Dumbarton Middle School

300 Dumbarton Road

School District

Baltimore County Public Schools
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

School Map for Baltimore County Public Schools

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 September 05, 2024

Alright, so Dumbarton could be worse. The school building is (relatively) in-tacked and most teachers are good and do care about students. However the lessons are not engaging and there is little preventative protection for harassment towards minorities. The reporting system for these issues requires that students go to the main office and little is done to conceal who reported who. There are also a lot of fights and because we only have 3 minutes to transition from class to class your late without a pass if one of these fights also blocks your path. The whole three minute transition thing is atrocious. They forget to account for fights, dropping of bags, and the school being generally overcrowded to the point that there are trailers to make sure the school even has enough space for kids to breathe. Not to mention the fact that while some kids classes are close together others are far away. Also, from the time to school doors open to when you are considered late is from 8:00 to 8:10. Honestly the ten minutes is only enough time for people whose classes are close to doors and people who arrive at 8:00. Kids are also not kept under control well so it ends up being chaos at all points in the day. Parents and staff try to sugar coat the school without recognizing flaws and not trying to fix them. Instead they say that we could be worse and that the only problem is that kids where baseball hats. Honestly could be better could be worse.
Submitted by student on May 04, 2024

As a student of Dumbarton Middle School, I can say with full confidence that this school is not worth going to. Now, of course, middle schools are what they are and none will be perfect, but at this school, teachers and staff are just plain rude and treat us students like objects. The students are mean and there are WAY too many fights, and when there are fights, the teachers just stand there and scream at the people fighting instead of trying to be a functional human being and break them up using physical intervention. It seems like the teachers don't understand what it's like to be in middle school, and going through all the changes and things, and yet they just walk around shouting at us to "do better", which lowers our self-esteem, and they need to know that students are trying their best, it's just hard sometimes, and as a very emotional person, those sorts of "do better" comments really hurt me. Additionally, when one student messes up in a class, the teacher has to go and make that everyone's problem and get everyone in trouble, like WHAT?!?! Also, DMS talks about mental health all the time, which is a pro to the school, but they never actually make it their duty to enforce mental health habits onto their students, which is problematic, like they just expect us to figure it out on our own. Dumbarton is very good with inclusiveness and things like that towards students of minorities, which is really good, but man is it difficult to have to go to a school every day that you don't feel safe in. I apologize towards the few staff members, teachers, and students who aren't horrible, this is nothing against you, but sorry DMS, you're getting a thumbs down from me :/
Submitted by student on May 03, 2024

This school has so many fights, and students are not engaged.
Submitted by parent on January 05, 2024

This school has so many fights, the staff is extremely rude, I do not recommend, teachers do nothing to help during fights standing there like a rag doll trying to block, -0/10.
Submitted by other on June 05, 2023

Great school.Amazing staff of talented teachers who care about the students.
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2022

Fantastic school, great teachers and awesome community feel. I love that my son can walk to school with his friends and we have felt very supported by his teachers.
Submitted by student on May 11, 2021

School is not fun don't go to it.
Submitted by other on April 29, 2019

Very negative experience. Felt with lots of bullying and dangerous teachers.
Submitted by other on July 30, 2018

Great school in a great community. Highly recommend.
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2018

Great school. The teachers are engaged and the students are predominately a great group of kids.
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2017

If you are of a minority group you are constantly harrased with the most offensive slurs. Haven't seen action taken by administration. As a monirty, would definitely choose another school district(regardless of minority group-everyone a target).
Submitted by student on May 15, 2017

I feel worse than terrible, I rate Dumbarton 0 percent kids make death threats, say mean thing I get in trouble do not like it. do not send your kid here
Submitted by other on February 07, 2017

Awesome teaching staff. The teachers cares about your child/rent education.
Submitted by other on November 26, 2013

DMS is a great school i love going there. I have never seen or heard about anyone in our school get bullied and yes there is drama but everyone gets along. A lot of people will talk to pretty much anybody which is great because then no one ever feels left out. we have very nice and fun teachers. All teachers let us come at lunch for extra help if needed and most teachers let you come at unch just to hang out which is a lot of fun. In 7th grade you have a science feld trip to the Baltimore Zoo (a lot of fun bwt). In 8th grade you have a "ship Trip" (you will learn more about that if you go to DMS). Another great thing that the Forigen Language program does is every year the 8th graders either go to spain or France, no matter what language you take you can go!! Over all DMS is a wonderful school not just with education but with friends also i felt a sence of welcome in 6th grade, i did not know one person but just in the first week i was being invited to parties and creating friendships that will last forever with boys and girls! i love my Dumbarton family and we have so much fun together. They are rennovating soon and it has improved greatly in the past 5 years(reading commemt 08)!
Submitted by other on July 04, 2013

Dumbarton Middle School is the best school EVER. Yes, there is alot of drama but that's what Middle School's middle name, lol. I mean, you see people talking about the language people use, some people wasn't raised like you in the same environment. If there are ANY 5th graders going in to 6th grade and joining the Dumbarton Family all the advice I have is to just stick through Middle School ALONE. Have NOBODY in your business, nobody to argue with, and nobody to "dislike". The teachers are polite if you ever need anyone to go to. The students, eh. I will admit when I went to Dumbarton I started to fail, around 2nd quarter my grades zoomed up. For one reason only, I dropped all my friends. Ya, I sat alone at lunch, but I sat there studying and doing my homework. Dumbarton is a GREAT school, try it out. I'm sure you'll like it.