Joe Walker Middle School

5632 W. Ave. L-8

School District

Westside Union Elementary
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:22
Type

public

School Map for Westside Union 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 student on February 20, 2025

Teachers are not helpful and are on their phones, the dress code is a problem they need to adress since they don't apply it to the teachers as well, and the food is either rotten, undercooked, and inedible.
Submitted by parent on September 07, 2023

Food for thought... students can't join a particular sport - Via auto phone dialer - "All students must maintain a 4.0 with no “F’s” and have 80 merits toparticipate." How do the students know how many merits they've earned? How do they "earn" them? So my child earns Bs and an occasional C can't participate in a certain school sport and have to wait until high school? Several teachers giving students lunch detention for forgetting their planner- Can't they get a warning first, like a job gives you a warning for something? Maybe call home and see what the problem is? Maybe the kid went to their other parent's house and accidently left it there "when working on homework" and now the student(s) get lunch detention daily for not having it. Wow. I'm hearing from my kid that some teachers talk down and are disrespectful to some students, making them recoil and not want to speak up or ask for help, or make them feel stupid because they didn't understand something. This is not motivating, respectful, or supportive, and then forgetfulness is sometimes met with punishment. They are still learning and adjusting to a variety of new and extra responsibilities, social dynamics, multiple classes, only a (4) minute passing period which is not enough time to use the restroom and make it to class (getting marked TARDY/a punishment), etc.. Yes, hopefully they will have it down by the time they get to high school. Yes, some students have more obstacles and family dynamics to overcome just to succeed. However, this is the time when parents "lose" their kids. This is the BEST time to be more helpful, supportive, and sensitive, before you (education/educators) lose them...
Submitted by student on February 25, 2020

Good but not the best. Students and adults are equally disrespectful towardseach other and I believe that is something thatmust change.
Submitted by parent on July 15, 2019

Excellent, we had a few hiccups along the way but nothing is perfect, as soon as you can understand that, the better.
Submitted by parent on August 23, 2018

Teachers 10 out of 10. Principal 0 out of 10. The principal’s stance is that there is no real need to communicate with the parents. It is 100% up to the student to relay all information and school news to the home. Also, the principal shows no support for student activities. So if you are looking for great teachers who prep students for high school and are okay with a principal who has no engagement to his students and families than this school is great.
Submitted by parent on January 31, 2017

Our son is a very high-functioning autistic child with a 3.0+ GPA. The teachers at this school are awesome and overall the students are great; however, there is a bad element at the school, and they run unchecked and out-of-control. Our son was subjected to emotional bullying, and nothing was done about it. He was pushed down and suffered a severely sprained knee...we asked for help and were basically told there was nothing they could do about it. We are fortunate because our son told us all that was going on, but I am pretty sure there are Special Needs students there that are being bullied and ignored and their parents have no idea. We took our son out and placed him in another school, and he immediately blossomed and his attitude and behavior did a 180-degree turn...it was astonishing. This used to be a really great school, but the leadership is weak and impotent, and the leadership has no regard for kids that can't fend for themselves.
Submitted by other on August 28, 2012

I love Joe Walker Middle School I am currently a student there and it has a really good athletic and robotics department. If you go to the front office you will see all the trophies they have won. Apart from that the academic side of the school is amazing the teachers tell you what to do to pass their class and they have a lot of opportunities for behind student. Physical Education really helps students get in shape. they have a track field to run every other day and on the other days they do weight room and zumba fitness which really gets you into shape. I recommend this school to who ever wants an awesome opportunity for their child.
Submitted by parent on June 29, 2012

I have to say the Teaching staff is pretty good. It's the office that's a major problem. Principal I'm not a fan lazy. Office staff rude and lazy. One quick example of the many I could give you is this. My daughter makes honor roll. Doesn't get recognition during the 8th grade graduation ceremony. She went to the office several times to get this fixed before hand. The ladies are rude, falls from the top. After school is out and my daughter is over this, in the mail finally comes her certificate. Just pitiful. Even the automated messages they leave make me laugh. Hi Joe Walker Parents Don't make dinner tonight we are having a Spaghetti dinner at the school at 6 pm. I look at the clock it's 545 pm. Last year they forgot to call about the awards ceremony for the 7th graders so they had to redue that at the beginning of the year. Just needs real leadership.