Manhattan Beach Middle School

Posted: January 6, 2026

There was a lot of things that happened in MBMS, that ended in a couple kids in jail. I know a person who was so traumatized, they became homeschooled, and left MBMS with an anxiety disorder. Please, for your sake, be careful. They also didn't handle a gun at school with a lock down drill (HUH?)

Posted: January 6, 2026

Posted: January 6, 2026

Posted: January 6, 2026

Posted: January 6, 2026

Posted: January 6, 2026

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Posted: June 6, 2025

It hurt me, here's my writing about this experience. 10-Sentence Story

1. Middle school was supposed to be a life changing experience and I was filled to the top with hope.
2. Middle school felt like a trap, hard to navigate and scary.
3. A day during this year that is impossible to forget was when I burst out in tears in class, and the counselor told me to consider homeschooling.
4. It was difficult to not try to perfect, because of the pressuring environment.
5. “I can’t get out,” I would whisper to myself at night, feeling like a prisoner at my own school.
6. The pain I felt everyday was shocking, making it hard to do anything besides studying.
7. They couldn’t understand me.
8. Even though I suffered I couldn’t stop, pushing myself to a breaking point.
9. Someone who helped me through this awful experience was Mrs. Grant, who helped me transition to a different school life.
10. Emotionally, this year has taught me nothing besides what a school shouldn’t feel like.

Posted: June 6, 2025

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Posted: November 12, 2024

Just finishing our daughter's third year here at Manhattan Beach Middle School (8th Grade). Overall our child is thriving in each grade level. Overall the quality of instruction has been great in most classes. Super strong math, science and history programs. Overall as a family we very happy with MBMS for a normal kid who likes learning.

The Yearbook, TV and Music programs are also all award winning, our daughter did the Yearbook program which was a ton of hard work but very rewarding for her. Other family friends are heavy into music (band, choir and orchestra) all which sound amazing when we hear them.

There are a few special needs children at the school, who seem to be getting lots of attention. The school just had a principal change with Mr. Olesiuk coming in and he communicates well with all the parents.

Posted: November 12, 2024

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Posted: October 26, 2022

Our daughter is currently attending Manhattan Beach Middle School after attending all grades at Grand View Elementary School here in Manhattan Beach. She currently enjoying all of her teachers who are challenging here. Class sizes are small, all under 25 and she is being challenged especially in her Advanced Math. Everything is tracked through Google Classroom which may be a challenge to non-technology savy parents; but creates great IT skills for the students.

The PTA does an incredible job of involving the community and raises huge amounts of money to further support programs in school and after school. The school has almost great facilities and sports programs/teams as well. Insane amount of Clubs students can join that meet during lunch breaks are good.

Given the level of affluence in the community most households make education a top priority. This lifts all children as motivation is contagious. Our child is currently excelling here.

Highly recommend!

Posted: October 26, 2022

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Posted: November 8, 2019

Bad food is terrible some teachers are nice

Posted: November 8, 2019

Some work is worth one point but others are 20

Posted: November 8, 2019

Mr. Smith is a great teacher for English but not all are like him

Posted: November 8, 2019

Most kids bully and make fun of people

Posted: November 8, 2019

Nobody really takes leadership for the kids

Posted: November 8, 2019

They’re two different math classes for the slow learners but that is it

Posted: November 8, 2019

If kids tell someone they will get picked on more

Posted: May 31, 2017

Posted: May 31, 2017

Posted: May 31, 2017

Posted: May 31, 2017

Posted: May 31, 2017

Posted: May 31, 2017

Posted: May 31, 2017

MBMS is a wonderful school with amazing teachers, academic excellence and extra curricular programs. MBMS prepared both my sons for success in high school both intellectually and emotionally. There is something for everyone including a world class music program, Surf PE class, chess club, etc. I don't agree with the poor reviews on this web site. MBMS is a large public school but its programs far exceed what is available at elite private schools. As a parent you need to stay involved with your child's education and stay on top of their courses and educational tract. I highly recommend MBMS.

Posted: March 21, 2016

Don’t let the high tests scores fool you. There are a lot of frazzled kids and families who are putting in a lot of outside-school effort to help generate those high test scores. Many (if not most) of these families have the educational background and other means necessary to help their kids, and I think this has allowed the school to get more credit than it deserves and also to avoid taking a look at the real impact of things like the huge school size and iPad program. Some good teachers; a lot of very average ones. Little teacher accountability and poor leadership. Very average school attended by a motivated set of students who are bound to test well even with sub-par teaching.

Posted: January 21, 2016

Posted: January 21, 2016

Posted: January 21, 2016

Posted: January 21, 2016

MBMS is dismal. The classes are monotonous. It's a shame that the principal of MBMS won an award for being a good principal but MBMS is still so bad.

Posted: October 30, 2015

Posted: October 30, 2015

Posted: October 30, 2015

I attended MBMS for my 6th and 7th grade years. Some of the classes there have a very slow pace and are boring. MBMS is not suited for gifted education, and the needs of gifted children are neglected. While there are some good aspects of the school, like the music program and extracurricular activities, the boring and monotonous classes outweigh the positives. There are some good teachers at MBMS, but some give too many detentions for no reason.

Posted: March 10, 2015

This school has no respect for what America was founded on. I have two kids that went here. My children felt disrespected and frankly felt like they were in a school in Iran, not America. It is your typical agenda-ed liberal hype school that crams new age weird concepts down the kids throats and teachers are mediocre at best. I have no idea where the good reviews are even coming from. Kids are not allowed to share an opinion at this school, it is controlling and bitter and abusive on a regular basis. Only liberal agenda is 'preached' here by staff . they are anything but 'progressive'.

Posted: January 24, 2015

Big which may be hard for some but quality is wonderful. If your child is organized and a self starter they will thrive here.

Posted: August 6, 2014

I went to mbms for two years and I loved it. The principal was awesome, I learned a lot in class, and I'm excited to start my eighth grade year there. There is a lot of homework, but it helps you learn and makes the tests easier. The only class I didn't like was French, because the teacher makes you review and review easy concepts that you already know well. That class is very slow and the teacher spends most of the class time on things you have already learned. Some people might like it, but it's not for me. Mbms also has an amazing music department. I am in band and choir, and both classes have experienced teachers that really care about they're students and want to help them learn. The iPads are easy to use and have enhanced my learning experience, making classes more interesting and my backpack lighter. I love mbms and have had a great experience in sixth and seventh grade.

Posted: April 12, 2014

This school is completely overrated. Teachers are non responsive, especially when you are actually trying to help your child -- I guess they aren't accustomed to parents actually participation in their child's education. Education is sub-par. The iPads are a joke -- some classes use online textbooks, others don't. If you're going to integrate, integrate across the board. Frankly, my child is a straight A student and finds textbooks on the iPad to be difficult learning tools.

Posted: July 20, 2013

honestly this school wasn't all too great. mainly because everyone was so snobby and the standards were a bit too high. i did learn a lot, though. i wish this school had lockers because carrying around my heavy backpack wasnt very fun. i also didnt care for the ipads. it actually made school harder and more stressful. i had to drop a class because all the homework we had was just too much. overall, i did not care for this school. you have to be skinny and you have to wear brand name clothes to fit in. even then, everyone judges you.