Walker Middle Magnet School in Odessa

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	10/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Florida Assessment of Student Thinking data from Florida Department of Education, and using 2025 Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking data from Florida Department of Education.
Student Growth	10/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Florida Department of Education.

Posted: June 21, 2025

It was a very good school experience for my son, all the staff are very professional.

Posted: June 4, 2025

There is a significant emphasis on busy work, but not enough support in helping students learn how to stay organized or manage differing expectations from multiple teachers. Teacher communication with parents is minimal, and reminders often have to be given regarding existing 504 plans. The school environment places a strong focus on state testing, sometimes at the expense of students' actual classroom success. The "Service as Action" project lacks clarity, and students complete it without understanding its purpose, simply doing any community service available to meet the requirement. While cell phones aren't technically required, not having one makes it difficult for students to turn in assignments and communicate with teachers, creating pressure to provide a device when it doesn't feel developmentally appropriate.

Some staff members regularly express personal views in ways that are inappropriate in a classroom setting.

The orchestra and robotics programs are fantastic!

The car line experience is unpleasant. The RSO frequently raises his voice at parents while trying to navigate the carline and communicating with the kid(s) in the car. Interactions with front office staff are inconsistent; occasionally warm, but often unwelcoming. If your child stays in the box, does their work timely without hesitation, gets good grades and test scores, and does not ask too many questions, they will probably thrive at Walker. If they cause extra work or frustration, they many have a hard experience. Overall, the school could benefit from more consistent teacher communication, clearer expectations, and a more supportive, respectful environment for students and families.

Posted: May 30, 2025

Love Walker. I am glad i picked this school for my daughter. Excellent services and very good teachers/ staff.

Posted: May 29, 2025

Wonderful school with excellent teachers and programs. My son just completed 6th grade and I feel that the school is thoroughly prepping the kids for a higher level of education.

Posted: May 29, 2025

My son has spent the last 3 year at Walker and had a great experience! The teachers, faculty and staff are great! I'm excited that my daughter is starting 6th grade there and look forward to her having a great education and experience as well.

Posted: May 29, 2025

The school is awesome and always best and great

Posted: May 29, 2025

The teachers are amazing. The PTSA provides opportunities to parents to Volunteer and get involved. So much happens at this school from dances to sporting events. The school participates in Hello Week and Red Ribbon week. The clubs that are led by the teachers are amazing. Robotics, Agriculture, Friends, FBLA, running club, friendship club, band, orchestra and more. The new Principal, Principal Caldwell is amazing. The standards are high at the school and the emphasis on learning is top notch. Students grow not just in their educational areas, but with emotional maturity as well. The goal of being well rounded learners is key.

Since this a school that a student must be selected via a lottery, each student and famlly who gets the opportunity to be a part of the school has received the "Golden Ticket" when receiving word that they have a chance to attend Walker Middle Magnet School. My two kids attend Walker. I am grateful they have this opportunity that others may not. This has set them on a good path for their future.

Posted: May 29, 2025

Our two kids attend Walker Middle School, and they're absolutely thriving! The school's IB curriculum is fantastic, providing engaging challenges that help them grow academically and personally.

Posted: May 29, 2025

I have moved around the nation during my service and retired back home in Tampa. Walker is not only the best in Hillsborough, but amongst the best across the US in my opinion. I live closer to another "A" school, and drove my son for 3 years further to Walker Middle because the standard/quality is just higher amongst the staff & for the students. My son is capable but needs to be pushed to achieve more, and Walker did that for 3 years with their standard for excellence.

Posted: May 29, 2025

Our experience as grandparents and parents of our student in this magnificent school, is a very comforting and grateful experience. This magnet school focuses on providing an excellent education for every student.

Posted: May 29, 2025

Our 6th grader has had a wonderful first year at Walker! Cant wait for more!

Posted: May 29, 2025

Excellent school. My son attended these last three years, and it was a wonderful experience for both him and me as his mother. The teachers were very attentive and supportive at all times. Miss Franks was an exceptional person, always supporting the students and guiding them with love and respect. I recommend this school 100%.

Posted: May 29, 2025

My 6th and 8th grader attend Walker Middle School. My 1st child went to Ben Hill and hands down Walker is a far better experience. They are more organized, teachers are more engaged with the students, they stick to ensuring students are learning and are safe. After having 2 children go through middle school, I feel teachers need to be more engaged with not only students but their parents via virtual or one-one meetings. Before attending Walker, the expectation was for more "at home", reading, homework, etc. assignments but I feel they lacked expectation of giving my children more assignments and "pushing" them more to differentiate from a non-magnet school. However, Walker is a great school and definitely do not regret my children attending this school.

Posted: May 29, 2025

My daughter started at this school for the 2024/2025 school year. She handled the change from elementary to middle well, There are some teachers there that really try to keep some fun in the middle school years and some that enforce a hard change from the fun times of elementary to the seriousness of middle school. She will continue her middle school years at this school. They have some great after school programs and a good choice of electives. We had one issue that was handled very well with the student councellor.

