Foothills Middle School

171 East Sycamore Avenue

School District

Arcadia Unified
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

public

School Map for Arcadia Unified 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 student on February 19, 2025

ITS SO BAD I DISLIKIE IT SO MUCH AS A STUDENT
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2022

I don’t know whether it’s the school deficiency or US education system, but I think the kids doesn’t learn many math topics, the geography, history and science subjects are really poor, the teachers don’t have the enthusiasm of teaching and don’t inspire the students. I had chosen this school thinking that it was one of the best in Arcadia, but I’m disappointed.
Submitted by student on February 07, 2018

Overall, I love this school. The people there are amazing, and so are the adults there. I have never seen more than a serious argument between two friends in my time at this school. Rarely a fight breaks out and when it does the adults settle it quickly and efficiently.
Submitted by parent on February 02, 2018

I like this school because the school follow strict drop off, visitor policy all the time. School fosters active learning environment for students and have some great program, like band, sport teams.
Submitted by parent on May 16, 2017

Solid school because of the parent's involvelment with their children's future.
Submitted by other on March 29, 2016

One of the best middle schools in Los Angeles County according to the test scores. But don't be blinded by the brand of AUSD. Like any other schools, test scores don't reflect the quality of the teachers, and this school is a great example of it.
Submitted by other on November 01, 2015

It's a great school over all. Like everything in life, you must embrace all the positives before you focus on the negatives like some of the reviewer.
Submitted by other on September 03, 2015

Just like the earlier messages state, the administration just doesn't care. We need to elect a school board that looks after the students and not solely there to protect the administration. The real problem is the school board.
Submitted by parent on August 29, 2015

It was a big mistake to send my kid to this school, the administration would't answer any questions we had, the English teacher wouldn't grade the test and home work on time and she was busy to pursue her master degree, the math teacher constantly been changed and parents were not informed the reason, my kid didn't even have the math teacher for few weeks, really can not trust them to mentor my child.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2015

I had been very excited for the new year at Foothills but so far it's been a disappointing experience. Principal/asst principal don't even say hi to parent volunteers who are there to help the school, the (inexperienced) teacher who assign study guides but never go over them before test and then when she gets asked for help, tells the students she "has a life" and will not always be there to help, teachers that show favoritism...
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2015

Year is almost over. Still so disheartened by our experience. In talking to child and friends in their class, they've all mentioned their failed attempts on teacher to be there when they seek help or when she doesn't respond to emails, how this one teacher will make comments to the class telling them that she has a life. OK, that's great but you are also paid to teach too.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2015

Year is almost over. Still so disheartened by our experience. In talking to child and friends in their class, they've all mentioned their failed attempts on teacher to be there when they seek help or when she doesn't respond to emails, how this one teacher will make comments to the class telling them that she has a life. OK, that's great but you are also paid to teach too.
Submitted by parent on May 11, 2015

Really disappointed with this school. There are no support at all from administration or teachers. Communication between teachers to parents is catastrophic. My kid always says that he avoid to ask questions to her, because "She doesn't like that". Several times tried to contact with 6th grade teachers, but on 2nd or 3th e-mail they tried to change the tone. Now I can understand why my kid avoid to have any extra contact with her. Several times teachers indicated my kids assignments as late or missing... I was really surprised, because we always check homework. But last time we received from school the assignment, which was indicated as missing. There was even a grade on the paperwork, but that grade wasn't in the Power School website. Have fillings that they intentionally try to put kids down... I really cannot understand why... If you have chance to avoid this school, do that.
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2015

This school is so bad that even the PTA president pulled her kid out and put him in a private school.
Submitted by parent on February 20, 2015

Have not been impressed with this school. Do not find the administration helpful or friendly. Not much communication between teachers to parents. Feel that a kid is just a number here and teachers do not care if their student succeeds or fails. Often times when my child seeks help from teacher before school, teacher says "too busy" but offers no other time. How could students learn or do well on tests if the teacher does not have time to go over the study guide so students know if they got study guide correct?!
Submitted by other on October 28, 2013

Foothills middle school, MAGNIFICANATA school. So many young thoughtful minds. If you live near Arcadia, send your kids to this school!
Submitted by parent on September 18, 2013

FMS is a good school. Academically, my children have done very well. Socially, it has been a little difficult at times, as they have experienced varying degrees of racism from some of the Chinese students. We have used it in an advantageous way, however. It has given the family an opportunity to discuss ways to confront it in a non-aggressive manner. In each situation my children faced, I will say, that the remarks made were not necessarily malicious or mean spirited but rather ignorant. The school could really benefit from quarterly seminars on racial tolerance.
Submitted by parent on September 11, 2013

FMS is an excellent middle school. All 3 of my daughters have or will have attended Foothills. You will be pushed to perform academically. This will only continue more at Arcadia HIgh. These are very competitive schools. Teachers are very good and work load appears to be manageable. There are many opportunities to participate in extra curricular activites. Many opportunities to make friends as well. The construction is a pain right now. I feel bad that my 8th grader will be in portables this year and will not be able to enjoy the new facility. My youngest, however, will be able to enjoy it!
Submitted by other on September 10, 2013

Foothills is great, my best tennage years EVER!!!!!!!! GO TO IT I AM NOT LYING!!!! MAKE GOOD FRIENDS, ENJOY THE LEARNING, IT WILL HELP YOU THROUGHOUT LIFE, I GOT INTO ALGEBRA HONORS IN 7TH GRADE AND THAT HELPED ME GET INTO STANFORD, AFTER THAT I BECAME AN INVENTOR AND INVENTED MANY THINGS THAT THIS SCHOOL USES, I STARTED INVENTING WHEN ONE OF THE TEACHERS ENCOURAGED ME!!!