Ballenger Creek Middle School

5525 Ballenger Creek Pike

School District

Frederick County Public Schools
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Frederick 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 July 14, 2024

BCMS provided our child an excellent education and learning environment.The teachers and staff were engaged, respectful, and responsive.
Submitted by student on June 07, 2024

This school is the worst. The teacher I hate didn't grade like 3 assignments that were turned in and never graded them. She is also very discriminate. One time, I forgot to turn in an assignment and that day was the deadline but I didn't know. The next day, the assignment was locked so I asked the teacher to unlock it but she said i had "plenty" of time to do it when I only had 4 days and one day had a fire drill. Then a girl came up to her and said the same thing, and the teacher unlocked it for her so she could turn in the assignment but i couldn't.
Submitted by parent on May 19, 2024

Our child excelled academically and the vast majority of teachers were engaged and willing to help. The leadership assisted with a couple of situations and were helpful in resolving the matter quickly and to our satisfaction.
Submitted by student on October 03, 2023

I got sent to the mental hospital all because I was complaining, this is not okay, just because I got bullied doesn’t mean I have to be the one to go to the hospital, they need to! This school treats the bad kids good and treats the good kids bad! It’s so DUMB!
Submitted by student on August 16, 2023

I am a current attender the school. The school is never at a certain temperature. Also they force kids to do gym activities that only pros can do. Once I was forced to do a head stand and when I had trouble the would take points off the class. I was not with my regular PE teacher I was with one of the others. There are many teachers at this school that love to have fun with the kids. Many of my teachers last year showed us how to have fun in school which is what I love. I would recommend this school for if you don’t mind an older school. But all in all the people are very nice and supportive there.
Submitted by parent on March 13, 2023

ummmmmmmm teehee this school makes me want to eat napalmummmmmmmm teehee this school makes me want to commit a violation of NATOummmmmmmm teehee this school makes me want to lick a cactusummmmmmmm teehee this school makes me want to locate your internet protocol address (it is 154.4499.3879)
Submitted by student on November 16, 2022

I am a current student, and parts of the school are either freezing cold, or overwhelmingly hot. Also this school just had a 6th grader hit by a car, which isn't the greatest thing ever. Luckily they weren't hurt. Other than that I guess the school is pretty good, and I hope that it will change in the future.
Submitted by parent on May 27, 2022

A lot of bullying! School won’t do anything about it.
Submitted by student on May 26, 2022

Bad school. i can never hear the intercom over students who don't stop shouting, and some teachers don't do enough about it when announcements like transportation for the afternoon are being made. a lot of teachers don't teach well, and a lot of students are really ignorant and rude.
Submitted by student on May 17, 2022

I hate this school more than ive ever hated anything in the world. these teachers care more about giving assignments than giving basic needs, which includes proper lunch. there has been multiple times where i have found animals, such as insects, and under cooked or overcooked foods on my lunch plate. ive began bringing lunch from my home to prevent the stomach bugs. 99% of the student in this school are complete idiots in every way possible, there is no learning involved and some students sit around bored because they know all of the material being taught to them, including me.
Submitted by student on March 05, 2022

It's not the teachers it's the kids they are rude to the staff the students do not listen and they do everything to ruin this kindhearted place coming from a current student
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2020

I would rated as a B because some of the teachers can improve.
Submitted by student on November 20, 2019

Absolutely terrible. If I could choose any other school, I would. Even if I had to walk over a mile each day, I would go there instead.
Submitted by parent on June 15, 2018

I know this school extremely well (more than I would like to). Today was my third daughters last day/eighth grade picnic. she comes home with bad sunburn because no student was allowed back into school building from 8:00 am. to 1:00 pm. Just like everything else this school does staff are more important than your children.
Submitted by student on March 22, 2018

I spent all 3 years trying to become invisible. These three years have had so much drama and was simply miserable I can’t wait for June 15th when I can leave Ballenger and never look back.
Submitted by student on February 02, 2018

Horrible. Terrible. Worst school in Frederick County
Submitted by other on September 13, 2016

I hope to update this review with an improved score for this school. My child has only been attending for a few weeks, and I can say that the math department has been exceptionally unhelpful. Other teachers seem to be supportive, and I am starting to have to pull in help to try and engage with a math department who seems uninterested in anything other than a narrow definition of what a BCMS student should be, without elaborating on this enough up front. how do you fail a child, and not let the parent know or express concern-- disgraceful.
Submitted by parent on October 07, 2015

I feel the most recent ratings are NOT reflective of the true nature of this school. The current principal has bene there for years and is very involved and engaged. The vast majority of teachers there do their job well and there are opportunities to challenge students so that they're not "bored", as prior posters have indicated. There are a few too many incidences of bad behavior on behalf of the students and I wish they would stop but administration deals with them swiftly (but could be more severe in their punishment, although I know that the county sets the level of their ability to intercede).
Submitted by other on September 13, 2013

This school is by far the worst in prioritizing. They would rather spend money on new computers and technology than fix the basic need of food and nourishment. Kids that forget their money or parents are having an off day and forget to give it to them are SOL. Whereas at the elementary school mistakes are observed and treated like MISTAKES. They are given a styrofoam cup full of water or lemonade and their choice of a bologna sandwich or peanut butter and jelly. Also, some of the teachers are quite worthless. They teach to a test and that's it, no actual learning is being done.