West Lake Middle

4600 West Lake Road

School District

Wake County
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

School Map for Wake County School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on July 28, 2024

Amazing experience! Administration does an excellent job with keeping the kids engaged with academics, parents informed on events and encouraging all to participate in sports.
Submitted by parent on May 31, 2023

Feel like being lost all the time and not having an idea of what is going on with your children’s school? Then this is the school for you. No one responds to you if you reach out- not teachers, administrators, or counselors. They are not welcoming at all and the PTSA doesn’t help that feeling either. They had a ton of staffing issues and the students barely knew what was going on and the parents were kept in the dark about that and all kinds of things. If you try to talk to anyone about this, IF they even respond, they act like they listen but nothing changes. This has been the worst experience in an academic setting for both of my kids. I’m not sure what we are going to do next year because it is literally that bad. We worry about the quality of education they are getting. The sports program is not great either, so no saving grace in that department. I wish there were some redeeming qualities, but we have found zero. My kids cannot wait for this year to be over to maybe reset. I do not recommend this school- if you have other options, by all means, TAKE THEM.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2022

Felt teachers where great at communication with parents. They kept my child engaged and interested. Hoping next year 7th grade teachers do the same.
Submitted by parent on December 15, 2021

Excellent. Teachers are greatly involved in the students growth
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2021

So far very happy with this school. My daughters teachers all communicate very well with us and encourage my daughter to do her best. Transition into middle school is not always easy. But I feel her track four team is a wonderful group of educators.
Submitted by parent on November 09, 2021

My name is Breanah Mosley I am an 8th grade student here at west lake middle and I am writing this because I feel like no one would listen to me if I were to tell them face to face, there is nothing wrong with the school it's the system they're failing us along with the teachers..some are good (at least mine are) but other than that the 2 assistant principles JC and JR are not good at their job with the students and i'm tired of it. I'm pretty sure they know how to get paperwork through and all of that stuff but besides that how they talk and treat the students are preposterous. Especially JC, you could be minding your business and he'll find something to pick on you about, Not only have I experienced this but i've heard it from plenty more students EVEN teachers. If you got in trouble once here you're a target forever. I'm pretty sure the Principal doesn't even know how the AP's treat students. JC doesn't need to be fired but he needs to stop with the passive aggressiveness and treat other how he wants to be treated. I will also work on myself at that.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2021

I would not recommend this school. I have had 3 children attend. It is not a welcoming environment. We actually pulled one of our children out of this school to attend private school. My child actually had teachers that just left during the middle of class, and did not return. The learning environment is chaotic to say the least. There is no substance or quality to what they are learning and I have been extremely disappointed with our family’s experience at this school. If your family has another option, take it. I would not give this school 1 star, but am required to by this website.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2021

Teachers rose to the challenge and did great work engaging students during remote learning.
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2021

I have had many family members attend this school and they all hated it, they didn't teach the children well and all that they learned was inappropriate behavior. 2 of my kids were bullied at this school, and the school did nothing, they talked about in the cafeteria announcing his name to everyone, this got him even more bullied.
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2020

I have not had a good experience with this school. All of my child's learning concerns are swept under a rug, no one is trying to help and give you the run around. The students know waaayyyy too much about inappropriate behavior.
Submitted by parent on February 15, 2019

West Lake Middle School has made a lot of changes in the past couple of years. I think that the principals have worked to make sure that student assignments give students the skills they need to be successful. They are still growing and changing but I love the direction that this school is headed in.
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2018

The teachers there are not teaching the students enough to help the pass
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2018

From what i saw they treat these kids like elementary school kids its seems as if they dont realize that those kids are teenagers the school seems to be mainly for the rich white kids
Submitted by parent on February 09, 2018

Our 6th grader has transitioned wonderfully here from 5th. He actually used the words “I love my school”. I contribute this to the dedication to excellence that is set in administration. As a mother who was highly anxious about her rising 6th I recommend this school to everyone!
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2017

Both my children have attended WLMS, and, on a whole, they both had wondeful experiences. All but one of their teachers were amazing (they both had this one teacher and agreed she was awful). The teachers are engaging, fun, creative and relate well to the students. Moreover, they are excellent teachers-which is truly one of the most amazing attributes about WLMS..I found the administration, including the principal, to be repsonsive and effective in resolving academic and social issues. More resources/support need to be allocated to sports teams. This area is severely lacking from upper administration. I don't think I have ever seen the Principal or any VP come to football games.
Submitted by parent on August 17, 2017

Our daughter is in 7th grade and has done amazing at West Lake. Our teachers both years have been incredible, she loves her teachers! It has been a fantastic experience at West Lake.
Submitted by parent on March 28, 2017

Teachers have been attentive and communicative. Good expectation for responsibility on students
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2017

I understand there is and should be a dress code, but when I see teachers in the carpool line in the morning and afternoon that have on less clothes than the kids, then I have a problem! teachers don't contact the parents on a regular basis about there childs grades if they are bad enough for concern...wish I could switch him
Submitted by other on June 06, 2016

this is my son's first year at this school and he is bullied and picked on by kids and when he said something the counselor told him not to be so sensitive. what type of crapt is that it is almost like they support the bad kids and punish the good ones. the so called principal of the school will not meet with parents. at least me. I've tried several times. I keep getting sent to guidance and that's a joke. the administration is very very unfriendly. they walk around like they are too good to be spoken to. these young teachers are not teaching what needs to be learned. this core program where there isn't books is for the birds. I know my child isn't ready for next year and yet they have passed him. even his young teachers are clueless. I'm having to reteachave everything he learns because he don't understand it.get the administration straight. Mr. superintendent from va. you run a better ship than this
Submitted by other on April 20, 2016

There are some good teachers here but not a good spirit. There is a new principal who is unfriendly and doesn't respond to questions about anything - curriculum . Social concerns or teacher communication . This school is not the strong educational place it was two years ago. My child is miserable and so are we. Can't wait to get out of this school . We will say the coaches and sports are good. Tenured teachers seem to rise above the administration pettiness.