Magnolia Middle School

299 Fort Hoyle Rd

School District

Harford County Public Schools
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Harford 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 January 17, 2025

I have had 3 children go through this school, and unfortunately would never recommend it. While a lot of the staff and administrators are very nice and doing the best they can, their hands are tied when it comes to discipline. A few years ago, one of my children had another child grab her breast in the locker room while not clothed. We immediately reported it, and it became ones word against another because there are obviously no cameras in the changing area. A no-contact was signed, and paperwork done to ensure that other child was never in my daughter’s classes. However, on a half day the kids were put in smaller classes, and that girl was brought to my child’s classroom, giving her dirty looks and pointing. Obviously the school immediately apologized, but it never should have happened. Fast forward to this year, different child, and this daughter has had a death threat and is experiencing bullying. No contacts were done with these kids, cops involved for the death threat, and some how the child that gave the death threat ends up walking behind my daughter in hallways, and also shows up in her classroom. This child was supposed to have an assigned person with them as there are known behavioral concerns, but somehow he is still near my daughter. The school needs help, and something needs to be done to keep the kids safe.
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2024

This small school is amazing. Everything is planned and the Staff is very cooperative.
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2023

I had a horrible experience with this school. Not so much with the staff but the students are very unruly and disrespectful. Every time I had to come to the school there were multiple students in the office as if it were a hangout. My son was bullied, and I don't feel like it was taken seriously enough. It started to become a racial problem. I always advocate for my children but that didn't seem to matter because the teachers are afraid to discipline the children anymore. in fear of getting hurt or getting trouble for basically just doing their job. I felt like my son was also pushed through to each grade academically. He is a very smart bright child but did not apply himself and I thought he was going to fail the 8th grade and I was told by the administration that they don't like to fail the students because they like to keep them with their pers. Now 20 years ago if you failed you were held behind. It's just a shame to school how much the schooling system has changed in fear of actual discipline which these children need so bad. Ignoring these types of issues and behaviors are not doing them any favors. It's doing way more harm than good. If they are not pushed and are handing everything without earning it, we are setting them up for failure.
Submitted by parent on March 14, 2023

My children loves this school. The staff are amazing!
Submitted by parent on March 14, 2023

Great school! Great staff! That’s it that’s all!
Submitted by student on November 15, 2022

This school is horrible in so many ways. But I really want to talk about the teachers and staff the most. Most of the teachers don't do anything about the students when they are loud and disruptive, which is why it's so hard to learn anything. Some student was bullying me for how I look, and the teachers just let it happen. They hardly do anything at all. And they just throw work at you online and expect you to do it, which is barely teaching us anything. The staff is very rude, one staff member grabbed my arm and threatened me just because I didn't have a pass to go to the bathroom! (School didn't start yet so technically I didn't need one yet.) Everyone that works here has favorites. Especially the teachers. They would only help some of the students if they needed help with their work, so not all students get the help they need which is so unfair and pitiful. The cleanliness of this school is horrendous. The toilet water is yellow!! And there are roaches and large insects in the bathrooms. They don't get rid of the inappropriate drawings in the bathrooms, ever. They just stay there. And thanks to the students that eat in the classrooms and don't clean up their mess, there are mice and a small snake in the school. I saw it myself. It's just so sad to be at a school like this. Probably the worst school to ever be in. If you're a parent, don't bring your children here. It's a horrible school and I bet that your child will learn anything.
Submitted by student on June 13, 2022

This school is the worst ever. The teachers have no control over the students so its hard to learn if the class is being disrupted. There are fights everyday and no real discipline. The kids get suspended and come back doing the same thing. The teachers became too dependent on virtual learning and now its like we're teaching ourselves. They have no real way of preparing the students for the standardized tests which is why scores are so low. The teachers have favorites and only helped a select few through their essays to get into a better high school as if they only want some to succeed. The worst part is that at the end of the year they dont even think enough to give you a real ceremony. Even if it wasnt a traditional graduation it would be nice to have a better tribute then just a field day. My little brother graduated kindergarten and his school did better at having a small celebration where parents were able to come. Lastly, I think the office should have more control over students not letting them just come in there freely just because they dont want to go to class. My elementary school was stricker then Magnolia Middle. If they dont make better changes then they may need to shut them down.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2022

if i could give MMS zero i would because I've never been to a school like this and i would not want to go to another. First of all when it comes to bullying there is very the staff do to do anything about it and the only thing they do is tell us to write statements. two, the staff get mistreated every day, there hasn't been a day that i haven't seen a teacher or any other staff being cussed out at or being hit or something else. lastly, when i go to school i get really nervous because i don't know whats going to happen ( i don't know if i'm going to get bullied or not).
Submitted by student on May 04, 2020

