Central Middle School

221 Central Avenue East

School District

Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Anne Arundel 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 16, 2024

This school absolutely sucks. Get ready for your kids to get yelled at 24/7, not to mention the stem program here is bad. All the teachers are rude and there is rude and bad administration. Not to mention there was a student who was sexually assaulting girls for a while and nothing was done about it until parents were involved.
Submitted by student on November 29, 2023

Very dark and gloomy. Great teachers, but students are not engaged and are often rude to teachers.
Submitted by other on October 21, 2021

I love this school it is awesome, But it has its downs. we don't do a lot of outside activities and the school Is dark the teachers yell when kids don't understand fractions or something basic one of the math teachers said porn and damn. 8/10 of the teachers are nice and very understanding but There are some cracks that they need to fill school wise and teacher vise.
Submitted by parent on June 30, 2020

My daughter attended AVID program at CMS. The program was wonderful and teachers were helpful.
Submitted by parent on May 08, 2019

My child hates this school. Many peers from advanced learners group from same elementary school are extremely unhappy. Real bummer. Many looking for other options. This school is over capacity, offers little inspiration, students rarely get outdoors, and the inside is dreary
Submitted by parent on June 11, 2018

My child was in the STEM program and we were very pleased. Ms. Beall is a great administrator and really seems to care about the kids. The front office staff was helpful and on the ball. The school is well organized and, given the size, there are abundant opportunities for finding the right peer group and for pursuing interests via clubs and activities. There were many fun and informative field trips. Coming from a small, private school we weren't sure what to expect but I feel my child has grown both intellectually and as a person here. Thank you Central Middle School!
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2018

My daughter is in 6th grade, and is fortunate enough to be in the STEM program. The STEM program is a wonderful opportunity, with fun and interactive learning experiences. The STEM teachers are wonderful.
Submitted by parent on October 17, 2015

Average school for the area. Like most southern schools puts a bit too much effort into goofing off outside and not in the class rooms, but MD is going through a lot to change the way schools work in MD. That may change. The Band instructor is a BULLY. She insults the students during concerts. She is a horrible person. Its amazing how she'll start with 150 6th grade band students and reduce it to 25 in the first semester. She demands band practices outside school hours and grades based on performance. Imagine if your child had a grade in gym based on touchdowns completed? She takes an art class and treats it like vocational school. NONE of these students are trying to get into Juilliard. Not after she's done with them. I am a former music instructor and have assisted in the elementary schools when my children were there. Once they moved to middle school, I tried to continue. What I initially viewed as a genuine interest in teaching music I realized was just a despicable old lady trying to take out frustrations on the students. (to the brass students) "I wish you were my strings students, then you wouldn't sound so horrible and would learn better". Having had children in both strings and "band" she does treat the strings students better. She consistently singles out students to try and break them. I've volunteered at the middle school and had to leave early. I could not stand to be around her. She has no business being in a school. She's a victorian era bully the likes of which I thought only existed in disney films. Think Cruella De'ville. Even talks like her. Horrible Horrible teacher. Sad thing is. The ELEMENTARY school concerts actually sound better than the 6th grade concerts. She ruins band for everyone.
Submitted by other on November 20, 2013

I am a current Junior at South River High, neighboring Central. I went to Central for middle school, and at the time the school was slightly better. However, this is relative, for the caliber of education both here and at a great number of other Anne Arundel County Public Schools is disappointing at best. I have seen the school deteriorate from the already low point that it was to even lower, as I tutor here twice a week, mainly out of pity for the kids whose parents cannot afford anything better. The focus in the county -especially at Central- more than ever is on two things: STEM and appearance. In pushing STEM classes (Science Technology Engineering and Math), the county hopes to make itself look better by producing a large number of "adept" science students and mask the incompetence in its other subjects. However, this effort is made to seem much more successful by dumbing down classes and refusing to let gifted students shine, increasing grade averages. The school also has a deep rooted violence, drug, and bullying problem as well. I would recommend going to Montgomery county if you really want the best in public school education for your child, I wish I had.
Submitted by parent on July 01, 2013

