Congress Community Middle School

101 South Congress Avenue

School District

Palm Beach
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:13
Type

public

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 other on January 13, 2022

I am the grand parent of one of the students at CM. The student started on Monday, January 10, 2022 and by Wednesday, January 12, 2022 he already was a victim of robbery. It is mandatory for the kids to have headphones for schoolwork! He only been at the school legally for two days before the incident happened! He reported the accident, right after he notice his headphones was missing from his bag! He ask a person in the office to run the cameras, they said no! He was to nervous to tell his mom, because he did not want to make her upset! Also I want people to realize he got those headphones for Christmas, meaning they are not old at all! So as a grandparent I would not recommend any school, that you would have to worry about them being rob or even physically attack by other students! Also I am pretty sure other students seen who took the headphones! They where in the media center taking test at the time. Hell the teachers in the media center maybe even seen it! A student of a hard working single mom!
Submitted by student on November 12, 2021

very fun school to go to has lots of good people
Submitted by other on August 05, 2021

This school does not have the ESE program many students need, so they end up at other schools that may not have the steam program.
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2018

The Choice programs are a hidden gem. The Gifted classes are fantastic and the STEAM options at the school are great. 1 to 1 iPads, band, dance team and many after school activities including robotics, digital media club, yearbook, etc.
Submitted by parent on March 16, 2018

The Choice programs at Congress are exceptional. The teaching staff is very impressive as are the three AP's and the principal. You can tell the staff and teachers care for the students. The STEAM night is also impressive. Take a tour and don't listen to what you hear...see the quality for yourself.
Submitted by parent on October 20, 2017

The Choice Porgrams at Congress are one of the best kept secrets in the Palm Beach County School system (imo). The Music program is on a big upswing and the school has invested in new teachers and equipment for the kids. The Student teacher ratios are good which gives the kids a chance to be taught and not just lectured. The staff at Congress seems to go out of their way to try and provide students that want to learn with the resources and opportunities they need. I was suprised to see how hard the teachers and staff work to create opportunity for the kids at Congress. I can speak from experience with my own kid that there are some exceptional teachers at Congress that teach from their heart and not just for the paycheck.... Admin is tough but fair... Bottom line is the kids seem pretty happy which is a huge plus in a learning environment. (Little known secret that Congress had produced a handful of Valdictorians that have graduated PBC HS's over the past few years)... Look past the rumors and stereotypes of the overlooked schools and take a look at the Congress Choice Programs!
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2017

My son just started sixth grade at Congress, and he really likes his classes. We've found his teachers to be helpful and accessible. The administrators are friendly, welcoming, and open to parents' concerns.
Submitted by student on March 20, 2017

The students there are terrible they pick at the smart ones but think there coolRoaches in the cafeteria Kids always banging on the lockers and running through the halls like they've gone crazy don't send your kids here I attend this school its horrible
Submitted by student on June 21, 2016

Most of all the things said about congress is not true they have excellent programs and classe too I been a student at congress for two years this will be my last year and I have to say it been a good and bad years for me but for the most I have fun students can be mean but not all the time just keep your head up and ignore and don't worry about fitting in hope new students have a wonderful time here at this great school
Submitted by parent on January 03, 2016

hide your kids from this messed up school. my daughter went in 2013 for 6th grade and she was bullied, cyberbullied and harassed and she got major depression, she self harmed, and started to starve and purge. she was baker acted because of the way that those kids made her feel and act. i highly recommend not to send your kids here and the staff is awful and the principle does nothing to discipline the kids who need to be. also if you look at the news stories online if you search up congress middle school, oh god that should just knock this school out of the running for your child's middle school choices
Submitted by other on March 23, 2015

I was a student of Congress Middle School through the years of 2011-2014 and it was great. At the beginning it was weird but ever since last year they have changed the staff around and everything is smooth and I sometimes go there and volunteer to see my old teachers and help around. Love this school, offers a lot of clubs and really talented teachers in the gifted department.
Submitted by teacher on November 13, 2014

Do not substitute teach there. The principal will talk down and yell at you like you are a student. Unbelievable. Never ever treated that way at any other school. Substitutes beware!!
Submitted by parent on October 19, 2014

Congress Middle is a great because they are so many interesting and fun activities, programs for students. Also good lunch services.
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2014

