7617 120th Street E
Puyallup, WA 98373

While there are very beneficial classes for special needs students, there are below average, underneath decent academics, constant fights, and an inability to prevent unsafe behavior. Even simply from this semester, I happen to be a current seventh grader and other students have threatened to hurt me multiple times and I have seen even fellow classmates take drugs, smoke, and vape. I have known people around me who partake in sexual acts as 13, 14, and 15 with fellow schoolmates the same age. Fights and rumors of fights are constant, too. Instead of disciplining the students committing these acts, they rip on the other students to try and prevent them from becoming like misbehaving students (which is futile, must I announce). Students shout profanities at each other and the teachers and that isn't being talked about, yet students having a tardy or two gives them lunch detention, after-school detention, in-school suspension, and Saturday school? The most a student will receive for using e-cigarettes in the bathrooms is two days of ISS (in-school suspension). The school refuses to acknowledge students' well-beings, too. The principal herself will not care about students having anxiety attacks or other things affecting their ability to learn that is out of their control. A student has anxiety? They are written up and their phone, a safe place for that student, is taken. A student simply has a rumor going around? She physically searches the student's body and backpack. To conclude, Frank H. Ballou Junior High is not a good school because of lack of discipline, horrible student behavior, and an overall unsafe environment.

Totally disagree! Emerald ridge is awful!!! I've had 3 kids go to ER and there is clicks,fights, bullying,vehicle vandelism, drugs, and no control couple with a lousey education. One child attended Rogers, freindly , welcoming and inviting! Smaller and much more family oriented!!! DONE WITH ER!!!

I have loved having my child attend this school thus far. She loves it too which is of course the best part. She is currently in the second grade and every one of her teachers have been phenomenal. They have all been very open with communication with me which I am thankful for. I even know of teachers from previous grades that weren’t her teacher and they know my daughter by name and are friendly and helpful so there is definitely a feeling of family here. The principal and vice principal are readily available, often outside helping kids before and after school and take part in all of the wonderful activities this school offers. My daughter has friends in other PSD elementary schools and I’m amazed by how many more school sponsored activities we have Vs others, ie a Veterans Day assembly, field day, excellent eagle assemblies, an art show, and a Halloween carnival. And I’m sure I’ve missed some. I’ve volunteered both in classes and for events and everything I’ve seen has been positive. I am amazed by the positive reinforcement used by this school, such as excellent eagle and even the individual teachers ways of motivating everyone in class to always be the best version of themselves. Of course there are kids that cause problems but from my experience the school handles it in the best way they can. I love the new head of the PTA this year and that has been a massive positive in that department. The ladies in the office are lovely and kind and helpful. The one negative I would say is that the recess area is quite large (which is great!) but the school relies on parent volunteers to supervise the children at recess and, in our experience, most of school drama comes from the kids realizing there is minimal supervision and/or supervision that is oblivious to what their role should be. We have had recess issues in the past but not this year so maybe this has been fixed? My child has been excelling in school, learning new and exciting things every day and has minimal homework (mostly spelling words to study and the occasional short story to read w/ a few comprehension questions). I have NOT had any problems I was afraid I might encounter in a modern times western Washington school; big inference there that I won’t elaborate on but… if you know, you know. Just kind and wise adults teaching young children to be successful, what more could you ask for? Eagles SOAR!