I have had two children attend Central Middle School. My daughter had wonderful support from teachers in her classes especially when she struggled with math. She was very prepared for high school and just graduated with honors. My son also had exceptional teachers at each grade level who worked long hours to ensure their students' individual needs were met. He is a high achieving student who was challenged all three years at Central Middle. This year we moved and he started high school in another state. I keep getting comments from his teachers about how well his middle school prepared him for his pre-IB and AP courses (especially math and social studies). Sadly, I have to tell them it is not a local school. All public schools have their strengths and weaknesses. At Central Middle you can get involved as a parent and help your child experience the strengths, such as a principal who truly cares about each student's success and the well being of the faculty, teachers who work sixty hours a week for our kids, and amazing academic classes and academic clubs! Thank you CMS!
Submitted by other on June 07, 2013

People at this school curse a lot and it is not a safe enviorment. I would not reccomend this school to people who are sheltered.
Submitted by parent on March 05, 2013

My third child is a sixth grader at Central Middle School. My other two children were students there for also. My youngest is having a very successful year with teachers that work hard and care about their students. They challenge and encourage and have high expectations. The staff works hard to develop the independence that middle schoolers need giving them more responsibility and accountability. The principal works extremely hard to always put the students' needs first. Truly, if you have any issue, just email or call. If for some reason you are not getting what you need from one teacher, the counselors and principal are quick to respond to your issue. And on top of all this, the school is being renovated so it will be an even better place for kids!!! This is a great place to live with great public schools.
Submitted by parent on February 28, 2013

Both of my children have attended Central Middle School. My oldest is off to the college she wanted to attend this year and my youngest is preparing to enter South River High School. Both of my children have had good experiences at Central Middle School. I believe that the Principal has always had the best interest of the children at heart. The teachers have done a good job with both of my children. We have always been happy with the courses offered. There are also a wide variety of after school activities for them to participate in. My children have been happy and I am sad that this will be my last year at Central Middle School.
Submitted by parent on February 21, 2013

My family moved to MD during our son's last year of elementary school. After almost 5 years at one of the top schools in one of the top school districts in the nation, we were understandably apprehensive about transferring to a new area. We purposely purchased in the Central Middle/South River High School district because of both the reputation of the schools and our impression of the administration of each. Our son is half way through middle school at Central and we have not been disappointed. The Principal and her staff have been tremendously forthcoming with information about the school and the teaching staff has met and even exceeded our expectations. The academic standards are rigorous and there are numerous clubs and after school activities to engage the students socially as well. I have found the teachers to be responsive and proactive, reaching out to not only alert us to potential issues but also to make sure we are aware of positive actions and performance by our child. Several of our neighbors have bypassed the community school in favor of private schooling, I am glad we chose Central Middle and know we made the right choice for our family.
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2012

When we were transferred to DC by the military we chose Edgewater because the schools were rated so highly. We have been sorely disappointed. My 6th grader came here from an elementary school with a small student:teacher, and it was quite a culture shock. He has been mercilessly bullied, ostracized, and had personal items and schoolbooks stolen from him throughout the year. He has excellent grades and scores really high on tests... and yet isn't allowed to read, draw, or fold origami between assignments. He has had his library books confiscated for reading after tests. We have heard NOTHING POSITIVE all year! Let him commit the smallest infraction and we hear about it from three different teachers, his VP, and the counselor. That counselor told my then-8th grader that college was his only option. When he told her he wanted to enlist after HS she told him that wasn't an option if he was to be a "real adult" - this was in front of his enlisted father (who has a Masters). Honestly, I would NOT recommend this school to anyone transferring in - numbers definitely don't make a school great. The elem and HS have been wonderful, but our CMS experience = nothing but negatives.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2012

I have 2 children who currently attend CMS - 6th and 8th grade. I have been very pleased with the caliber and caring nature of the teachers and principal. Yes, they have a bullying awareness program - that doesn't mean there is a bullying problem - but rather a goal to prevent one. Is there bullying, yes, I'm sure there is to some degree at every school - the point is that it isn't tolerated at CMS. It's a big school with over 1,000 students - bound to be a major shock to anyone coming in from a private school. There is also a lot of parental involvement.
Submitted by other on December 06, 2011

As a former student I'm only being honest when I say this school has quite a lot of problems, and this had a very significant effect on me. This school's student body is entirely run by cliques and there really isn't anything effective being done to at least decrease this; there are punishments, but they are seen by students as a reward for poor actions and a way to get out of class rather than something meaningful. There are a lot of problems with violence and bullying. I can't say the teachers are awful, because they definitely aren't, but I feel like there is often little control in the classroom.