Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School

Posted: July 31, 2022

Literal hell. Went here for 21-22, threatened with death from bullies on more than one occasion. Seen my classmates literally be tackled and chased by bullies and then they get in trouble for it. Administration doesn't do anything. The principle Mr V is clueless and barely knows how to do his job. They need new administration and security. I shouldnt have to go to school to feel like my life is in danger.

Parents,
Please send your children somewhere else.

Posted: July 31, 2022

Posted: July 31, 2022

Posted: July 31, 2022

Posted: July 31, 2022

Posted: July 31, 2022

Posted: July 31, 2022

Posted: July 31, 2022

Posted: December 3, 2018

There was very little homework given and my child wasn't very prepared for their next school when it came to juggling homework.

Posted: December 3, 2018

Some teachers were great and engaged and involved in their class. Others openly teased kids in class or insulted the class as a whole.

Posted: December 3, 2018

Teachers seem overwhelmed and limited in how they can handle social issues. My child was bullied all year. After MANY calls and emails, the leadership stepped in and tried to help in one instance, but there was no communication with me to follow-up. One great teacher opened up his classroom over lunch for kids to have a place to come to to relax and get away from bullies and issues in the lunchroom.

Posted: December 3, 2018

I think the STEM director has great intentions and seems to know the kids really well, but communications with him were inconsistent and difficult and many things we were told by the STEM leadership during school tours regarding transportation and electives were not true. Not sure if this was purposeful or simple mistakes, but either way we were told untrue things about the school and we didn't find out the correct information until after the school year started.

Posted: December 3, 2018

Posted: December 3, 2018

Teachers seem overwhelmed and limited in how they can handle social issues. My child was bullied all year. After MANY calls and emails, the leadership stepped in and tried to help in one instance, but there was no communication with me to follow-up. One great teacher opened up his classroom over lunch for kids to have a place to come to to relax and get away from bullies and issues in the lunchroom.

Posted: December 3, 2018

My child was in the STEM program. I hesitate to write poor reviews, but here is what I wish I had known as a parent before they started there.

Much of the information given to us by the STEM leadership during tours was WRONG. We were told out of district transportation is provided, but we found out later my child had to leave school early to catch that bus, missing half of last period EVERY DAY. We were told busing is provided for afterschool activities. It is, but only to limited stops. It took as long to drive to this stop as it did to drive to school after activities. My child was really interested in music electives and loved the teachers we met at the school. We were told they could participate in arts electives along with the STEM program. When school started, we found out they had separate arts classes for that the STEM students could take. The teachers we had met were not the ones who taught these classes. My child was in a band class for 2/3 of the year and did not play his instrument AT ALL during that time due to the director's inability to manage the classroom. We were told that all classes were at the same academic pace/level. Turns out there was a "fast track" math class and a standard one. My biggest warnings to other parents would be to make SURE you ask every question you have and to the person who is responsible for it, not just to the STEM staff.
So much info was dropped or lost in the system. The school never received my child's academic records and never called to tell me this. Instead they assumed where my child should be placed academically and turns out it wasn't right. My child's math teacher never submitted final grades for the year - there was a blank on the report card and NO ONE AT THE SCHOOL NOTICED! When I called to get the grade to get complete records for a transfer, I was told that wouldn’t be possible til teachers returned in the fall.

My child was bullied emotionally and physically almost daily. Sometimes the school stepped in, but many times not. I had to call/email repeatedly to get replies and answers to my concerns.

I very much regret sending my child to this school – what was told to us about the schools programs wasn’t how it worked and it was an incredibly challenging year for my child and us.

Posted: January 26, 2016

Posted: January 26, 2016

Posted: January 26, 2016

Posted: January 26, 2016

I appreciate the innovative thinking and planning that the thoughtful staff and leadership have made to the school.

Posted: May 24, 2015

I am a student at BDJMS. I am in the STEM program. Overall, the school is great. My STEM teachers are REALLY nice. There are a lot of opportunities for the STEM kids. However, the school needs some work. There are not a lot of electives. There should be things like Woodshop. The students are out of control. There is not a lot of discipline when people are being bullied. I also think that we should have more field trips and more oppertunities for the non STEM kids.
For example only STEM students got to go to Rhode Island for the sail boat race. There also should be more pep rallies and fun activities for students. Also us students shouldn't have to pay to attend dances or get a yearbook. Overall BDJMS is a good school but if improvements were made, it would be worth five stars.

Posted: August 10, 2013

From the New London District plan, published in the 2012-2013 year. These numbers do not lie. There is a serious problem with the leadership ruining this once adequate school: High Staff Absenteeism & Turnover contributes to inconsistency of instruction. o 20% of teachers had more than 10 absences; 67% of teachers had 5 or more absences o 43% of the staff is new to the building since Jan. 2010. (22/51 teachers)

Posted: August 1, 2013

All locals gave this school bad reviews but unfortunately since its the only non-lottery middle school in New London, my child had to attend here. The staff (except for the secretary) are all rude. The principal and teachers and guidance counselor have no patience, training or compassion towards kids with learning disabilities. When I addressed a bullying issue to the guidance counselor, he just strongly suggested that my child was just depressed! Ask the locals, there is definitely a reason why everyone dreads having their child attend this school.

Posted: July 7, 2013

This school is volatile. The reputation of this sub-par school is well known in SouthEastern CT, which unfortunately discourages teachers from applying. New London had to host a special job fair in order to lure teachers in to this school. There has been such a massive exodus of teachers (and education-minded families) over the past three years, that the core of Bennie Dover is no longer recognizable. The music program, in particular, has floundered, having lost their excellent band director of a couple of years ago. While the administration spreads untruths about only incompetent teachers leaving, it is a fact that even the new, excellent teachers are leaving - some of them excellent, male role models. Police were finally brought in because of the dangerous atmosphere and that seems to have helped, but what kind of environment is that for kids to learn in? A rumor that the former vice-principal will return as principal from the high school in 2013-2014 (and the current principal finally demoted to a less challenging grammar school) give some hope to the return of competent leadership. One can only hope that the new Board of Ed, although mostly uneducated, can help.

Posted: February 20, 2013

Bennie Dover is improving everyday. As the parent of three children (two have since moved on to the high school, one is still in the school now), AND a teacher in a neighboring district, I have been very focused and aware of my childrens' education. There was a point a few years ago where I had some concerns over behavior and administration. It seemed like expectations were set low enough for everyone to achieve an A (way too easy). In the past 3 or 4 years, there have been massive changes in accountability. The staff have gone through extensive training in more effective methods, and the student behavior is no where near the reputation that some other reviewers have mentioned. Not quite a 5 yet, as there are still areas of improvement (such as consistent discipling, availability of special education and other aids/support staff, and availability of technology and assistive technologies). They are now piloting an extended day program to help make up for language or learning deficits - very promising! Looking forward to next year!