Carver Middle School

Chester, VA 23831

Phone: (804) 524-3620
District: Chesterfield County Public Schools

2

GreatSchools Rating

public • Grades 6,7,8 • 971 students

Carver Middle School, a public school located in Chester, VA, serves grades 6-8 in the Chesterfield County Public Schools.It has received a GreatSchools Rating of 2 out of 10, based on a variety of school quality measures.

Carver Middle School is a public school located in Chester, VA. 971 students attend Carver Middle School.

School Ratings

Category Rating Details
Test Scores 2/10 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 Virginia Standards of Learning data from Virginia Department of Education, and using 2025 Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) End-of-Course data from Virginia Department of Education.
Student Growth 1/10 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 Virginia Department of Education.

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: May 15, 2026

Posted: May 15, 2026

this school has lazy teachers harsh ways of keeping a child on track and un legible rules. No one seems to follow those said rules.And theres unfair favoritism to the students who don’t like to listen.

Posted: December 19, 2025

Posted: December 19, 2025

Posted: December 19, 2025

Posted: December 19, 2025

Posted: December 19, 2025

Posted: December 19, 2025

Posted: December 19, 2025

Posted: December 19, 2025

As an ex-8th grader, Parents, please do NOT send your child to Carver Middle. It's a terrible experience. The students are brutal towards one another. Bullying takes place often. I get called slurs by students. EVERYDAY. There are fights VERY often. Not only are the students barbaric, but many of the teachers and staff do absolutely NOTHING to stop this. Several teachers are snobby and self centered and never step in when there is a conflict (until it is too late). Some teachers punish students when they defend themselves. I beg, do not send your student here!

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Posted: October 22, 2025

Don't send your child to this school!!!

Posted: July 22, 2025

Posted: July 22, 2025

Posted: July 22, 2025

Posted: July 22, 2025

Posted: July 22, 2025

Posted: July 22, 2025

Posted: July 22, 2025

Posted: July 22, 2025

I hate the school. There are lots of fights at the school I don’t recommend

Posted: April 16, 2025

Posted: April 16, 2025

Posted: April 16, 2025

Posted: April 16, 2025

Posted: April 16, 2025

Posted: April 16, 2025

Posted: April 16, 2025

Posted: April 16, 2025

This is by far the worst school ever! It is a combination of no parent engagement or support as well as staff who doesn’t care! The children bully and are just hoodrats!! Please read the reviews and do not send your child to this school! Thank God this is my child’s last year here! I feel bad for anyone who purchased a home in this area and this is your child’s zone school! To be stuck in a mortgage and your child can not receive a quality education what a shame!

Posted: October 30, 2024

Posted: October 30, 2024

Posted: October 30, 2024

Posted: October 30, 2024

Posted: October 30, 2024

Posted: October 30, 2024

Posted: October 30, 2024

Posted: October 30, 2024

My daughter attended this school two years ago (2022-2023) and I pulled her out due to a male student punching her in the stomach. This was caught on the security camera, which I had to request to view and it also showed my daughter pushing the boy away from her and trying to defend herself. The principal would not meet with me but the Asst. Principal did, who even confirmed that the male student had a history of hitting female students. On top of this, my daughter was given the SAME punishment as the male student reasoning was that Carver Middle has a zero tolerance for violence policy. I was so upset and said what does that teach young girls who try to stand up for themselves...there was no answer other than she was suspended. The school was not willing to change the young man's class that he shared with my daughter rather told me to request her class be changed. With this I pulled my daughter out of the school and we moved shortly after. I will continue to leave reviews wherever I can. I would not recommend this school unless the Principal and Asst. Principal are replaced and the staff reports better leadership is at the school. Be warned.

Posted: October 8, 2024

Posted: October 8, 2024

Posted: October 8, 2024

Posted: October 8, 2024

Posted: October 8, 2024

Posted: October 8, 2024

Posted: October 8, 2024

Posted: October 8, 2024

My child had to go to the restroom and when they asked the teacher said no you should have gone during lunch my child told them that it was a EMERGENCY and the teacher STILL wouldn't let my child go to the restroom and she had to relieve herself. The next day my child came late because she had an orthodontist appointment and she had to eat then because she missed lunch, AND THIS TEACHER HAD THE AUDACITY TO SAY I HOPE YOU CHOKE! Carver is THE worst school in all of North america DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD HERE!!!!

Thank you for your time!
- Lindsey Hopkins

Posted: June 7, 2024

Posted: June 7, 2024

Posted: June 7, 2024

Posted: June 7, 2024

Posted: June 7, 2024

Posted: June 7, 2024

Posted: June 7, 2024

Oh, Carver Middle School...

Sending my child to Carver Middle has been one of the most regrettable decisions I’ve ever made regarding her education. The overall experience was overwhelmingly negative. While there were a few decent staff members, the majority were either indifferent or outright detrimental. The school showed a complete disregard for my neurodivergent daughter's needs and well-being. She endured relentless bullying, sometimes even in the presence of her teachers, who failed to intervene.