Posted: May 29, 2025

Walker Middle is one of the best choices we made for our son for middle school. Engaging and happy staff, rigorous curriculum, and a comforting environment! Truly hoping our soon to be 4th grade daughter has the opportunity to attend WMS in a few years! Thankful for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful school.

Posted: October 1, 2024

Awesome School!! This school is great as an active student. Its pretty sad to see what some other people think about this school I highly recommend to bring your child to Walker Middle Magnet as it is, rich in learning, has respectful staff, and much more to cherish.

Posted: July 22, 2024

If youre looking for a sign as to whether or not to send your student to this school, dont. Unless your neighborhood school is truly terrible, it isnt worth it.

Some teachers here truly care about their students and do a great job. Others definitely dont and say things that teachers should not say around students. And others are downright bullies to students but they get away with it because they know they can.

The administration, especially Principal Heather Holloway and AP Andria Franks are truly awful and foster a toxic school culture. The administration refuses to properly address parent complaints even when it involves violence. They would rather spend their time walking around the cafeteria with seating charts, threatening students with suspensions for being in the wrong seat than actually resolve problems. They also do things like bring in the Kona Ice truck at lunchtimes then when students stand up from their tables to go outside and buy a treat, they hand out dress code violations. They repeatedly request used uniforms not to help students in need but to have uniforms for students to change into when they violate their ridiculously strict uniform guidelines. Of course female students are most often dress coded and the boys laugh and get away with violating the dress code more because they know they can.

Their carline is truly terrible every morning and afternoon and bus rides are not any better. The school is dirty, the bathrooms are disgusting and fights and vandalism occur in there. They keep the biggest and nicest bathrooms closed everyday and only open them when there are sewage leaks in the other ones.

This program is not at all like the IB high schools and is more comparable to a regular middle school curriculum wise.

The parents in this school are largely uninvolved and tend to not be very friendly. Its hard to make connections when people live in many different areas and there arent many opportunities for parent involvement, as is typical of middle schools. They also arent very nice in carline and dont seem to understand the concept of merging.

I made the mistake of sending my oldest child to Walker and I am glad they no longer will attend this school. I am not making the same mistake again and will not send any other children there.

Dont send your child here even if you want them to do IB in high school. It doesnt give them any advantages and will be way more hassle for a terrible middle school experience.

Posted: October 28, 2022

My son attended Walker from 2019-2022. Walker Middle Magnet is an excellent learning environment for students committed to achieving academic excellence. Walker Middle truly prepares its students for high school life. Students are pushed to challenge themselves in their academics and extracurriculars activities. Mrs. Holloway does an excellent job running the show and communicating with parents. Her all-star team of teachers were always very prepared and offered a supportive learning environment to their students. My son made wonderful friends and he has great memories from his time at Walker.

Posted: October 11, 2021

Excellent ambience and very good teaching staff

Posted: May 20, 2018

My daughter was on AGP at Deer Park, maybe that is why she never had an issue with the amount of homework or projects that Walker teachers" assigned,I guess because she was used to that type or work, pressure, commitment. Walker is now a school for everyone, that os for sure. Overall rating: 10/10. (Now, tranportation to and from school that is a totally different topic and rating, try to carpool, school buses take forever because of the transfer stations and no direct routes -at least to Westchase area)

Posted: April 6, 2018

Teachers differentiate homework and communicate expectations online.

Posted: April 6, 2018

This school uses the IB Learner Profile to teach integrity.

Posted: April 6, 2018

Im very happy. Teachers truly care about students and the communication is great.

Posted: August 24, 2015

There is some bullying and a lot foul language from students. The car line at dismissal is very disorganized all year long.

Posted: August 5, 2015

Posted: April 1, 2015

I'm an 8th grader at walker and I love it here! You won't find better teachers anywhere else. Yes being IB makes it challenging but it's all worth it when you know you are getting one of the best educations in the county:)

Posted: March 28, 2015

I am an 8th grader at Walker, this school is a magnet and IB middle school. It's and AMAZING school, the teachers are awesome the staff is fabulous. This is a very motivating school, and most of their student go to IB/Magnet/Choice high schools. The teachers really care and most of the teachers mainly math are available and encourage their students to come after school for FREE tutoring and most of the teachers that are available during lunch call students to their class during lunch if they need help. They have great clubs and the sports teams are very good as well as the electives, they have band, art, AVID, culinary and orchestra. An all around great school.

Posted: January 31, 2015

My child is in 6th grade this year and halfway through I can say he's been appropriately challenged academically. The faculty imo are doing a good job bridging the distance culturally between elementary and high school. There's an unexpressed but concrete mandate for the students regarding organization and communication with an emphasis on self reliance. Administration has been very responsive and proactive with all of our concerns and requests. We've had run-ins with two teachers who quite frankly were incapable, generally speaking, but overall I'd say we've has a successful transitional year. Our initial enthusiasm (as a family) upon receiving the acceptance invitation has been reinforced and undampened. It's been an overall positive learning environment for both student and parents, and I would recommend Walker to any family with a motivated kid and involved parents. It's no "cakewalk", but hard work and perseverance pays off here.

