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Southwest Middle School
(407) 370-7200
6450 Dr Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819
Level: 6-8
District: Orange

Extended Information

In-depth school information including test scores, student stats, parent ratings and reviews for Southwest Middle School, Orlando, FL.

Cenus Info	Value	Year
White, non-Hispanic:	48.55%	(2008)
Black, non-Hispanic:	21.57%	(2008)
Hispanic:	17.25%	(2008)
Asian/Pacific Islander:	10.12%	(2008)
Multiracial:	2.51%	(2008)
Native American or Native Alaskan:	0%	(2008)
Student Teacher Ratio:	16.56%	(2008)
Percent Free and Reduced Price Lunch:	28.63%	(2008)

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Southwest Middle School Ratings Summary

Average Quality Rating	3
Average Principals Rating	3
Average Teachers Rating	3
Average Activities Rating	3
Average Parents Rating	3
Average Safety Rating	3

Southwest Middle School Reviews


Posted By: parent Quality Score: decline 2008-05-27 “I personally think southwest is a great school for my child. Its great with teaching,the kids are sweet, and the principle doesn't play” Posted By: student Quality Score: decline 2008-02-24 “This school used to be the best school ever! But now the fighting has gotton way out of hand. I'm in all advanced classes and it really is a great education for me. But the only problem is the fighting.” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 3 2007-10-03 “Teachers are excellent. However, there are some issues like PE lockers do not lock so clothes/other items routinely are stolen. The school is aware of this and does not do anything about it. There is not adequate supervision in the locker room so things are stolen while the students are in PE (boys at least). Don't leave anything of value (money, cell phone, etc.) around! Plan on having to replace PE clothes frequently. Also there have been incidents of pushing, etc. in the locker room. Discipline is very inconsistent with minor infractions being treated severely while more serious things go unnoticed. Some classes have behavior issues so students who want to learn are at a disadvantage. My gifted student was doing ok academically here but not really happy. Also, the FCAT is most important thing and not too much emphasis on extracurricular activities. Very little communication about activities to parents.” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 1 2007-09-25 “This is the 5th year of our horrible experience w/SW middle. i am so dissapointed. My older child used to get into trouble for the craziest things. last year my son barely passed and i did not recv a response till the 3rd week before school ended” Posted By: student Quality Score: 5 2007-06-06 “I am a student at Southwest. This school has definitely brought out the best in me and I have enjoyed my years here by far! Good job!” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 3 2007-05-23 “Administration is weak and for the most part young. Discipline is inconsistent throughout all grades and classes. Safety of students should be a concern with harassment by other students and the gang issues. SRO can be rarely found on campus. The things my son tells me that happen under the stairs and in the stair well. Administrators are rarely on campus providing supervision. Personally, I can't wait for my son's time in this school to be over and he's a gifted student plus I've had 3 other children go through this school. Art, music and gifted programs are quite good. Sixth grade appears to be the strongest of the grade levels, with the seventh grade being the weakness. Counselors are so so. Don't let the A grade fool you into thinking this school is exceptional. Once upon a time it was. Not anymore.” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 3 2007-04-26 “I agree that discipline is not good. The discipline at Southwest is punitive rather than instructive. Administrators at Southwest just don't want to bother. We moved out of the area, partly because of this. The A rating, largely based on test scores, is commendable; however, there are other schools with good test scores and yet with greater commitment to children. Our gifted child did well on tests but was very unhappy. He is doing much better at his current school, which offers both a more established gifted program and a kind and nurturing environment. While many individual teachers were talented and nice, the system was bureaucratic. It was difficult to get timely responses to inquiries, and there wasn't any patience for meeting individual needs. Teachers were fine, but administration was very disappointing.” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 4 2006-12-01 “In my experience as a parent of students at Southwest Middle School, I can't say enough good things about this school and the faculty. They are wonderful!” Posted By: former student Quality Score: 3 2006-11-12 “Southwest middle isnt as bad as the other parents have said in the previous comments. At first I thought that southwest middle was a horrible school, but that was only last year. I know for a fact that some students went there with only a 1 in reading and left with a 4. That is an outstanding improvement. Now if your gifted students are bored they shouldn't be. The gifted teachers there are absolutely wonderful. I don't see why you parents dislike SWMS that much. Also those parent who child never had a field trip the reason is that the team gets a field trip based on their behavior. If they behave badly the result is they don't get a field trip. I know all this because I go to southwest middle, and you parents are mostly wrong.” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 2 2006-10-04 “I agree with the parent that stated the teachers have given up on dicipline. They need to be more mature and responsible and address the problem. Did they forget they are also our children's role models. They need to show them that they care & be more helpful especially when our children come to them for help. Dismissing the problem is just sending out the wrong message. The teachers should communicate with our children now & also teach them on how to deal with things in a mature, responsible manner. 