Walker Middle Magnet School

8282 North Mobley Road

School District

Hillsborough
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

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 October 01, 2024

Awesome School!! This school is great as an active student. Its pretty sad to see what some other people think about this school… I highly recommend to bring your child to Walker Middle Magnet as it is, rich in learning, has respectful staff, and much more to cherish.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2024

This middle magnet school is one of the best options if you want your child be very involved in ib programs, my grandson is in 6th grade this year and he is very happy with this choice. The teachers here truly care about their students and do a great job, keeping daily all your student progress in Canvas, very explicit if they have Homework or Classwork assignments pending, missing or graded. The communication between Parents and Teachers is very helpful through Canvas and the app ParentVUE, as well as, the Principal Heather Holloway weekly send us emails with links to access Walker's Student Newsletter/Calendar for the weeks, if you read it every week, you are informed about everything that your student is involved daily. I am very proud and happy to have my grandson in this very good school! I highly recommend Walker Middle Magnet Ib program school if you wish your student progress!
Submitted by parent on July 22, 2024

If you’re looking for a sign as to whether or not to send your student to this school, don’t. Unless your neighborhood school is truly terrible, it isn’t worth it. Some teachers here truly care about their students and do a great job. Others definitely don’t and say things that teachers should not say around students. And others are downright bullies to students but they get away with it because they know they can. The administration, especially Principal Heather Holloway and AP Andria Franks are truly awful and foster a toxic school culture. The administration refuses to properly address parent complaints even when it involves violence. They would rather spend their time walking around the cafeteria with seating charts, threatening students with suspensions for being in the wrong seat than actually resolve problems. They also do things like bring in the Kona Ice truck at lunchtimes then when students stand up from their tables to go outside and buy a treat, they hand out dress code violations. They repeatedly request used uniforms not to help students in need but to have uniforms for students to change into when they violate their ridiculously strict uniform guidelines. Of course female students are most often dress coded and the boys laugh and get away with violating the dress code more because they know they can. Their carline is truly terrible every morning and afternoon and bus rides are not any better. The school is dirty, the bathrooms are disgusting and fights and vandalism occur in there. They keep the biggest and nicest bathrooms closed everyday and only open them when there are sewage leaks in the other ones. This program is not at all like the IB high schools and is more comparable to a regular middle school curriculum wise. The parents in this school are largely uninvolved and tend to not be very friendly. It’s hard to make connections when people live in many different areas and there aren’t many opportunities for parent involvement, as is typical of middle schools. They also aren’t very nice in carline and don’t seem to understand the concept of merging. I made the mistake of sending my oldest child to Walker and I am glad they no longer will attend this school. I am not making the same mistake again and will not send any other children there. Don’t send your child here even if you want them to do IB in high school. It doesn’t give them any advantages and will be way more hassle for a terrible middle school experience.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2022

My son attended Walker from 2019-2022. Walker Middle Magnet is an excellent learning environment for students committed to achieving academic excellence. Walker Middle truly prepares its students for high school life. Students are pushed to challenge themselves in their academics and extracurriculars activities. Mrs. Holloway does an excellent job running the show and communicating with parents. Her all-star team of teachers were always very prepared and offered a supportive learning environment to their students. My son made wonderful friends and he has great memories from his time at Walker.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2021

Excellent ambience and very good teaching staff
Submitted by parent on May 20, 2018

My daughter was on AGP at Deer Park, maybe that is why she never had an issue with the amount of homework or projects that Walker teachers" assigned,I guess because she was used to that type or work, pressure, commitment. Walker is now a school for everyone, that os for sure. Overall rating: 10/10. (Now, tranportation to and from school that is a totally different topic and rating, try to carpool, school buses take forever because of the transfer stations and no direct routes -at least to Westchase area)
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2018

I’m very happy. Teachers truly care about students and the communication is great.
Submitted by parent on August 24, 2015

There is some bullying and a lot foul language from students. The car line at dismissal is very disorganized all year long.
Submitted by other on April 02, 2015

I'm an 8th grader at walker and I love it here! You won't find better teachers anywhere else. Yes being IB makes it challenging but it's all worth it when you know you are getting one of the best educations in the county:)
Submitted by other on March 29, 2015

