Cradock Middle School

Posted: May 11, 2026

Posted: May 11, 2026

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Posted: May 11, 2026

I went to this school this year, and so far I love it. The meals prepared are delicious, and you can tell that the kitchen staff cares about us students. The teachers do whatever is in their power to help us students. The principals care and teach students lessons by putting them in ISS or OSS. Yes, racial stuff does happen here, but not a lot; it's mostly when students don't like a certain group of students or a student. But besides that, the teachers and staff are amazing, and I highly recommend coming here if you live on this side of Portsmouth.

Posted: June 7, 2025

This school is the worse school in portsmouth. The Principle does nothing and the rest f administration think everything is a joke. They will attack your children then erase the video. Do no send your student here, school needs to be condemned because it also is infested with rats and roaches.

Posted: June 7, 2025

Posted: June 7, 2025

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Posted: January 11, 2023

Posted: January 11, 2023

I just started in the year 2022-2023. The school is horrible, comparable in every way to prison. The food is diverse which is good but the kids and staff need discipline. Since I've been here there have been multiple fights in front of the teachers. where instances they could have broken them up. The student joke about kids who are not of the same race, if not how they act or look. I have seen kids call other teachers slurs and names. Just for telling the student they are in the wrong. I have to say though I have made enough friends to help me in need. Some of the teachers try to make an effort on teaching the kids even when they have issues with the students and proximity learning. The only reason it got one star from me was because of the sports and food.

Posted: September 29, 2021

I just started at this school and I am in 7th grade at the moment. I love this school so much! The teachers are nice and my math teacher has easily taught me things that I never really understood because my other teachers were all over the place in 6th grade :P. I have made so many friends! They are doing their best to keep the school in control but it's not very effective. I love this school so much and if you send your kids there then I assure you they will have fun. I love all the electives there are and it is just so much fun. I have PE and band and PE is so fun and makes sure we get exercise in a fun way. Band is teaching me how to play the clarinet but if you don't know how to play an instrument before you go and you don't even know the scales they will teach you! Band is really easy and fun but don't take my word for it because I have been playing piano for 10 months so I know my way around instruments (sort of). There are so many activities that you can do like football, basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, etc. If you send your child to this school then they will have lots of fun like I am. I used to love school but after a while I started not liking it because it was hard and boring but after I came here then that changed. I love school again! Cradock Middle school is great. But they are not trying very hard to stop the bad things. I have been bumped into and pushed so many times because other kids are messing with each other. Also the teachers can be snappy at times. MAKE SURE YOU CHARGE YOUR CHROMEBOOKS AND DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!! My teacher has gotten mad at my classmates because they forgot to do these!! BTW I AM NOT A BOT AND THEY WILL ONLY PAY SOMEONE TO DO THIS WHEN PIGS FLY!!!!!! I'm serious they have a low budget. The sad part is is that we need to go through metal detectors before entering school. It is so sad that they needed these to see if 12 year old have weapons or guns.

Posted: September 29, 2021

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Posted: December 14, 2016

I have never in all of my years of being around educators and public education witnessed and heard about the level of mediocrity that the current Cradock Middle School administrative team portrays. First, when teachers refer students to the assistant principal they refuse to hold children accountable for their actions despite numerous documented incidences. It has grown to the point that a majority of the students believe that they will not be reprimanded for anything besides fighting. Students bring drugs to school, they curse at the teachers and do not respect authority. Administrators consistently bully teachers (unless they are "friends") and blame the educators for student's behavior--ignoring the fact that even the students can see that teachers do not receive disciplinary support from the administrators. The lack of support from the administrators sends the message to the students that they run the entire building and can do whatever they want. Cradock's 1st Nine Week Benchmark pass rate scores in Math were among the worst in the city of Portsmouth. The school has been denied accreditation for quite some time, and the current school environment is not conducive towards achieving the goals that Dr. Elie Bracy--Portsmouth's school superintendent--has set out at the start of the year. Portsmouth Public Schools can achieve full accreditation in all of the middle schools; however, if the current administration remains at Cradock Middle School then the school will CERTAINLY fall short of reaching Dr. Bracy's goals.

