Oak Grove Middle School

Posted: June 9, 2025

Our child has excelled at this Middle School. It is a lot different vibe than schools in the City but despite the outdated reviews we have had a great experience and our children have been prepared for high school. Mr. Z was one of the best teachers there. They have implemented an after school program which has helped. And I think the school is heading in an academic progressive direction. There are many students in which English is not their first language, so test scores seem to be affected by that, but overall a great school.

Posted: June 9, 2025

Posted: June 9, 2025

Posted: June 9, 2025

Posted: June 9, 2025

Posted: June 9, 2025

Posted: June 9, 2025

Posted: June 9, 2025

Posted: February 4, 2024

I cannot recommend this school and in fact would advise against it. We had an amazing experience at Jamul Elementary, and so were very disappointed to have such an overwhelming negative experience at Oak Grove. As another reviewer pointed out, the principal is the issue. The school has struggled to hold on to teachers. Some of the great ones have quit or “retired” and for several years they have had math and English teachers come and go so frequently that the majority of the time the students have had a substitute in those core subjects. But the behavior toward the teachers is not the only problem. There is a culture of bullying that goes on here that is damaging to students, whether they are the bullies or the ones being bullied. The principal makes some token gestures for show, but doesn’t really care and, in fact, picks on some of the more picked on students, blaming them and punishing them for what goes on. I had heard stories of this from other families in the community, but we had such a good experience at the elementary school and live so far from other schools that we felt we did not have a choice. I had several meetings with the principal and teachers, trying to get this under control, but it just kept getting worse. The principal has a very, “what do you want me to do about it?” attitude and generally turns the meeting around to complaining about your child. We finally pulled my son out after a year and a half and I feel terrible that I left him there for so long. There are some good teachers, which is why we stayed as long as we did, and I think that many of them care about the students, but the administration does not support them in creating a safe learning environment. Other teachers seem happy to ignore the bullying and don’t seem to believe the students when they are told what is going on. I can only assume that this is because they know that there will be no support from the administration to manage this and have just given up. My son has had none of the same problems with students or the administration at his new school and is thriving both academically and socially, without my involvement, which further leads me to believe that there is a really problem with Oak Grove.
I wish I could say that there was anything to offer academically, but again, no. While some of the teachers are very good and do care about the students, the overall culture is just to get them out, pass or fail.
Save yourself some heartache and find another school.

Posted: February 4, 2024

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Posted: January 25, 2024

It's interesting that the reviews of Oak Grove were positive until 2015, then that year, the last review for the past 9 years, is very negative. From my experience and knowledge of this school, the general morale and level of student engagement remains very low, (particularly the 8th grade), and this can be directly traced to the current leadership in 2024. The teachers are are highly educated, caring individuals with a tough job, giving everything they can to support all students, many of whom do not seem not to care about school or their grades. Already faced with these challenges and an unfortunately low level of parental support, teachers also face a vindictive, demeaning principal, who seems more inclined to talk down to teachers, seeking faults and reprimanding them like children, rather than offering support, effective solutions, or ever pointing out any positive notes. We all know the effectiveness of positive reinforcement, and how it boosts morale and performance, whereas treating professional adults with disrespect, as though they do not deserve better, engenders resentment and only pushes good teachers towards quitting. Someone needs to reassess this principal, as she is dragging the school down with her.

Posted: January 25, 2024

Posted: February 1, 2015

We moved back to Jamul after being in Santee for over 13 years, our older children did well in the Jamul school district and our younger children were accelerating in the Santee schools (98% star, Gate, AP). After the first parent teacher conference, we realized that we just made one of the worst choices of our children's education (thus far). We are currently looking for a charter school in the area; it's sad.

Posted: August 26, 2013

The teachers, staff and kids at Oak Grove are wonderful. We moved from Los Angeles, where my son's experiences were terrible. Everyone at Oak Grove worked with my son so that he would feel safe at school again. As he now feels safe in school, he is learning again and is excited to go to school. I cannot recommend this school highly enough.

Posted: August 25, 2013

Wonderful school, my kids have improved so well from their previous district. They have always recieved decent grades, but once they started here they have improved greatly. My daughter achieved a 4.0. The Principal is wonderful the teachers really seem to enjoy their jobs. Most of the students appear clean and bright.

Posted: June 6, 2013

Oak Grove Middle School has provided guidance and a positive environment for both of my grandchildren. Mrs. Bystedt, the principal, has been available and proactive regarding any concerns that our family has had regarding our students. This is an excellent environment for the middle school years. It is a small school with a tremendous sense of community. Having recently attended the annual Awards Ceremony it is apparent that every child is valued.

Posted: June 5, 2011

I have had 2 children attend Oak Grove in the last 4 years, both under former and current principals. As of right now, I feel that OGMS is on a major upward swing after many years of failing leadership. Mrs. Bystedt, cares about her students, enough to get to the bottom of most issues. The staff is open to more after school activities, which enhance the overall student experiences. This a superior school with all that it physically takes to succeed! I feel that too much attention is paid to Show Choir, which only appeals to a small percentage of students, and that spreading out the funding to more programs would be more beneficial to more of the general student population. Continuing on the current path of expanding after school activities, offering a homework club, and more music an art would be wonderful, and it is being promised for the 2011-12 school year! Go Oak Grove! We are a great community, and hearing about the forward progress is wonderful! keep it up - Continuing to have JAM supporting the arts, after school stick ball and Cross country, thanks to the teachers who go the extra mile!! You can once again be a distinguished school, and this is how you get there! Good Job!