I am an 8th grader at Walker, this school is a magnet and IB middle school. It's and AMAZING school, the teachers are awesome the staff is fabulous. This is a very motivating school, and most of their student go to IB/Magnet/Choice high schools. The teachers really care and most of the teachers mainly math are available and encourage their students to come after school for FREE tutoring and most of the teachers that are available during lunch call students to their class during lunch if they need help. They have great clubs and the sports teams are very good as well as the electives, they have band, art, AVID, culinary and orchestra. An all around great school.
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2015

My child is in 6th grade this year and halfway through I can say he's been appropriately challenged academically. The faculty imo are doing a good job bridging the distance culturally between elementary and high school. There's an unexpressed but concrete mandate for the students regarding organization and communication with an emphasis on self reliance. Administration has been very responsive and proactive with all of our concerns and requests. We've had run-ins with two teachers who quite frankly were incapable, generally speaking, but overall I'd say we've has a successful transitional year. Our initial enthusiasm (as a family) upon receiving the acceptance invitation has been reinforced and undampened. It's been an overall positive learning environment for both student and parents, and I would recommend Walker to any family with a motivated kid and involved parents. It's no "cakewalk", but hard work and perseverance pays off here.
Submitted by other on January 31, 2015

My Child Has Got Accepted To This School, But She Doesn't Know How Its Gonna Go And I Heard It Was A Very Good School... She's Scared.
Submitted by parent on July 25, 2014

very good.i like this shool,my daugther is in 8 grade and now i have my another daughter in 6 grade and my son in 8 grade too
Submitted by parent on June 01, 2014

After scouring the area for a quality ESE program, I was thrilled to find Walker Middle School. It has to be the best ESE Program school in our area, including private schools I checked out. I'm sure there's other great schools out there, I just happened to find this to be the best I have ever encountered. My 12 Yr old son has been attending Walker for 1 year, and I couldn't ask for a more qualified and caring staff.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2014

My daughter just completed her USF student teaching at Walker. She loved it!!!! The faculty and staff were very supportive and the students very eager to learn. The parents she came in contact with were also very supportive. Any student, anywhere, gets out of education only what they are willing to put in to education. The resources to excel are readily available at Walker Middle School for any child willing to open their minds and put forth the effort. My daughter was very sad when her semester at Walker ended and wished she could stay on as a full time member of the faculty. She will carry what she learned from Walker through out her career and she will never forget her "first students".
Submitted by parent on April 05, 2014

My child's school is a wonderful place for learning, and my child loves it there. The teachers are nice to her, and it is the perfect place for her to learn with students in her advanced-honors level.
Submitted by parent on January 14, 2014

A parent , walker middle is the best school my two children love it there they are hands on my son has adhd he's doing fantastic he struggled at other schools .Its a thirty minute ride from home but well worth it .There staff are well respectful and helpful no books required if you have a tablet .always know how my children are doing in school Edsby no other school i know has that.You havd communication everyday with school text on my phone gives me no worries and updates on bus routs being late or events taking place.For my kids they love it there . They have sibling going next year she can't wait.
Submitted by other on December 14, 2013

My school is the best school in my opinion because the school helps the students learn in the best way that they can learn, and also they help students do their best in everything. The school also encourages students to expand their umbrella of possibility and help them realize and see the whole world as one big place where they can succeed.
Submitted by parent on November 15, 2013

I transferred my child from another public school to Walker in 7th grade as we rec'd an "offer" and thought it would be a great opportunity. When comparing it to our previous school, the biggest difference is the work-load and, unfortunately, a lack of direction and communication from the teachers and administration. There is a LOT of busy work and homework that leaves virtually NO time for after school activities. There is only one semester of PE and I find that very sad. Kids need to have physical activity and with the work-load it's almost impossible to play a sport. Communication with teachers & administration is poor at best. It is still not "officially" an IB school as they are still in the process of becoming one. The grass isn't always "greener" on the other side!
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2013

No complaints about the teachers. The principal, however, had to have gotten his job based upon someone he knows. He is condescening, ineffective, and it is no secret that he does not possess a spirit to serve. My children witnessed this behavior and we turned it into a teachable moment: even those in authority over us don't always respond in best manner, but we still must respect those in authority over them. I will respect him by taking my kids away from his school. Bummer I was so excited about it being an IB schoolsch