Norman L. Sullivan Middle School

Posted: January 26, 2026

I now have to homeschool my child because this school is so poor and there are no other choices for middle school less than 30min away. Our family will have to move out of the area once we find a better district. Unfortunately there are no school districts with with homes you can purchase for less than1.2million dollars. If you are considering this area and you do not have kids it works out great. If your children are school age please move somewhere else because it all goes downhill after elementary school.

Posted: January 26, 2026

Posted: January 26, 2026

Posted: January 26, 2026

Posted: January 26, 2026

Posted: January 26, 2026

Posted: July 19, 2025

My daughter has gone here for a year now and it has been the best decision yet! I’ve seen the other reviews and I can assure you, all staff are supportive and welcoming, unlike what some of the other reviews have said.

Posted: July 19, 2025

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Posted: February 4, 2022

Posted: February 4, 2022

Posted: February 4, 2022

Posted: February 4, 2022

Posted: February 4, 2022

Posted: February 4, 2022

Posted: February 4, 2022

Posted: February 4, 2022

This school is a joke. The administration and superintendent have repeatedly put my son in danger this week because he was choosing to participate in a mask choice protest.

He was taken outside to the very edge of campus with no supervision. Had his PE and lunchtime taken away and was accused of opening a door for unauthorized adults (his parents).

There are constant fights, kids are scared and nothing is being done, administration is targeting children who don’t believe the same as them.

The students would do a better job at running this school. Please do yourself a favor and choose another school. Any school other than this one if you want your children properly cared for.

Posted: May 20, 2020

There was minimal/no homework assigned in the almost 2 years my child attended. I don't think they need hours of homework every night but something minimal to reinforce what was learned during school would have been appropriate.

Posted: May 20, 2020

My child has always excelled at math and was tested for placement at the new school after leaving SMS. Almost 2 years into middle school and my child was testing at a 6th grade level. Basically did not learn anything over the last few years. I ended up having to pay a math tutor to get up to speed. While at tutoring, a school mate that had gone on to high school at Fallbrook was also there admitting he learned nothing in his time at Sullivan and is now failing math. Both of them were repeated honor roll students SMS. The only effective teacher during my child's time there was the 8th grade english teacher, she is way under appreciated and deserves a better work environment.

Posted: May 20, 2020

The students were extremely disrespectful to the teachers, spitting on them, talking back, refusing to do assignments,vaping/getting high in class, and threatening them if they dared to reign in bad behavior.

Posted: May 20, 2020

I can't fault the staff really, they try but are overwhelmed with the students at this school. Many here do not have a family that cares about their education/future so any punishment from the school is not followed up with repercussions at home. It's an endless cycle. In addition there is a rampant drug problem and not enough staff to monitor or control. The principal (Mr. Clevenger) that was holding it together has since left. Mr. C did the best he could, but without the parents backing him up, it unfortunately was just not enough.

Posted: May 20, 2020

Posted: May 20, 2020

As I mentioned, the staff is just overwhelmed. This is not the bullying you remember where it might be pushing/punching etc. These kids are threatening to murder other students by stabbing or shooting. My child's first day here ended with the principle getting a black eye from a student while breaking up a fight. It went downhill from there.

Posted: May 20, 2020

To any parents that are considering this school, if you value their education, do NOT send your child here. I regret ever sending mine here and we moved out of the area because the other options for school after Bonsall West elementary were not promising. In addition to the failures as an educational institution, the location on a two lane road in fire prone area was dangerous. During the Lilac fires, school evacuation was chaotic at best. In addition, $1000/ year for the bus or a 2 hour commute for pickups should be a huge deterrent.

Posted: January 16, 2020

Extremely poor. They do not communicate with parents nor do they believe they need to. They only contact the parents when they want money. They do not protect the students from mistreatment and they do not want to help students with learning difficulties. If your child goes to this school, know that the assumption is that you know everything about the school and the school does not need to inform you about anything. Also know that if a teacher mistreats your child, the school will not do anything to make the situation better; they will not even have a meeting with the teacher in question, the parent, the student and the principal, even if you request it. They will not address your concerns. They do not tolerate individuality or anybody who is different. You have rights only if you fit the mainstream.

