D. Russell Parks Junior High School

1710 Rosecrans Avenue

School District

Fullerton Elementary
Grade

7-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:24
Type

public

School Map for Fullerton Elementary School District

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 May 08, 2023

If anyone is thinking of sending your kids here, don’t. I currently have a family member attending this school, and I have formerly attended her myself. The teachers and administration allow students to bully others, fight, and all without any repercussions whatsoever. Recently there was an incident where a female special education student was pushed into a brick wall by a male student of the name Matthew Lopez, the female student hit her head, which caused her to have a seizure. To make this incident even worse, the teachers and administration allowed this to happen, and are attempting to cover it up by not mentioning it to neither parents nor students. This school should not be allowed to operate, everyday your child goes here is a day they are put into danger, please do not send your children here.
Submitted by parent on November 11, 2022

We are currently in our 3rd year at Parks. My oldest attended Parks and did okay. The fights were OUT OF CONTROL. Police constantly at the school. The school is very lenient towards bullying and bad behavior, so I could see how it got out of control. The teachers are 50/50. A few that are passionate and care, a lot who don’t. They are there to get paid. It’s very sad. The worst thing is the split up lunches. This year, this school thought it would be a great idea to have 2 lunch periods and split the kids not by grade, but by classroom. Absolutely ridiculous. My child was separated from her friends and had not been able to make new ones because the others are in the other lunches. The principal there seems dedicated, but is extremely staunch about her policies, even if it’s harming the student’s school going experience. She responds to emails with harshness and is very rigid. I am seriously considering withdrawing my kid and trying out Ladera Vista. My youngest will be in 7th grade in 2 years and he will not be going to Parks.
Submitted by parent on February 02, 2022

This was once one of the best middle schools in the area. My 3 oldest kids attended from 2009-2016 and the school was great. My youngest is there this year and the fighting is out of control. Not much is done to stop it and the district isn't helping the staff with the issue. Police are continuously being called to the school and many of the kids seem to be gang affiliated. I feel this school and the areas of west Fullerton in general have gone downhill in recent years. I will not be sending my child back next year nor will they be going to Sunny Hills so that we can get away from the problems at Parks. I wish the district would do more to fix this.
Submitted by other on September 02, 2021

So far I’ve been at this school for a couple weeks now, the learning aspect is pretty good but some of the teachers are pretty bad, but most of the are really good. They also don’t give too much homework, so thats pretty good about the school. About bullying, they don’t care :/ if your child gets made fun of/bullied, don’t come here. But everything else seems to be alright.
Submitted by student on December 13, 2018

I would not recommend, instead please go to another school that actually knows how to teach their students.
Submitted by student on October 03, 2017

I have only been in this school for two months, and so far, I have been having a great time! The teachers are great, and the schedules are easy to adjust to. The learning is doable, and overall, I would say that this is the best school out of all the schools I've been to. ;)
Submitted by parent on July 07, 2017

My children love everything about this school! The staff is outstanding!
Submitted by other on December 13, 2014

I am a student at Parks I think it is a really good school. I don't understand why a few complain, it is easy to have good grades! The only reason wouldn't is because you weren't trying hard enough or had a slip up. All the teachers have a generally positive and helpful attitude. They host fun activities at least once every week! They prepare you for high school and life ahead with so many electives that teaches you life skills which you will use and cherish forever,(examples:Spanish,Tech.Musical and Theatre, art, culinary, many more) Parks is known for having an amazing reputation and you have to go there to truly experience what a fantastic jr high school it is! Parents Litterally slightly brag about having there kids there, is the UCLA, the Harvard, of Jr. Highs in Fullerton, Orange County, the best of the best, and it's fun! That's why we get lots of new transfers, I don't understand why people would not want to go here! - Parks Jr. High Student 7th grade, 2014-15 year.
Submitted by other on September 01, 2014

