Westside Middle School

Posted: September 15, 2025

I’ve waited to write this because I didn’t want to do it in anger. Three years ago, my child was being badly picked on at this middle school. At first the school responded well, and the kids involved were facing consequences. But then those same kids called my son on Discord and tried to manipulate him into changing his story so they’d get off the hook. When I brought evidence of this to the principal, she accused me of “causing drama” and of trying to trick students, rather than protecting my child. My son had been manipulated for years, and instead of standing with him, the principal belittled me and failed us. The elementary and high schools in this district are much better run, but the middle school’s leadership failed my child when he needed them most.

Posted: September 15, 2025

Posted: September 15, 2025

Posted: September 15, 2025

Posted: September 15, 2025

Posted: September 15, 2025

Posted: September 15, 2025

Posted: September 15, 2025

Posted: October 1, 2023

Love the Westside school district. Teachers and administration is excellent. They are better funded than OPS and have high standards for the children & parents. If your child isn't academically inclined or you have no interest in having an active roll in your child's education go somewhere else. If all you want to do is make excuses for your child for why they aren't doing well in class go somewhere else. This is a school with HIGH standards for the students & the parents.

Posted: October 1, 2023

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Posted: March 10, 2021

Westside in general has been a great decision for our family. My oldest is finishing up 8th grade & my middle is going into Westside Middle School in 2 years with an IEP. I am interested in seeing the difference between their experiences. So far it’s been very positive.

Posted: March 10, 2021

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Posted: October 15, 2019

Our child has flourished at Westside Middle School. The middle school breaks the student population into teams, which makes it more intimate. Passionate teachers, a wide range of electives and a strong and steady prinicpal make this a great place. My child will be ready for high school both academically and socially. The EY program has offered him some amazing opportunities.

Posted: October 15, 2019

Posted: October 15, 2019

Posted: October 15, 2019

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Posted: October 15, 2019

Posted: April 30, 2017

Two sets of rules. One for rich kids and one for everyone else. Rich kids bully the heck out of everyone and the deans and principal turn a blind eye.

Blame the victim even.

Posted: April 30, 2017

Posted: April 30, 2017

Admin cares nothing about children and parents who aren't millionaires.

Posted: April 30, 2017

Admin supports caste system. It permeates the school.

Posted: April 30, 2017

Some good. Some bad. Not highly engaged or innovative.

Posted: April 30, 2017

I'm an educator. More homework does not mean more learning.

Posted: January 16, 2017

The have a program called Zap (Zero's Aren't Permitted). If you do not finish a homework assignment, you get zapped and have to serve a detention after or before school. You are still required to do the assignment but only get 50%, no matter what the circumstances.

Posted: January 16, 2017

From the beginning of the year, the kids are expected to know how to be completely independent when it comes to their schoolwork and notes and time management. From the 3rd day of school, he has had about 4-5 hours of homework each night, for a 7th grader! The school fought with me to get him back on a 504 plan. The plan has already been revised and the teachers are still not following it, counselor is awful, doesn't do anything, principal refuses to talk to me and none of the teachers are responding to email. The elementary system is great!! It all falls apart once you get to the middle school. I'm very disappointed.

Posted: September 17, 2015

Westside is an amazing school district. My parents opted me in and it was the greatest decision we've made. To a previous comment: Things have changed. The gifted program is now a way students can participate in seminars with much extracurricular activities that are also presented in a fun way and everyone I talk to has fun. And students do get punished for mediocre work. It's called failing. The grading system is very tight in order to weed out good grades from bad. Nowadays there is also specialized reading classes, for those who need a little extra help. You can choose between three languages to choose as well. And Spanish needs to be the way it is. The first semester is a well needed review, and the second semester starts on more of the advanced stuff. New students to the district take a special Spanish class to catch them up, if they choose to take the Spanish route. Based on previous comments, I, as a student can surely say things have changed, and Westside Middle School is nearly perfect, despite minor inequivalent errors.

Posted: September 17, 2015

Posted: September 17, 2015

Posted: September 17, 2015

Posted: April 6, 2015

I went to westside from gretna and the first week i was happier than i ever was in gretna. THE END

Posted: January 30, 2014

For everyone who is saying Westside is a bad school below, get with the times. I am an EY (excellence in youth) student which is an advanced placement thing. The teachers will adjust the difficulty of the work based on your ability, so it doesn't matter that they are all lumped together. The fact that we have the variety of ability in our school makes it feel like you are never alone. We constantly read and type/write, taking notes, reading out of textbooks, reading examples, every Tuesday reading for 30 minutes. The honors English program is now available to all kids in the high school.

Posted: December 9, 2013

Westside has excellent elementary schools, but the middle school is a disaster. It is a waste of two years. Other than Math, all kids take the same classes, regardless of ability. So, in English, Science, etc., you have the brightest kids sitting next to the slowest. There is very little writing or reading in the curriculum. Students are allowed to turn in mediocre work, with no consequence. Communication with the parents in nonexistent. The EY (gifted) program is a joke; students take a one-quarter-long class and that's it. That particular teacher refuses to answer parent questions and the administration does not care. We had to move one of our children to a private school. Another is there now. Despite being very bright, he is failing classes. Discipline is a problem. Students will be removed from class (by the resource officer) for swearing at the teacher, then they'll be back 2 or 3 days later. It makes it very difficult for the good kids to learn.