Posted: January 16, 2020

Parents are made responsible. Teachers and school does not want to help students with difficulty learning or learning disabilities

Posted: January 16, 2020

Posted: January 16, 2020

This school allows unfair treatment of students

Posted: January 16, 2020

The new principal does not ensure that the school communicates effectively with parents. She will not take a stand against teachers who mistreat a student.

Posted: January 16, 2020

This school does nothing when informed that a student had an IEP in a prior school. Everything is left for the parent to do and demand.

Posted: January 16, 2020

This school allows even teachers to mistreat students

Posted: December 16, 2019

They lost the principle that held the school together last year. His replacement leaves much to be desired.

Posted: December 16, 2019

The case worker for my son at school needs to be reminded regularly to follow up and does nothing to provide my son any help. His IEP wasn't even followed for the first 2 months at school.

Posted: December 16, 2019

Posted: December 16, 2019

We moved here for the schools. Bonsall Elementary was great, Sullivan has been an absolute disappointment. We're moving.

Posted: December 16, 2019

Posted: December 16, 2019

My child has gone from a straight A student to all C's, D's and F's. The teachers have't reached out to me or to help my son even though they know he is on an IEP and needs a little extra help.

Posted: December 16, 2019

Posted: June 25, 2018

Posted: June 25, 2018

Posted: June 25, 2018

Posted: June 25, 2018

Posted: June 25, 2018

No GATE or other program for advanced learning students.

Posted: June 25, 2018

I don't know anything about bullying at this school.

Posted: June 25, 2018

I noticed a LOT of these reviews are old - anything older than 2015 doesn't even apply now. The principal Mr Clevenger here is awesome and fully supportive of students and parental involvement. The students have a handful of different teachers each year and move from class to class in preparation of the high school format. I will admit, Bonsall Unified doesn't have a GATE program for advanced kids. My daughter was bored because she felt like the academic progression slowed her learning. The district is too busy dumping money into a fledgeling high school that many parents don't want to send their kids to. But that isn't Mr Clevenger's fault, its the district's! They could use a fraction of that money and build the kids a great track to run on!

Posted: March 16, 2018

Posted: March 16, 2018

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Posted: March 16, 2018

Posted: March 16, 2018

Posted: March 16, 2018

This school has great staff; many students desire to achieve

Posted: August 25, 2015

Posted: August 25, 2015

Posted: August 25, 2015

Posted: August 25, 2015

I've had way to many issues with the bonsall school district and the middle school has been the worst. From the teachers to what the kids are getting away with at this school. It's just ridiculous and I'm very disappointed

Posted: February 1, 2015

This is my first year at Sullivan Middle School. It is also my first year of teaching, period! I have to say that I am EXTREMELY lucky to have found employment at such an amazing school. I teach seventh grade humanities (English/Social Studies) and I have found the students in Bonsall to be extremely courteous, enthusiastic, and respectful. I enjoy every day that I get to come and teach. The administration is supportive and listens to the needs of its teachers. I hope to be employed at Sullivan for many, many years!

Posted: June 22, 2013

Thanks both to active parent groups and a school board that values and at least partially funds art and music, Sullivan is a well-rounded school that continues to offer art, music, and other extra-curriculars. We could wish for more differentiated academics to challenge all students, but overall, Sullivan staff does a great job. The school itself is well-maintained and appears to be a safe environment. Our student, a 7th grader, has been happy at Sullivan, and it's definitely the best middle school in the immediate area.

Posted: May 21, 2013

Teachers are caring, enthusiastic and well suited to subjects they teach. regardless, the attendance clerk is rude and abrupt. The principal does not welcome parents on campus. The principals correspondence i.e. email/all-call is poorly written and rarely contains useful information. Campus security is lacking and maintenance of parking/pick-up areas is non-existent.

Posted: May 17, 2013

I do not enjoy this school because the people are rude and my kids have always wanted to change schools when they started going. It looks like a neat school on the outside however, the kids are not well mannered. One time my kid went to talk to the principal and she told him "go away." They were reporting a very important issue on bullying.

Posted: May 15, 2013

Sullivan is a very good school. I think the teachers care and are interested in the students learning. Really like the smaller feel for my children. This is my second child to go thru Sullivan and we are very happy with it.