Dowdell Middle Magnet School

Posted: February 17, 2026

In my experience, this school could use an overhaul or review of staff. Some staff barely speak English, making it hard to communicate. On multiple occasions the ability of some teachers to handle their classroom and students are questionable at best. The principal Stacey Schlarbaum should not be a principal, it's questionable how she made it to this type of position. She has no control over the school. She is extremely rude and unprofessional. She has no idea how to conduct herself or maintain her own personal emotions when things are brought to her attention. Her lack of ability to communicate effectively with students and parents is outstanding for someone in her position. As a parent I have never been so shocked at the conduct of a principal at a school. Parents, please keep this in mind if she is still the principal when sending your kids to this school. I am sure there are some good teachers and staff here but they definitely are NOT being led by one.

Posted: February 17, 2026

Posted: February 17, 2026

Posted: February 17, 2026

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Posted: February 17, 2026

Posted: February 10, 2026

This school is horrible I wouldn’t never in million years recommend this school for anyone to send their students . It’s always fights, students out of control, ain’t no real learning being done at this school it’s so much favoritism at this school

Posted: February 10, 2026

Posted: February 10, 2026

Posted: February 10, 2026

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Posted: February 10, 2026

Posted: September 24, 2025

This school is AWFUL. When I went to this school, there are so many beauty standards, and teachers do nothing about it. The school counselor will help but only offer for you to sit alone at lunch so it”helps” even after you are crying and panicking. They are also so behind on education. Most public schools are but they are FAR behind. Kids are ghetto and mean. The school dress code for uniforms is UNBELIEVABLE. They are so strict, other reviews explain their experience. In class too, all they do is teach with a smart board and barely teach anything and expect you to know everything after given a random worksheet you never went over. If you want your child to cry, send them. But please don’t.

Posted: September 24, 2025

Posted: September 24, 2025

Posted: September 24, 2025

Posted: September 24, 2025

Posted: September 24, 2025

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Posted: September 24, 2025

Posted: July 24, 2025

Do not bring your child here. My daughter has been at this school for 1 year now and i will NOT bring her back to this place. The teachers here do not care about these children’s education. The only thing they do at this school is discipline.My child has also been complaining about how there is only ONE bathroom open for each gender. And kids here get in trouble for going to class late because they used the bathroom before getting to class. This is unacceptable . The principal at this school mostly cares about what the students wear. The dress code here is sooo strict its crazy. I understand that you guys want to be safer with what the students wear but WHY is it so strict? I checked the “Dowdell Middle Magnet” school website and recently they made a new dress code rule. And APPARENTLY , now kids cannot wear any colored hoodie except navy blue. This is crazy because why do colors matter now? To match the dowdell colors or what.. this is so embarrassing and i hope you guys fix this.

Posted: July 24, 2025

Posted: July 24, 2025

Posted: July 24, 2025

Posted: July 24, 2025

Posted: July 24, 2025

Posted: July 24, 2025

Posted: July 24, 2025

Posted: July 24, 2025

This is the worst school I've ever seen in my lifetime, my son has been coming here for 6th and 7th grade and now his 8th grade year the uniform policy is completely too much. I can get past the khaki pants and polos, but navy blue sweaters only? This is insanity, and way too much. This school is also completely horrible and unsafe bc in his 7th grade year (2024-2025 school year) there was a girl that threatened to shoot up the school that got arrested. Many kids in his class were scared for their lives, and all the teachers did was say nothing was happening and get mad when they talk about it, Maybe instead of punishing the kids for talking about their SAFETY, they should try to comfort instead. Not only that but on the last day of their 7th grade year, they cancelled the 8th grade clapout. Now I've already seen a review of somebodys child in tears because it got cancelled on their last day of being at that school. Now I cannot imagine how those kids felt especially knowing that it got cancelled over a few kids bringing literal waterguns. That is harmless and was only for the fun of their last year. This school is horrible, do not bring your children to this jail.

Posted: July 24, 2025

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Posted: May 30, 2025

Thanks for making the last day of my 8th grader daughter the most saddening, she came to my car crying, because Pamela McNair the vice principal cancelled the 8th grader clap out walk, bc 3 students brought water guns to school 2 days before school was over then her smart self decided to punish all the students including the 8th graders that work so hard all year long with excellent grades.. instead of suspending the students involved with the water guns.

Next time make better decisions Pamela.

Posted: May 30, 2025

Posted: May 30, 2025

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Posted: May 30, 2025

Posted: May 17, 2019

You complain what's going on and get no help.