The impact on her mental health was devastating. My once joyful and enthusiastic child became depressed within a year of attending Carver. Academically, she went from being a solid A-B student to struggling and failing. Instead of support, I received threatening emails from some teachers who seemed more frustrated by her withdrawal than concerned about her welfare.

Carver Middle School is poorly managed, and the environment is chaotic and unsupportive. After witnessing the negative impact on my child, I decided to homeschool her. In just six months, her grades and mental health have significantly improved. She’s returned to being the cheerful, successful child she was before. Carver Middle School has failed its students and their families. Shame on you, Carver.

Posted: February 5, 2024

Posted: February 5, 2024

Posted: February 5, 2024

Posted: February 5, 2024

Posted: February 5, 2024

Posted: February 5, 2024

Posted: February 5, 2024

Posted: February 5, 2024

Kids are bullied here with no support the staff turn a blind eye

Kids with autism struggle at this school

Posted: January 21, 2024

Posted: January 21, 2024

Posted: January 21, 2024

Posted: January 21, 2024

Posted: January 21, 2024

Posted: January 21, 2024

Posted: January 21, 2024

Posted: January 21, 2024

8th grade now. Way back in my sixth grade I got suspended for stopping a fight. And in seventh grade I accidentally hit someone with a bottle after them threatening me because I yelled at someone else across the room, because they were telling me to stfu after I just got robbed. I got punched in the face next to an admin, and she didn't do anything, and it took TWO WEEKS for the kid to get suspended. And the FIGHTS don't get me started. You can't walk four feet without a threat to someone. People are always swearing and slurring at people. Students don't respect teachers, however some teachers don't respect students either. They don't have very good teaching, because some teachers won't even try to help the students when something happens, say they were so sick they couldn't do work because they had to sleep it off. Also, on a side note, the year books suck. In my seventh grade year they forgot half of eighth grade. Also they forgot my sister. And the year before they replaced my photo with some random kid they looked like the opposite of me. Some teachers do try to help and care for their students; Mrs.Kirby, Ms.Jolly are some examples.

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

Posted: January 16, 2024

My daughter transferred to this school last year in the middle of her sixth grade year! Unfortunately thus far we have had a horrible experience!!! The school is GHETTO!!!!! The teachers do not come to school to teach, support, or guide the students they are just simply there for a pay check and the administration is a joke!! I can go on for days but there is no need to! If you can help it do NOT send your child to this school!! They will not learn a dam thing!

Posted: February 15, 2023

Posted: February 15, 2023

Posted: February 15, 2023

Posted: February 15, 2023

Posted: February 15, 2023

Posted: February 15, 2023

Posted: February 15, 2023

Posted: February 15, 2023

This school is getto and bad sadly

Posted: March 12, 2020

How many teachers left during the school Year?

Posted: March 12, 2020

School is run like a mini detention ctr .

Posted: March 12, 2020

Posted: March 12, 2020

Posted: March 12, 2020

I can write an entire lecture on this matter.

Posted: March 12, 2020

Poor! A zero! I have a horrible experiences at Carver!

Posted: March 12, 2020

Teachers aren't retained! They leave mid school Year!

Posted: December 14, 2017

Posted: December 14, 2017

Posted: December 14, 2017

Posted: December 14, 2017

Posted: December 14, 2017

Posted: December 14, 2017

Posted: December 14, 2017

My oldest child has attended Carver for 2 years and has had a wonderful experience.

Posted: May 23, 2017

Leadership at this school is dangerous to the emotional growth and welfare of the students.

Posted: May 23, 2017

Posted: May 23, 2017

Bullying is a bigtime problem at this school.

Posted: May 23, 2017

Posted: May 23, 2017

Posted: May 23, 2017

Some teachers really care and try, but most are going through the motions to collect a paycheck

Posted: May 23, 2017

My overall experience with Carver is awful. Many incompetent administrators and some teachers. Most do not seem to care about the well being of the students at all.

Posted: May 25, 2016

This has been one of the best schools that my children have attended. There is one particular administrator that has stood out ot us over the years as one of the best, Mr. Olds. In all the years that I have had children in the different schools systems I have never had an administrator take the time to really get to know his students or to challenge them the way that Mr. Olds has. Any student or school that gets to work with him is very lucky. All of the teachers at this school are great, but Mr. Olds really is amazing and he holds his students to a higher standard than most and he pushes them to succeed. I think that he along with the rest of the 8th grade teaching staff have really prepared these students to go on to High School and have taught them to be successful!

Posted: May 25, 2016

Posted: May 25, 2016

Posted: May 25, 2016

Posted: March 17, 2016

The teachers at Carver are great. They are caring and creative. They also respond to issues right away.

