Potomac Middle School

3130 Panther Pride Drive

Dumfries, VA 22026

School District

Prince William County Public Schools
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:16
Type

public

School Map for Prince William 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 parent on August 20, 2024

PLEASE BE AWARE: THIS IS NOT POTOMAC MIDDLE SCHOOL (Panthers) this is Potomac Shores Middle School (the Seahawks?). From the look of many reviews here, it is clear some parents and students are obviously confusing the two schools and reviewing the wrong one. Thanks!
Submitted by student on July 18, 2024

This school is terrible. The students, teachers and staff are uncaring, disrespectful and horrible. This school has so many anti-bullying related things yet loads of kids are still bullied. Most of the teachers let the students do what they please as long as they are in class, sometimes even when they aren't. The counselors don't help at all, teachers ignore all the conflicts until a fight breaks out. The advanced classes seem like they allow anyone in, there are kids who fail classes and simply don't care about learning that get put into many advanced classes. There isn't one place in this school that you will not get insulted, bullied, or harassed and none of the teachers or staff attempt to change something. This place has been a nightmare to be in. The school lunch is inedible, the milk is spoiled. There are a couple of teachers who try to engage students with their lessons and care, but to a limit. The front office people aren't the nicest either. There are many fights at this school and it's not a comfortable or safe environment to be in. I would not recommend this school to anyone. If you can, send your child to another school.
Submitted by student on June 28, 2024

Regarding Q1, I feel like other students are disappointed because they feel they are not learning what they need or want to learn. This is because there are many fights and many teachers do not want to work here because of these fights. Regarding Q2, teachers here tend to veer off of specific curriculum and tie it into their own beliefs which I personally think are hurting students. Regardless, I like this school because I have lived here for years and am a loyal panther. I feel that this school just needs to step it up and focus on basic problems by teaching basic morals to students and showing that they really care. I have written this to tell the staff and principal of our school to STOP PLAYING with the students and show that we are “standing on business”.Sorry for that cringe ending.
Submitted by student on March 21, 2024

Terrible school, the principal doesn’t even help with anything at all and the students are bad
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2023

Even though it's a nice fairly new building and school, I can't consciously say that the school is safe for the over well-being of the students. That being both bullying running rampant with minimal mitigation, teachers/staff acting as "friends" rather than authority, or sufficient remedies from upper faculty/staff in the aftermath of incidents. Things would go on with my student, and I wouldn't even hear it from the school. It'd have to come directly from the student and then I'm responsible for reaching out to eh school for confirmation on these events. I'm tired of hearing about the drama going on at school, as opposed to the curriculum or education that should be happening. As we know, any middle school will come with some of these social issues, but families expect better safety practices and more initiative for the mental support of the students, especially in this district. This would help improve where any academic aspects are failing. It makes me fear for my elementary student child to go to this school with its current affairs.
Submitted by student on September 14, 2023

There are kids bullying others and smoking in the bathrooms. The teachers dont really care what the kids do in class which makes it makes it an uncomfortable learning environment.
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2023

We have had an excellent experience so far! When we needed help the Director of Counseling was there to help us twice already. She was patient, listened to concerns and did everything she could to help so we are looking forward to an awesome year!
Submitted by other on August 25, 2023

Horrible school do not go. A lot of fights and teachers is violent
Submitted by parent on May 10, 2023

this school just sucks at everything teaching and many more
Submitted by other on December 11, 2022

This is not my school but my 6th grade cousin loves it here i really do appreciate the staff and students fo making sure my cousin feel safe she says the staff is friendly there are no bullies she says the are a little of fights but overall a great school thank you potomac shores
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2022

Teachers are very helpful, and staff is a little helpful but overall nice school
Submitted by parent on August 22, 2022

very good rough at first though just trust the process
Submitted by parent on March 12, 2022

This school need structure. There is so much bullying and kids smoking in bathrooms running rapid through the hallways. Teachers so busy bring friends with the students instead of forcing standards. Kids get suspended for defending themselves against bullies. Whatever happened to hall passes and monitors....I cannot give this school a great rating speaking with parents and my own personal experiences they need to regroup and realize not all students are the same they are individuals stop putting them into one pot when it comes to certain situations and deal with the accordingly.
Submitted by parent on March 08, 2022

This is a horrible school with a very bad management(principal). We are finally out of this school. There is way too much bullying in this school and the principal does NOT do anything about it but accused me and my daughter of liars after a student pushed her, she fell and hit her head and was so deep that Dr had to do 5 staples. I don’t post the pictures because they are very rough. This happened 2 weeks ago and until this day no one has called us from the school to check on mu daughter. Ive done a lot including speaking with the superintendent and nothing is getting done and our only options was to transfer school or stay here and that’s not gonna happened. Do NOT I repeat Do not exposed your kids to this school with the poor management.
Submitted by student on February 13, 2022

I am currently in this school and I find it not so bad. The teachers are nice, the work isn't too hard, and the food is okay. My real problem is the students, 60% of the students are total bullies and not really nice. There are really great kids at the school but are really hidden by the multiple fights that happen every week and all of the school property that gets demolished. the actual teachers are great and really care about our future. there are some teachers that can really be strict and not have a good reputation but they only wish the best for us. the school food is free, but it's not really good. the work that they give us isn't hard at all, and if it is then they give us more than enough time to do it. I barely get any homework. and when I do I can easily do it during the 5th period(independent studies). Lots of other students just don't really manage their time that well. the free period we get to do our extra work is almost always used up by goofing off or chatting. Overall if you have a choice then I would say don't come here. but if you don't have a choice then it's not really bad once you get used to it. This place grows on you and now I wouldn't want to leave if I could.
Submitted by student on October 17, 2020

I went to Potomac Middle School and if I were to give this school any redeeming qualities, I couldn’t. That’s how bad this school is. If you were to ask me or any other student that went to that school to give it any compliments, it couldn’t be done. That school is so awful, so terrible, so horrendous, that it would be impossible to give this school any compliments.
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2019

We LOVE this school!! Teachers and administrators are awesome!!! My two kids went there and scored perfect scores. And now I have my youngest in the school. They have great programs with high school as well, my children do great academically. Great communication with teachers and administrators. Overall excellent school!!! 5 stars!!!
Submitted by parent on May 06, 2019

This is a horrible school. One of my greatest regrets is sending my child here. I won't do that again.
Submitted by parent on March 12, 2018

Out of 10 I rate this school to be a ZERO! There is not consistency, the teachers run a muck, ive seen videos of teachers slamming desks, throwing things around the class, trying to pulls students personal laptops away from them (only to be in the wrong about the situation), teachers marking grades/attendance wrong, students telling teachers about bullying incidents and nothing being done, teachers ignoring injuries in class, teachers calling students inappropriate names and the list goes on!
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2018

I would express my sincere concern for the school being able to educate children. The social economic differences in this location is a true reflection of the entire school division. What specialty programs are available, NONE!!! The move them along approach whether they are making progress is not educating. Something better should be available for the children. The "standard diploma" is what they express as the norm, why shouldn't we strive to give the student more value in their education. Communication, what a failure we have experienced at this school. Being a mother of 4 this is the second child with a horrible experience. This is several years apart. I'm fed up with fighting a school and division that put inequity on many levels. Who is benefiting from a poor education?? Not my children!!! Look what is options you have, until their is a school change or division change our children suffer!!!