Independence Middle School

Posted: February 11, 2026

Posted: February 11, 2026

Posted: February 11, 2026

Posted: February 11, 2026

Posted: February 11, 2026

Posted: February 11, 2026

Posted: February 11, 2026

So many fights! Weekly emails from the principal to have parents “remind children to be kind”. My son tells me daily about the noisy classrooms and the lack of control, causing teachers to yell. He comes home and tells me that “teacher so and so was at her limit today”….Substitutes that doom scroll the whole class instead of attempting to interact with the kids. The forced “we are not bullies” speech at lunch everyday. Makes it sound like a prison. Looking to love to get my kids out of this school for next year. So ridiculous

Posted: July 17, 2025

It's a terrible school! There are fights almost every week and all the kids use profanity, are disrespectful, and rude. The dress code isn't enforced whatsoever and the kids are violent and not behaved at all! The teachers are fine but the students don't want to learn at all. Our experience was a 1/10 and would never go back ever again!

Posted: July 17, 2025

Posted: July 17, 2025

Posted: July 17, 2025

Posted: July 17, 2025

Posted: July 17, 2025

Posted: July 17, 2025

Posted: July 17, 2025

Posted: March 11, 2025

Nobody ever returns any calls. I have been waiting over 3 weeks for a return call. When I called again the Guidance Councilors tried to tell me I never called. I think I know exactly where I left a message. Anyway I left a second message. I'm still waiting and I'm going on week 2 of waiting. I guess it's a good thing that I wasn't calling for a dangerous situation.

Posted: March 11, 2025

Posted: March 11, 2025

Posted: March 11, 2025

Posted: March 11, 2025

Posted: March 11, 2025

Posted: March 11, 2025

Posted: March 11, 2025

Posted: February 8, 2020

Posted: February 8, 2020

Posted: February 8, 2020

One of my kids suffered racism from 6th grade assistant principal He was never kind or understandable with my son I’m not sure if he still working there, but I hope that this never happen to another kid. This kids are just growing and understanding life and they need good role models specially where they spend most of their time. I’m glad that the main principle doesn’t work there anymore, Because he never did anything about it.

Posted: February 8, 2020

Posted: February 8, 2020

Posted: February 8, 2020

Posted: February 8, 2020

Posted: May 21, 2019

At first some of the homework was ridiculous, but the workload has seemed to lighten

Posted: May 21, 2019

Both of my children had excellent teachers, but they both have had some that were unprofessional and incompetent.

Posted: May 21, 2019

Student conflict is not dealt with in an effective manner, and is not addressed consistently.

Posted: May 21, 2019

Overall morale is poor, which reflects upon the administration.

Posted: May 21, 2019

Posted: May 21, 2019

Children that experience bullying continue to be victimized by the administration.

Posted: May 21, 2019

Can't wait to be done with Independence!

Posted: January 8, 2018

They will use the disability against the child and say it is a behavior problem. Especially if it is ADD/ADHD

Posted: January 8, 2018

They promote it by being an example for students.

Posted: January 8, 2018

The worse ever. I removed my son, my friend has removed her son from this school, and the staff continues to behave in an unprofessional manner. A child brought a knife to a school, and the staff lied about it being a knife... if the staff likes you; you can get away with anything... if they do not, than standby for multiple meetings of exaggerated issues and disciplinary issues. When the AP laughs because the sight of him upsets the child it is a problem.

Posted: January 8, 2018

Posted: May 11, 2017

The constant harassment you'd receive from teachers would embarrass you harshly in the middle of class, I'd be fine with some scolding because I got something wrong or missed something but it wasn't little structure to toughen you up it was pure horror, constant yelling. You could just look at your teacher and know you're going to be called out in the middle of everything, the students will laugh and humiliate you, the teacher will bark and rant about how bad you are for missing the homework (or something along that). The students are awful, they have no respect or manners. Blurting out mean things in the middle of class, harsh physical fights in the halls or outside, really hateful and extensive bullying. I remember walking down the halls and never once would I not be called some name based solely off my appearance, you have to wear the right attire, be the right weight, height, have the right hair and looks to fit in. Otherwise you'd be constantly harassed and bullied over it, sometimes even by teachers. I remember vividly walking down the school halls and watching people fight each other for attention, even being dragged into those fights for no reason. The school can't control their own students or teachers it'd seem.

Posted: January 9, 2017

Posted: January 9, 2017

Ever since I was in 7th grade all the teachers have put effort into working with me and it has resulted in me have good relationships with my teachers.

Posted: January 9, 2017

Since they are on a bell schedule system there is no time to complete the homework due the next day when a student like myself has clubs everyweek.

Posted: January 9, 2017

I'm a current student here and this school was great my 6th & 7th grade years were great all my teacher's were great. My 8th grade teachers are amazing people and I appreciate the effort they put into their teachings, but the AP for 8th grade is awful he has unfair rules and harasses students (mainly female) for dresscode when they are not going against the city wide dresscode,, he simply has way too many strict rules for it being a middle school. Other than the AP the school is pretty good.

Posted: October 5, 2013

Independence Middle School is outstanding. I like the teachers, Principal Manugo, all the assistant Principals, the office staff and the guidance counselors. I like the enthusiasm and positive vibe I received from the school. They are very dedicated in providing fundamental academics so students can build on their knowledge. They take themselves and students seriously. I would trust them with my son who is currently a 7th Grader. It's a school you want to choose not only for your child's academic but for their extensive extra curricular activities, safe school environment and dedicated extra staff like the Greeters as you enter the school and the lunch monitors who look after our kids when they are eating in the Cafeteria.

Posted: September 2, 2013

My daughter is in the 8th grade, but she's new to the school. Unfortunately, the teachers and the students weren't friendly at all on her first day. They didn't try to make her feel welcome, and they didn't make an effort to accept her. I don't know what's the matter with people these days. Back in my day, I made the effort to reach out to new students and at least be friendly and introduce myself. And I would expect even higher standards from the teachers. I hope to some day revised this rating or delete it -- but as of today, I'm giving IMS One star only because it's the first day.

Posted: July 31, 2013

Independence Middle School provided a quality educational program for my child. His teachers were strong and for the most part championed his success. The 2 head principals were vastly different with the lady being very hands on and visible. The 3 APs varied from strong on curriculum and instruction and great people skills [Mr. Jon Irby: 6th Grade Principal] to functional and fulfilling their duties at a level that appropriately met the needs of the students and staff overwhich they provided supervision. Mr. Rector, 7th Grade Prin., is a by the book no nonsence person; Ms. Timlin is a brand new administrator and tries very hard to be liked and to lead. The Head Principal, Mr. Manugo, prefers to let his administrative team do their thing. He is not as definitive as a leader as was his predecessor, Mrs. Woodhouse. Student Activities Director, Mr. Felton, lacks leadership and the qualities to deal with the public. He appears to be more interested in getting a high school than learning the programs for a middle school. The parents miss the previous SAC, Mr. Lawrence because he lived and breathed his job and was considered Mr. Independence. They named PTA scholarship for him.

Posted: July 31, 2012

Amazing Teachers and programs! But the building itself it extremely outdated! other than that excellent school for a public school!