MY SON IS IN HIS 3RD YEAR AT CONGRESS MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE VERY FIRST DAY OF HIS 6TH GRADE YEAR, HE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER STUDENT. HE ENDED UP AT THE NURSE'S OFFICE AND BEGAN HIS DAY. HE DOES COME HOME AND HAVE SOME INTERESTING STORY'S ABOUT HIS DAY IN SCHOOL. HE IS A STRAIGHT (A) STUDENT, HE HAS HAD A LOT OF GREAT TEACHERS, AND 1 OR 2 NOT SO GREAT. HIS TEACHERS POST EVERYTHING ON ED-LINE, AND HAVE ALWAYS ANSWERED ME EMAILS. THE MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS ARE TOUGH ! THEY ARE NOW TEENAGERS, SOME DO WELL IN THESE CHANGING TIMES, AND THERE'S OTHERS THAT THINK THEIR GANSTERS. SOME ARE GANSTERS, THE PRINCIPAL THEY HAVE NOW MS. O'CONNER SEEMS TO REALLY CARE ABOUT HER STAFF AND STUDENTS. I THINK THE SCHOOL WAS A VERY BAD SCHOOL YEARS AGO, BUT TIMES ARE CHANGING. WITH THE CHOICE PROGRAMS, AND NEW OFFICE STAFF. THEY APPEAR TO HAVE THEIR ACT TOGETHER. BUT IN ALL SCHOOLS, THERE ARE ALWAYS THOSE FEW BAD APPLES, BE THEM TEACHERS OR STUDENTS. I BELIEVE MY SON HAS GOTTEN A GREAT EDUCATION FORM CONGRESS MIDDLE SCHOOL, MY YOUNGEST SON WILL ATTEND CONGRESS MIDDLE SCHOOL NEXT YEAR. I HOPE HE GETS SOME GOOD TEACHERS WHO CARE. ALSO A GOOD GROUP OF NEW FRIENDS, THERE ARE NO GUARANTEE'S....BUT IS IS A G "GREATSCHOL
Submitted by parent on October 09, 2014

MY CHILD DOES NOT LIKE THIS SCHOOL, POSSIBLY WILL BE CHANGING SCHOOLS ASAP, OR HOME SCHOOLING FOR FLORIDA ONLINE, MOST OF THE KIDS HERE DONT HAVE HOME TRAINING , NO MANNERS, OR RESPECT FOR OTHERS. BULLYING AND CUSSING IS CONSTANT. TEACHERS NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENT AS I HAVE SEEN AND HEARD FOR MYSELF. NO WONDER SO MANY PARENTS GET UPSET
Submitted by parent on August 25, 2014

Never send your child to this school a child was knocked out while in a fight. also other students get hit with full milk cartons and other food from lunches. There are food fights every day and they force the kids to stay inside the cafiteria to get hit by the food to find out who is throughing it.
Submitted by other on March 27, 2014

Overall, the school is great! dont listent to what people say.. experience it for yourself.
Submitted by teacher on January 31, 2013

From a Teacher, After being a FT teacher for a number of years and subbing at a number of schools I could easily say this is in line with the worst schools I've ever taught at. Completely disrespectful kids, unorganized staff and often students are fighting all over: bathroom, classrooms and cafeteria. Even if done playfully it becomes a distraction to others. Cell phones and iPods can be seen all over and when told to put it away, the students bring them out again since no discipline. Kids removed for misbehaving are put right back in room just moments later. I'm actually embarassed for the school and all those that actually care to have a positive learning environment.
Submitted by other on July 25, 2012

CMS has great choice programs, however, the school's staff is completely unorganized and disoriented. I went there for 6th and 7th grade and for both years FCAT started late because the head staff could not keep track of their own supplies. They blame the students for everything. Even though students do misbehave it is their responsibility to enforce the rules. They say wear uniform or you will be sent home and the next week everyone is wearing what the want, appropriate or not and the staff could not care less. I had one teacher that wore crop tops, short skirts, and 6 inch heels, the Principle looks at it like its normal. I also had another teacher who would let kids skip in her class and she barely got to teach because she was too busy laughing at kids making fun at each other. Lastly, fights are very common and popular around the school that includes lunch fights, hallway fights, in the class room fights, bus fights, and fights that are planed in school and done after they get off the bus. I dont recommend this school to anyone.