Hamilton Middle School

Our time at Polten has come to an end but I have to share how amazing this school is. How wonderful all the staff are. This school is all about building. Building stong connections, community and amazing kids. I could have not asked for a better school. From the bottom of my hear thank you to the teachers, principle, vice principle, nurse Ginger, all the elective teachers you guys really made my kids experience for elementary school the best. You will be missed!

Pros: Overall I think this is a well run school, Teachers are top-notch and eager to keep the kids engaged. Administration keep this school operating smoothly, at least from a parent's point of view. Parent participation is high. It's in a good, safe neighborhood and I feel comfortable letting my kids walk home on thir own. This is a school where teachers send their own kids. Very diverse populationCons: Morning drop off is a circus, walk if you can. The building is rather small, and feels a crowded. Class sizes are acceptible, but the classrooms are small and music and art classrooms are inadequate. The playground is dated and needs a makover. Speech therapy has a high turnover (but I think that is a district problem more than the school)

Yeas ago this school was a G&T magnet school. It was rated highly and had a stellar academic record. It was one of the reasons that we moved into this neighborhood. Since the change in leadership, that curriculum has been removed and subsequently the academic rigor at this institution has suffered. Currently it is a "decent" school but previously it was better. It was a bit of a disappointment. I would recommend reinstating the G&T program and focusing more on academics.