place actually is. It is a broken system that fails to keep kids safe or prepare them for high school.Just this past year, I firsthand saw three fights where kids used Chromebooks and heavy water bottles as weapons, leaving students bleeding before any staff member took action. Almost nobody steps in to help the person getting hurt, and violent students are just allowed right back into the classrooms. Vaping and inappropriate behavior in common areas run completely unchecked.The administration operates entirely on punishment rather than fixing problems. They aggressively discipline minor things but ignore massive behavioral issues. A huge part of the problem is blatant staff favoritism, targeting specific students while letting favorites get away with anything. If you are on a staff member's bad side, they will hover over and pick on you. The staff would rather power-trip and micromanage quiet students than actually police the dangerous areas where real fights happen.The classroom management is so weak that student teachers face constant disruption and targeted harassment. There are also deep-seated issues with how minority students are treated by certain staff members, including reports of deeply offensive, discriminatory language and hostile remarks. When you try to bring these serious concerns to guidance or the front office, the administration shifts the blame back onto you or downplays the situation instead of holding anyone accountable.If you want your kid to be ready for high school, do not send them here. RMS only cares about standardized test scores. Massive chunks of the year are wasted cramming for the MCAS test instead of covering actual curriculum. Because of bad management, they cut music, shortened history, and do not offer full language classes. Capable, smart students are blocked from advanced tracks because of strict, arbitrary placement quotas rather than actual talent. Many graduates face a massive academic shock in freshman year because they lack basic math, essay writing, and study skills.ConclusionRMS is deeply dysfunctional. It forces smart students into a shell just to survive the daily chaos and stress. If you want a safe environment and a chance at succeeding in high school, stay clear.

My daughter currently attends LaLiberte and she is having an amazing experience. The school provides her with a warm and caring atmosphere with a great balance of academic and social learning. The principal, Mr. Bray sends home monthly newsletters that keep parents informed of school related news and activities as well as calls home with important information on a regular basis. In addition to that, I have found that the teachers also are fantastic with parent communication and also send home information related to the curriculum being taught and any additional information parents need to be aware of. LaLiberte also has many wonderful opportunities for students to have fun at their school such as the Harvest Fair, literacy night, grade level socials, movie nights, field day, and numerous fun and educational assemblies throughout the school year. I am proud that our town is able to provide my daughter with such a wonderful educational experience.

Leadership comes off careless and not as inclusive as they claim to be. Class sizes as other schools in town very overcrowded and overwhelming to kids. Teachers especially if close to retirement do not display quality in lessons or true support towards students.