Posted: May 17, 2019

Posted: May 17, 2019

My nephew been bullied here at the school for a while. My sister complained on numerous occasions. One day he finally stood up to a bully. The school wants to press charges. This school is very sad. I will be calling 8 on your side

Posted: May 17, 2019

0 I rate it a negative 0

Posted: May 17, 2019

Posted: May 17, 2019

My sister was in a meeting with the principal and teacher my nephew was explaining what happened a teacher which is a adult had the nerve to stand behind him and role her eyes why he told what happened. Where are these teachers getting trained at.

Posted: May 17, 2019

Posted: August 27, 2014

While the caliber of student leaves a little to be desired, my daughter is attending her third year at this school and I love it. The teachers are wonderful and engaged. The principal and his staff are wonderful and making constant improvement.

Posted: April 7, 2014

Dowdell Middle Magnet school is a much underappreciated school! I believe that the teachers here do everything they can for their students and work together as a team to make the students futures brighter. Now that is not to say that it is perfect because what school really is but i believe they do the best they can with what they've got. I would be happy to send my child to Dowdell Middle Magnet School because I know they would be surrounded by teachers who want to teach and have their best interest at heart.

Posted: April 1, 2014

This school has the most respectful and well-behaved students and staff of any middle school in the district that I have visited. Dowdell implements a strong classroom management and character education program. This school has been designated as the only Model School for the CHAMPS classroom management program in the district and will continue as the model school for this program in 2014-15. Teams from other schools visit Dowdell to gather ideas on best practices for implementing the CHAMPS program and continue to come away impressed with the positive culture of the school. The reduction in discipline issues has allowed staff to focus on offering students a strong academic program in a respectful environment.

Posted: April 1, 2014

My experience with this school was a very good one. If you' re a student who is willing to learn and be an active student, you are guaranteed success here. Even students who may be uninterested in academics are greatly encouraged to take a part in learning here.

Posted: March 31, 2014

Dowdell is a great place to learn. The magnet program and its teachers are top-notch. Although our neighborhood middle school is an A school, we chose Dowdell and are so happy we did. The teachers and administration really know and care about my child. They are always available to me for questions or concerns. My child completed many high school level courses and enjoyed being a student in a diverse environment that encourages hands-on, fun, and creative learning. My child has always felt challenged, encouraged, accepted and safe. Where else can you go to middle school and learn about environmental science by working in wetlands, learn about animal science by caring for chickens and bunnies, and learn about global sustainability by creating entire ecosystems? Dowdell is that place. What my child put into her education at Dowdell has returned to her ten-fold. She is completely prepared for a rigorous high school and college career.

Posted: March 30, 2014

My child attended Dowdell Middle Magnet School for all 3 years of middle school, grades 6th, 7th, & 8th. I was very satisfied with this school. I have seen a great deal of improvement in the behavior of the students over the 3 years my child was enrolled there. My child was a magnet student interested in helping the environment and helping animals. She participated in the magnet elective classes. She went on camping trips, attended field trips to plant native plants, and helped in community clean-ups. I was very statisfied with her teachers. I felt the leadership was good and liked her guidance counselor. I have recommended Dowdell to other parents.

Posted: September 25, 2013

Dowdell Middle Magnet School is okay. They have improved greatly over the last year. The teachers show a special interest in the children and their development.

Posted: June 25, 2013

This is a dangerous school. My daughter loves environmental science, so we thought it'd be a great place for her to learn. Over the course of one school year, she was sexually harassed by male students, and several girls made threats to jump her. One girl threatened to shoot her and the school did NOTHING about it. I had to ask them to move the girl to another class and they did nothing until I got fed up and called the school board to file a complaint. Kids set off an acid bomb in the hallway and I received NO phone call about the school being on lockdown for 7 hours. The principal is a politician (all smiles, ineffective action). My daughter loved her teachers and I feel as though they supported her in any way possible. The teachers are the ONLY benefit to this school. The "magnet" portion of this school consists of two elective classes. The magnet/non-magnet kids are lumped together. I went to the office one day and there was a kid sitting there who couldn't even tell time; the woman in the office laughed it off, but I thought it was a shame that he was sitting there in punishment for not having the uniform shirt on, instead of learning.

Posted: June 17, 2012

This school is very unprepared, no school assemblies or dances, most of the staff and teachers are rude to almost everyone (use favoritism), school sports coaches don't know the sport or interact with the kids!! A lot of the kids are rude to but there are some nice and ready to learn kids. They need to encourage kids to want to learn make school fun, so they want to go to school, they also very much need to enforce rules!!! There were many kids who didn't wear their uniforms and got away with it! There was a tea her who sat there and ate doughnuts while there was a mandatory lock down!!! HORRIBLE SCHOOL