Posted: March 17, 2016

Posted: March 17, 2016

Posted: March 17, 2016

For 2015-16, Carver got a new Administration team. This has made a huge difference. The Administrators care about the students, teachers, and parents. The teachers are devoted to their students. They are creative and try to come up with fun ways for the students to learn. Project Based Learning has increased significantly and the kids love it. My favorite aspect of Project Based Learning is the peer review students fill out after each project because this is exactly what happens in the workforce. All in all, I feel Carver Middle is a great school. I don't think that the GreatSchools rating for Carver appropriately reflect what is really happening. I am happy my children go to Carver.

Posted: March 7, 2016

Posted: March 7, 2016

Posted: March 7, 2016

Posted: March 7, 2016

Carver Middle School is a great place to send your budding middle schooler. They will receive a stellar education and quality care from staff. The administration is amazing. You could not ask for better leadership. Dr. John Murray, Cheryl Doswell, Kevin Olds, and Corrine Griggs are worth raving about. Each with their special skill set brings something unique and inspiring to the table. They make staff want to work harder, students become more interested in learning and parents want to be more engaged. They have done the work to invest in this school, these staff, students and community. The staff is dedicated. They are working hard each day to improve student learning. The parent teacher communication is awesome. Jason Deckert and Helena Cuna are great examples of staff who keep parents informed of progress students are making in the classroom and what events might be goinh on. The PTA board at Carver is very involved and has built a strong line of communication with Administration , Staff, Students and Parents. The amount of progress that has been made this year to change the school for the better is incredible. It speaks volumes about the character , the commitment and the work ethic of the administration entrusted with the job. I can honestly say, I am proud to be a Carver Cougar Mom.

Posted: March 2, 2016

Posted: March 2, 2016

Posted: March 2, 2016

Posted: March 2, 2016

Carver is a great school!! I was really worried about my son starting 6th grade but he has had the best year. His teachers are amazing the ladies in the office are so sweet and welcoming and Dr. Murray is the most interacting principal with students and parents I have ever seen right along with the assistant principals. I feel so blessed that my child goes to such an amazing school!!!

Posted: March 18, 2015

Carver is a great school but has some opportunities as most schools do. I wish teachers were on the same page in some areas. Some post homework in Google Classroom others do not. Some use Class Dojo to report positive and problem behaviors daily but only one of my son's teachers uses it regularly. They have some good tools at their disposal but do not utilize these tools.

Posted: March 1, 2015

I'm a 6th grade student attending Carver Middle School. I have by far enjoyed school the best this year out of any, and look forward to going to school, as I had not other years. Probably because of my friends, though. I feel like the teachers can be a bit rude at times. Not identifying any, but why become a teacher if you can't get along well with kids and teens? I guess with the teachers and such you have to stay on their good side? That's what I try to do. I have my favorite teachers. I feel like the rules are a little overboard, though. Too strict, I think. Especially during lunch. A microphone? Are you serious? That's ridiculous. It just adds to the noise. They other students are just going to talk louder, not quieter. If we get a bit too loud, we get silent lunch. Lunch is our only time to socialize. In class we have to be silent, usually. I understand that, but when you take away talking during lunch, that bothers me. We were promised new seating arrangements during lunch as well when it became 2nd semester, but it's a couple weeks in, and that hasn't happened. We have gotten better at our noise level, and getting lunch and such. Maybe it's time for that.

Posted: June 11, 2014

This school isn't the best around. The teachers are VERY snobby, unhelpful, and rude or careless and just worried about the students passing their SOL's, which should not be their only concern. The principal seems to have no involvement in anything and allows the administrators to do everything, they're very rude and obnoxious too. The rules at this school are outrageous, students get suspended for 2 days for dress code violations and get put on silent lunch for being "too loud" while in the cafeteria, even though it's the students time to socialize. So, they take that away from them and also get a microphone and talk during the lunchtime, then get irritated because the students will not listen. Not to mention assigned seats for no absolute reason. Oh and if you get suspended you can't participate in end of the year activities, even though you already served your suspension time. Wonderful school, isn't it?

Posted: February 25, 2014

My child just started 6th grade and got suspended for defending her self.Just students were around when this situation got out of hand, no one question the students but one of the teachers that walked out at the last minute to break it up.I had a meeting with the school and wrote a letter to the school board to have the suspension removed of her record and they acted like they could care less, even explained that she never been in trouble. They didn't care what I had to say.I have another daughter in the 7th.Second semester had a meeting to talk about both my daughter's grades, they said there grades were not in danger and they have time to bring them up. Well, it's almost the end of the year and their grades are definitely in great danger now!Having teachers stay after school once or twice a week doesn't help.If my daughter stays after school and goes to lunch and learn than why are their grades in great danger? It's going to be hard for me to get a waver for my daughter's transfer to another school because of their grades and the suspension on my daughters record. I need a school that can believe in my kids and want to hep them succeed in life.

Posted: February 12, 2013

I'm a student at carver in the 8th grade , some of the teachers are good but most of them are just REALLY RUDE! They like to think they are our patents but me and my parents got that straighten out ,I don't think the teachers that were selected for the position of a teacher was wise because why be a teacher if you don't like kids/teens ! I would say more but it says i can't identify teachers-.-!!!

Reviews provided by GreatSchools™

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