Dodgen Middle School

Wonderful school with caring educators who believe in their students and in creating a healthy, inclusive learning environment. The school has been wonderful and life changing for my child who has an IEP! Highly recommend!

This is an absolutely terrible school. We went out of our way to move here from elsewhere in the state specifically because of its good reputation, but my child has been subjected to bullying and faces racial discrimination from the teachers themselves. They refuse to listen to a single word my child says—not to mention that they completely ignore emails I send as a parent, even regarding simple questions about field trips.No matter how many times I pleaded with the homeroom teacher, explaining that my child was suffering because other kids were making fun of them for not being able to speak English, the teacher did absolutely nothing. On the contrary, they went so far as to deliberately assign my child a seat right next to the very bully who was tormenting them. This is truly a despicable school. Everyone, please be careful.

The students at this school are not excited about learning and are often discouraged from participating in the science fair if they are not part of a selective group (the principal’s favorite PTA group). The teachers at this school try their best to educate the children within the environment they are given. However, I have observed students taking benchmark assessments while other students were talking and running around the classroom.I have also personally observed—and have been told by students—that they are not allowed to play on the playground and are instead required to play near the dumpster due to the playground limitations (broken swings etc). When the garbage truck arrives, the children have to wait and lose their recess time. While this may not be true for all grade levels, it does happen if your child is placed in certain classrooms.It seems to me that the principal cares more about the school’s appearance—whether it looks stylish or not—than about what truly matters. When she climbs onto the roof of the school in an elf outfit is not only dangerous but also sets a poor example for students. The principal is a self proclaimed drama kid trying to always place the spotlight on herself (climbing on the roof in an elf outfit).We left the school and are very happy we did. Several of our friends made the same decision.

One of the area's best kept secrets.

I attended MBCA from K-8th as a student, and now I am a teacher here as well. My experience has been nothing short of extraordinary! This is a very special place with a heart for their students. The skills I learned at Mt. Bethel have carried me throughout my adult life. Working here as a teacher is an incredible experience since admin and families are supportive and nurturing. I can't recommend this school enough!

This school has exceeded all expectations since we enrolled our 3-year-old. It has a fantastic culture and we see how rapidly our son is advancing. Unprovoked, he's told us many times how much he loves his school, and thanked us for moving him the Wood Acres. What 3-year-old says that?