Wayside Middle School

This school is the best school ever. I am a mother of three kids. 8yr old. 6yr old and a 4yr old. My middle child didn't know how to read but her teacher Mrs. Warrick went above and beyond making sure that my child could read. She came up with an early start tutorial and before the end of the semesters she was reading perfect. My husband and I we are grateful for Ms. Warrick and we love our kids teachers. Thank you all!!!

I went to this school and it gave me PTSD.

This school was a good school. Since the early 2020s, this school has become a mess. From disruptive behavior going unchecked to hiring permanent substitute teachers fresh from High School, this school is craptastic. Constant turnover of educational staff (probably due to the terrible kids that cannot be disciplined) and I’m sure the good teachers can’t find opportunities elsewhere and feel stuck. Not to mention the extremely friendly office staff, they treat you like you’re bothering them. It’s hard to imagine how quickly things have changed.

I have two children who have been at this school for years. We love and appreciate the school and the staff. It isn't perfect, but no place is. On top of that, the tuition is super affordable. With that said, I wanted to break down why I rated each area in the way that I did:Learning: 3/5... This question is in regards to if the students feel excited about what they are learning... I do not think this is a fair question to ask for rating purposes of the school.... I have rarely met a child that is excited about what they are learning all the time. The teachers do the best they can, but the kids are about as excited about learning as they are about doing chores... This is not a reflection of the school or teaching anymore than not wanting to do chores is a reflection on the parents.Teaching: 5/5... You need to understand and accept in advance that this is a small private school with incredibly low tuition... This means the teachers are not necessarily degreed in education nor are they likely experts in the subjects that they teach. They are there as a ministry, and they are doing the best they can. They are respectful, supportive, and as motivating as possible. They are basically homeschooling your child for you. For this, I am eternally grateful.Social-emotional support: 4/5... The only reason that there is not a 5/5 rating here is because the school doesn't have a staffed guidance councilor. As stated above, small school and low tuition... The staff wears MULTIPLE hats, and they do a great job.Special Education: 0/0... It's not really fair to give 0/0, as the school simply doesn't offer it. It's not a matter of not doing well with it, they do not have the financial means. This is not a secret and indicated on their enrollment paperwork.Safety: 5/5... Doors stay locked, cameras are in classrooms, and strangers are not permitted in the building. Students must be signed out by authorized people only. Family Engagement: 5/5... If I could give this a 10, I would! The school strongly encourages family engagement. They are very old school and still use actual books, pencils, and papers. Students are still assigned homework! Parents are repeatedly asked to be checking grades on returned quizzes and tests, study with the students, help with homework, check planners, etc. There are also multiple events throughout the year where families are asked to donate and/or volunteer.