Posted: December 14, 2016

Children are either too afraid to report bullying in fear of retaliation (or that administration will not handle it properly) or they try to handle it themselves.

Posted: December 14, 2016

Posted: December 14, 2016

The teachers are disgruntled, the students are discourteous, and the academic performances reflect this. This current administration is failing both its teachers and its children and nothing is being done about it.

Posted: December 14, 2016

Students are not reprimanded for showing disrespect towards authority, especially teachers. Students are allowed to curse at teachers and are right back in the same classroom the very next day. This shows the students that they do not need to respect the teachers because there are no consequences for defiance or blatant disrespect.

Posted: December 14, 2016

The teachers are the ONLY reason that the school has not been on the news for any serious issue. Their efforts go not only unnoticed by administration, but also vastly unappreciated.

Posted: December 14, 2016

Teachers are instructed to give students 50s instead of zeroes for homework that is not turned in. So students know that they don't have to do any work and they will still earn a 50: the first step in social promotion instead of promoting self-responsibility in young adults.

Posted: November 27, 2015

The Principal was not available to talk with me on a Friday. The following Monday, I stopped by. She wasn't available again until I mentioned to the Secretary that I was going to meet with the Superintendent of Schools that afternoon. She came out of the office with a School Board member. When I shared with her what I experienced observing the students, she denied what was telling her. On Friday I witnessed staff hovering over a baby while 2 students were being ignored. The baby belonged to an 7th or 8th grader. On Monday I witnessed a student with his pants below his buttocks. When I reported it to an attendant, she reported that he has been told numerous times to keep his pants pulled up. I have given information to School Board members and all the Principals of the School Division about the "Whole School Change" program that deal with teaching discipline in the class room but they have blown me off.

Posted: November 3, 2015

Like a prison alot of security to hide the real problem and that's kids being bullied. And lazy staff meaning the principal when I called concerning my child he never returned my call and when I met with him over five times with issues concerning my son was having along with other staff they stated what would be done. Which NOTHING was never done. And the teacher's are afraid to have order in the class by doing what's best for our children that wants to learn versus the ones that don't. I wouldn't allow my worst enemy to have their children to attend this school. For I'm working hard to move out of this sorry city and the school system.

Posted: November 3, 2015

How are they to learn sorry school sorry just in it for a paycheck that's why the SOL testing is so low

Posted: November 3, 2015

Not worth sharing don't send your child to PPS. Fighting every day kids being bullied and nothing is being done about it nothing all they want is a paycheck

Posted: October 1, 2015

Posted: October 1, 2015

Posted: October 1, 2015

Posted: October 1, 2015

So far I have been impressed. I didn't give 5 stars because I think they need to improve on communication. Other than that, I like the teachers and administrators. It is still early, but so far so good. I homeschooled for many years because James Hurst was so bad. The worst school. I was nervous sending them back to a Portsmouth school but Dr. Bracey is trying to make a difference. Cradock has a ton of programs and my boys seem to be really engaged.

Posted: February 9, 2014

Cradock Middle has been going down hill since the old leadership left for the high school. There are constant fights at the school and the students only seem to get suspended after SOL testing. The current principal bullies the faculty and staff (especially new hires or transfers). She uses the meetings to belittle the staff and rarely offers encouragement. Reporting her to the HR is of no use since they are all "friends" and could care less about the "little people" since they will get their "fat" checks upon retirement. The teachers spend most of class time redirecting bad behaviors. It's a shame that almost half of last years faculty/staff left this school last year.

Posted: September 5, 2013

I am disappointed that Cradock Midldle school would place a child in a class that she already successfully passed with a straight A. They have no other science class for her to take. Here she is at the beginning of a new school year and cries before going to school every morning. This is not fair to a student who has been an honor student since 2nd grade. Now she's bored!