I was a student at Parks for about a week. I took a placement test because I wasn't in the Fullerton school district before. The office people were quite distracting. I only had 45 minutes to complete the test, it was math which I highly excel in. I ended up failing the test, and a got put in a basic math class. After my mother emailed the counselor about it, they let me retake it without a time limit. I was so called " 3 right answers away from getting into an honors class." Which I refused to believe without proof. After that happened I got the feeling that the school is a little prejudice. I am African-American , and I believe the school felt like I would be a threat to their testing scores based on ONE test including the fact that they didn't have to let me attend that school. I ended up getting kicked out of the school, and my mom constantly emailed them telling them that I really liked the school and that I want to attend it. They said they won't know if they can take kids in from another district until "next semester." Even though I was already was signed up for that school. I took a test at my assigned school and got into an Algebra 1 class. It Seems a little Fishy to me.
Submitted by parent on August 15, 2014

Office lady is not friendly and belittles the students. I can tell she has worked there way too long. She needs to retire and move on so Parks can get a friendly office lady.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2013

Parks Junior High School is a wonderful school with strong, inspiring, and caring teachers. It offers many elective choices including, but not limited to, art, music, band, orchestra, computers, physical conditioning, forensics, and Spanish. Students can explore different interests and also learn to grow by balancing their classes and adapting to different teachers. It is a wonderful segue to the high school.
Submitted by other on May 26, 2013

With the exception of a couple of teachers, the most teachers and staff members are rude and can't teacher. They also don't care about their students. A student got bullied and the vice principal tried to pass the problem on the victim. The victim was protecting theirself and it was called fighting back. When the victim was only holding down the bully. The bully got away scot-free. The victim has to get treatments for the rest of their life.
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2012

Excellent teachers. love all the staff especially vice-principal. very good programs for good student. challeging academic programs. some kids are racist cause maybe parents are but overall excellent school . i think best middle school in oranage county.
Submitted by other on December 28, 2011

There are many rumors that this is a great school based on the test scores. However, I've come to learn that you can't judge a school by just the high test scores. I'm currently a student from Parks and I have to call out the office staff of Parks Jr. High. I've honestly never seen ruder people in my life. I came from another district and because of that, had to take the math placement test inside the office. However, the office staff had no consideration whatsoever and were loud and obnoxious. As a result, I failed that placement test and was placed at a lower level than I originally am. Thankfully, there was a retake opportunity and I was able to get into the honors algebra, but that event just showed me how inconsiderate people can be.
Submitted by other on June 11, 2011

I'm graduating from Parks Jr. High this year and I must say that it is a very tightly knit family. I consider the academics to be easy but I have had friends who transferred from Nicholas to Parks (and back) who thought that it was WAY too hard. The teachers try to communicate with their students and are considerate, but still enforce their rules. Parks offers a lot of fun electives (Home Economics, Art, Choir, Orchestra, etc). Parks is a great school to help a student prepare for the toughness of high school and definitely meets whatever standards that are given out. Some of the homework given out by teachers aren't that hard; it's just that some of the students don't pay attention to the teacher(s) and then complain to their parents that their teacher doesn't teach them when everyone else in their class understands the material. All in all, Parks is a recognized school and has a great teaching staff and wonderful community that is helpful as well as friendly.
Submitted by other on June 30, 2010

It has been three years since I graduated from Parks and things might have changed since then. However, from what I remember, the experience a student has from Parks depends mostly on the student and the friends he hangs out with. In my case, I had good, supportive, and academically strong friends who motivated me to excel during my time at Parks. I also had my own self-motivation to get into an IB program in high school (which I did) and competitiveness that I had to get better grades than my friends. To comment on too much homework, I think this will help with adjusting to high school. At Troy, students get an average of five hours of sleep and the rest of the time is filled with extracurricular activities and homework. Anyways, school is what you make of it. In my case, I had a great time at Parks.
Submitted by teacher on April 28, 2010

I think this school is O.K. Not great, Nicolas is better.
Submitted by parent on April 26, 2010

I always thought Parks to be a great school. Maybe for students who already excel. My child went from one of the brightest to having one of the lowest GPA's in the school his first year around. Teacher focus more on HW and make it a LARGE amount of the childs grade. I am more than willing to help with HW but to make it the main concern is ridiculous. As a teacher it is YOUR job to teach. 3 hours a night just is not acceptable. There are some wonderful teacher that have been a great help to my child and done what they can to ensure the work gets done. then there are teacher that do not care to put the effort. I have been to the principal, the VP, the counselor and teacher none of which will look further into it.
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2007

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