2006-2007” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 5 2006-06-07 “Excellent Advanced, Gifted and Band Programs. An 'A' rated school for several consecutive years.” Posted By: teacher Quality Score: 5 2005-08-29 “I am very happy with Southwest Middle School. I like the relationships that the teachers have with each other and the parent involvement. Everyone works together to ensure that the students are successful.” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 3 2005-08-21 “My two sons are now in 8th grade at SWMS. Last year ( 2004-2005) was disappointing. It was as if my child was a challenge, they refused to step up to the plate, not going the extra mile. This year we have a new PTSA. These ladies made up most of the PTA at the elementary school. I hope they can get these administrators and faculty on the ball. Our children are more than an FCAT score. Im looking forward to a better year.” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 1 2005-08-18 “Southwest Middle School is a big disappointment. We live in Dr. Phillips area and there are great K-5 schools that feed SWM but there is a major problem in the school. The Principal is not involved in discipline leaving it up to the teachers and they appear to have given up. Thus the 6-8 graders are running the asylum. I pulled my child out of SWM and I am not alone. Concerned parents have moved to private schools, home schooling, or virtual school (we now use K12 Virtual Academy and it is great!). It's a shame because SWM had a good reputation a few years ago, but now it is well known to be a trouble-spot. Don't let the 'A' ranking fool you - the FCAT is not that hard!” Posted By: student Quality Score: 5 2005-07-14 “This school is one of the best schools in orange county. It has great administrators good teachers really good guidence counceler and most important the best principal of all. Southwest principal dr. cacara is the most interactive principal I've known she talks and have a good time with most of her students. Our school has the best music groups we have a great sports team . Overall I have to say that southwest middle school is the best school of all time. Oh yeah I forgot maybe a couple of things 1. southwest has been an all 'A' school since anyone could remember. Those are all the great things about southwest middle.” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 5 2005-05-17 “Okay curriculum. Not too pleased with physical education being an option. Children are rude and unable to control their behavior.” Posted By: student Quality Score: 3 2005-04-29 “I am not very happy with my experience at SWMS as a current 8th grader getting ready to go on to high school I am glad to be finished with Southwest. The extracurricular activities are poor and the lockers are chipped and broken. The administrators are rude and have a nonchalant attitude towards everything. Even though SWMS is an A school I wuold not reccomend it for anyone who wants to enjoy their middle school years.” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 3 2004-11-12 “My experience here has been disappointing. I have two children enrolled now, and would love to get them placed somewhere else. The educational method is very, very antiquated, for the most part ... sit down and listen to the teacher drone. There are scarcely any field trips or interesting projects outside of the traditional structure, and extracurricular activities are not well publicized. My two gifted kids are generally quite bored and unmotivated there.” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 1 2004-04-16 “Having moved to Dr. Phillips from a school in the midwest, I was worried what I would find with regard to the academics. Southwest Middle School needs an overhaul. The academics are two years behind the midwestern schools and the discipline is no where to be found. My child is now enrolled in a private school due to what she was exposed to at this school. I believe this school needs a visit from the superintendent!” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 4 2004-04-15 “The school offers a wonderful education for students who want to excel. My daughter was accepted into the National Honor Society this year.” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 1 2004-04-09 “My daughter is in 7th grade at Southwest Middle School, this beinig her second year there. We've been very disappointed in SWM. There is a total lack of discipline in the classrooms and virtually every class is out of control. We've recently raised this concern to the school. My daughter has witnessed some of the most vulgar children imaginable in 7th grade. In the two years at the school her team has not been on one field trip, yet we know other teams have had 2 or more each year. It is not an aweful learning environment. We will not send her there for 8th grade. I suspect other children are not telling parents what goes on there.” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 5 2004-01-29 “My daughter came to Southwest after 6th grade, and am I ever pleased. Now in 8th grade she has found wonderful friends, exceptional teachers and an environment that while not terribly challenging, is supportive and nurturing. The principal is the best! She really cares about the kids, all of them!” Posted By: parent Quality Score: 5 2004-01-08 “My student is now an 8th grader at Southwest. I feel the teachers and staff have done an exceptional job in responding to the needs of my student. There are individual teaching teams and they were very communicative and flexible. Conferences were very helpfull. There is an excellent YMCA after school program that my student enjoys thoroughly. Kudo's to all. My student is thriving and loves it there.”