Posted: January 30, 2015

My Child Has Got Accepted To This School, But She Doesn't Know How Its Gonna Go And I Heard It Was A Very Good School... She's Scared.

Posted: July 24, 2014

very good.i like this shool,my daugther is in 8 grade and now i have my another daughter in 6 grade and my son in 8 grade too

Posted: May 31, 2014

After scouring the area for a quality ESE program, I was thrilled to find Walker Middle School. It has to be the best ESE Program school in our area, including private schools I checked out. I'm sure there's other great schools out there, I just happened to find this to be the best I have ever encountered. My 12 Yr old son has been attending Walker for 1 year, and I couldn't ask for a more qualified and caring staff.

Posted: April 16, 2014

My daughter just completed her USF student teaching at Walker. She loved it!!!! The faculty and staff were very supportive and the students very eager to learn. The parents she came in contact with were also very supportive. Any student, anywhere, gets out of education only what they are willing to put in to education. The resources to excel are readily available at Walker Middle School for any child willing to open their minds and put forth the effort. My daughter was very sad when her semester at Walker ended and wished she could stay on as a full time member of the faculty. She will carry what she learned from Walker through out her career and she will never forget her "first students".

Posted: April 4, 2014

My child's school is a wonderful place for learning, and my child loves it there. The teachers are nice to her, and it is the perfect place for her to learn with students in her advanced-honors level.

Posted: January 13, 2014

A parent , walker middle is the best school my two children love it there they are hands on my son has adhd he's doing fantastic he struggled at other schools .Its a thirty minute ride from home but well worth it .There staff are well respectful and helpful no books required if you have a tablet .always know how my children are doing in school Edsby no other school i know has that.You havd communication everyday with school text on my phone gives me no worries and updates on bus routs being late or events taking place.For my kids they love it there . They have sibling going next year she can't wait.

Posted: December 13, 2013

My school is the best school in my opinion because the school helps the students learn in the best way that they can learn, and also they help students do their best in everything. The school also encourages students to expand their umbrella of possibility and help them realize and see the whole world as one big place where they can succeed.

Posted: November 14, 2013

I transferred my child from another public school to Walker in 7th grade as we rec'd an "offer" and thought it would be a great opportunity. When comparing it to our previous school, the biggest difference is the work-load and, unfortunately, a lack of direction and communication from the teachers and administration. There is a LOT of busy work and homework that leaves virtually NO time for after school activities. There is only one semester of PE and I find that very sad. Kids need to have physical activity and with the work-load it's almost impossible to play a sport. Communication with teachers & administration is poor at best. It is still not "officially" an IB school as they are still in the process of becoming one. The grass isn't always "greener" on the other side!

Posted: August 26, 2013

No complaints about the teachers. The principal, however, had to have gotten his job based upon someone he knows. He is condescening, ineffective, and it is no secret that he does not possess a spirit to serve. My children witnessed this behavior and we turned it into a teachable moment: even those in authority over us don't always respond in best manner, but we still must respect those in authority over them. I will respect him by taking my kids away from his school. Bummer I was so excited about it being an IB schoolsch

Posted: June 3, 2013

Do not send your child to Walker !! Despite having a great neighborhood middle school we chose to put our child in Walker for the IB. The teachers have shown no communication skills and could care less about their students. I actually have witnessed eye rolling in a conference while discussing my child's lack of progress. There has been no growth in anywhere except band. The band teacher is excellent and definitely shows the passion for her students lacking in the rest of the school. Bullying is very present in the school and despite a report line you can make anonymously nothing is ever addressed and the bullying continues to get worse. The car line is extremely unorganized and they actually scream , blow whistles and flail their arms around and around like crazy people at the parents. Its quite the scene! I am so relieved this school year is finished so I can put my child in a different school. Honestly any school is better than this school!! I have heard nothing but complaints from fellow parents about what a joke it is.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Westchase	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Tampa	FL	4.7 mi
2	Hyde Park	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Tampa	FL	14 mi
3	The Pavillions	Apartment Complex	Tampa	FL	17 mi
4	Avelar Creek	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Riverview	FL	25.5 mi
5	Panther Trace	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Riverview	FL	26.4 mi
6	Harbour Isles	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Apollo Beach	FL	27.4 mi
7	FishHawk Ranch	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Lithia	FL	28.2 mi
8	Fish Hawk Ranch	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Lithia	FL	28.7 mi
9	Fishhawk Ranch	Neighborhood/Subdivision	Lithia	FL	29.3 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	South Tampa	Tampa	FL	13.3 mi
2	South of Gandy (SOG)	Tampa	FL	16 mi
3	Fishhawk Ranch /Lithia FL	Lithia	FL	28.8 mi

Base	Distance
Coast Guard Clearwater	15.7 mi.
MacDill AFB	18.4 mi.

Walker Middle Magnet School

Odessa, FL 33556

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Walker Middle Magnet School

Odessa, FL 33556

School Ratings

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