Smyrna Middle School

I love teaching here! I have been teaching for 20+ years and this is the BEST staff and administration I have ever worked with. I would send my own kids here over a magnet school basically because of the teacher quality. I know this school had a bad reputation but NOW the kids here are being well prepared for success in high school and for future success thereafter.

Why are so many teachers leaving SMS??? It appears they are treated very poorly, their computers are outdated ,their support is non-existent, Sad to see the kids being directly affected by this.

It's funny that the one positive review was written by a teacher with a child there. The school is a complete failure. Many of the teachers are under duress from an admin that has no concept of its student body. Those that are happy with the working environment are part of a small group that consider themselves special for being in close with the admin. By close I mean, taking so-called professional development trips to places like Vegas and getting shots of alcohol poured in their mouths "like baby birds". I heard several accounts of football players "grinding" on the principal at school dances and carnivals. The kids are a really special group of kids who seem to thrive under the slightest amount of actual education. However, many are far below grade level due to the laughable feeder school Smyrna Primary and Stewartsboro, who will send kids out of elementary school unable to read. The kids are not held accountable and this have no reason to want to perform. Though they seem very aware that teachers and admin are only interested in test scores which tie loosely if at all to the skills the kids will need to succeed in the workforce.

This is my daughter's second year at SMS and I have to say that I am quite happy with everything. The teachers take the time to email the parents everyday with homework assignments, upcoming events and links to needed information. My daughter never ate hot lunch at her previous school, but chooses to eat it everyday here at SMS. I do wish their website was more up to date, but the teachers in the 7th grade are great at keeping us informed via email. The teachers also give the students multiple chances to better their scores on tests, daily work and cumulative reviews. My daughter (and I agree) has only one complaint - the lockers are tiny.

The school basically requires uniforms of you, in a state where no legal law requires it.