My experience at this school is okay so far but i have some complaints. Students at the school are not accommodating and they are very rude, i am a new student at MMS and the school year is over because of covid 19 which would leave me friendless again in 7th grade. i am really disappointed by the cleanliness of the bathroom, dress codes and how they deal with bullying, some students are shy (me) and desperately need help but who can they talk to, i thought school was supposed to be a place to open up, express yourself and be free, but unfortunately, MMS is not that, i always feel unsafe, pressured and anxious everyday.
Submitted by student on November 29, 2018

I strongly disagree about Magnolia Middle School staff and teachers effectively dealing with bullying, because my time I have spent at this school, I have been bullied at pushed around a lot. I only have a couple of friends by my side now. Some girl has put her hands on me, and only got suspended for 1 day!! This school is completely outrageous and If I could, I would put a 0 star rating for this school.
Submitted by student on April 22, 2018

My experience at this school is horrible. All of the rules are so unfair. Let's get into their dress code policy. Half the girls in this school walk around with their chest, cleavage, and butts hanging out of their clothes when one of the girls I know isn't even allowed to wear shorts that go a fraction of a centimeter past her fingertips. I'm pretty sure that the guidance people and teachers, in general, need better glasses because they're obviously blind. The guys in the school walk around with half their boxers and butts hanging out, but guess what???? They don't get dress coded. The reason my friend got dress coded was that her legs are a distraction, but cleavage and butts aren't??? This school is filthy. The teachers need to go to some good teaching convention because the teaching here is horendous. No wonder why out test scores are so low. I feel very sorry for whoever has to go to this school, and i know for a fact that everyone in 8th grade is going to be crying tears of happieness because they are leaving the school. If i could give 0 stars i would. I hope this let's you give a better idea of what kind of school your child is going to go to, or what school your child is going to.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2017

I spent the day attending all of my child's classes. I was appalled by the behavior of the students during instruction time. I don't know how anyone is supposed to absorb any kind of knowledge with the noise levels that were displayed. I felt like some teachers were prepared and did the best they could, but others seemed unprepared to teach an actual meaningful lesson.
Submitted by other on November 30, 2016

The teachers all seem to sit by and allow the students to antagonize each other until one of them snaps. Then, of course, the student that yelled or became overly stressed is removed from the classroom. None of the teachers seem to have ANY control over their classrooms. The majority of the students are rude to one another. There's no sense of community or school pride.
Submitted by other on September 09, 2016

Before moving to Harford County I was really worried after reading the reviews and ratings for Magnolia! I felt pressured to put my 6th grader in private school, however I'm GLAD I decided to go with my gut and not listen to the naysayers. I'm a very involved parent and I must say I was pleasantly surprised by the professionalism of the teachers. I like how Magnolia is structured academically and so far my daughter has been doing well. I love that the kids are diverse because that's how the world is and I don't want to shelter my kid because good values start at home and we must do our jobs as parents to ensure our kids act accordingly in school. Not sure why one parent says Edline is not updated, when all the teachers have vowed to update it weekly. We shall see how the school year progress but so far so good...I am happy and feel like my daughter is getting a good education without me going in to debt for private school. Again it starts at HOME, do your job as a parent and your child will succeed.
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2015

Have 4 kids in this school some teachers AMAZING! Principle fantastic!Assist principles not so much, I have been trying to get my 7th grader help as she has been getting failing grades all year my husband and I work with her every night at home set up rewards,consequences and never misses school so how is it she is still getting E's. I need help and have had Zero help from them.
Submitted by parent on March 03, 2015

Hi I'm a parent of 3 children 11,12, & 16. We are looking to buy a home in the area. We are moving from Queen Anne's County, where they've received their entire education thus far. QA co has no doubt the best schools in MD & I can assure you that bullying & fights are absolutely NOT TOLERATED. I love our schools, I volunteer on a weekly basis & I am very involved in my children's education & lives in general. How a school is rated is VERY important to me, and it will be what I base my moving decision on. Unfortunately this school is rated lower than any other area I've looked into so far. Thanks for all your honest opinions that have helped guide me away from a potential disaster for my children. Where are the parents at of these "uncontrolled" children? How are these children able to disrupt 25 minutes of class time per class? That is ridiculous and I hold the teachers responsible for such nonsense! It is the teacher who sets the standard for their own classroom....it's what they're willing to accept. If the teacher doesn't care that other children are losing out because of certain students disruptive behavior, then let those teachers go