C M Rice Middle School

8500 Gifford Drive

School District

Plano Independent
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

School Map for Plano Independent 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 January 24, 2025

Very good. 10/10 would recommend (except for some people[who smell bad])
Submitted by student on November 05, 2024

This school is amazing! No fights or any serious things have happened. The teachers and students are great! I love this school!
Submitted by student on September 11, 2024

The school is great! Alot of the school is mainly ruled by the popular kids, and some teachers neglect high scoring students, and love/ give special attention to the more popular kids. Mainly there is discrimination against the LGBTQ+ kids.
Submitted by student on April 01, 2024

It is an okay school, they are kids called popular rich kids and they over rule the school. Teacher show a lot of favoritism and like only certain kids. Only some teachers are okay.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2024

Excellent school and excellent and committed teachers
Submitted by student on December 02, 2023

I am a current 8th grader at Rice. For all the hype it gets it can be at some points underwhelming. Although the overall students are all very intelligent, there can be obvious outliers. And even with the smart students, they can really struggle socially, but otherwise fine. The more, “popular,” students can be very defensive and not let anyone join their groups as well. The teachers are for the most part great. i had one issue with a social studies teacher in 6th grade who had clear favorites and treated other students worse, but he is no longer here (thank god). The administration is good with bullying and punishments. One thing I HATE are the new phone and hallway rules. The fact that the fine arts hallway is one way has consistently made me late every time i follow the rule, so yes i do have to break it just to get to class on time. I also HAAATE the stay on the right only rule too. If you so much as think about crossing the line to the left you will be screamed at. The school has near absolutely no issue with vaping or other, “activities,” in bathrooms. But i do for the most part enjoy the school
Submitted by student on November 01, 2023

The teachers are ok not that great of a school the ratings are pretty good on here but b real life it’s probably the opposite almost all the kids don’t get good grades and most people are failing. I think this is outdated information because this just isn’t correct
Submitted by student on May 20, 2023

Rice Middle School is the best middle school in PISD and probably Collin County. The teachers are amazing and the electives offered are very engaging. In addition, Rice also has a spectacular fine arts program, with its music programs receiving best in class and UIL sweepstakes.
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2022

Teachers are understanding and nice but the students can be "overruling and toxic"
Submitted by student on August 10, 2020

teachers were pretty good, idk abt the students though. i enjoyed going here overall.
Submitted by other on September 18, 2016

I attend this school and it wonderful teachers , clubs , music , sports ! It is a awesome school !
Submitted by parent on August 24, 2015

Great school with best supporting teachers. With good academic and best school in band. Every parents like this school.
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2015

For all the hype created in plano over this school, I don't think its all that great. The best part is the music program under Mrs. Farmer. The teachers are ok. I am not impressed with them at all. I have had an instance where my daughter got a 100 on her test and the teacher gave her a 10, we were shocked to see it on her report card. Which teacher gives her student a 10 and doesn't bother to think "why did she get such a low score". When we called her about it she told us that we have to show her the proof aka the test paper showing the score!! Thank God my daughter saved all her tests so we could show it to her and she finally earned the 100 she deserved. But what kind of system is it here that a child doesn't get the grade he/she deserves. Just one of many instances I felt the teachers were extremely careless. All the best to people what want to get into the over bidding wars to buy homes in this neighborhood. Its not worth it.
Submitted by other on October 19, 2014

Rice is actually very mediocre except for the fact that is has an amazing low brass section
Submitted by parent on September 29, 2014

Rice MS Is comprised of many very intelligent students, who attend private tutoring sessions and other academic classes outside of Rice to compensate for the lack of instruction in public schools. Rice, along with other Plano ISD schools, have nothing more than certified room monitors who pass out worksheets. The school's success is based solely on the caliber of students in attendance. My two children have attended Rice and I purposely chose this school after moving here from out of state, but unless you send your child to a private tutor or other outside academic program, your child will do no better here than any other public school.
Submitted by other on May 26, 2014

Rice middle school is a great school. During the week days, the teachers may give you some extra homework, but they try not to give you homework on the weekends (especially the math teachers). One thing you have to know before going to this school as a sixth grader is that you have to be organized. The teachers tell you what to organize, but it will be helpfull if you learn how to organize your binders. The teachers give you a lot of papers to keep(if you are a sixth grader)so you may want to buy one and a half inch binders for your math, social studies, and science class. Overall this has been one of the best schools I've been to so far, and I enjoyed my sixth grade year at rice middle school.
Submitted by parent on April 23, 2014

Rice has a high concentration of top-caliber students. This is reflected in the school web site's long list of proud achievements. Moving these kids to any suburb in America, they would achieve the same. I've no double there are experienced and dedicated teachers at Rice. However it seems the teachers have a culture to be unreasonable harsh to the students. You could get a detention for dropping your pen or sneeze. Bathroom requests are frequently denied. If you haven't seen teachers bullying students, you may find it at Rice. Think of Snape in Harry Potter. Some students take after school programs to learn higher grade materials(math) in advance. If your kids don't do it, they are screwed for the teachers may have the students work on problems not taught in class. Forget parent-teacher conferences. If you kids are above average, you don't have a chance to make appointments with their teachers. The school has a great established system to facilitate the students to compete in any kids of competitions your kids might be interest of, arts, music, sciences,
Submitted by other on April 15, 2014

Terrible school I went to rice myself, very unwelcoming, teachers are terrible and principal doesn't care about children's needs
Submitted by other on March 10, 2014

I'm coming to this school for 7th grade? Is it really that good? I am moving from New York, and I'm considered the smartest student at my current school. Will I be able to manage here? Everyone says that it's tough and competitive.
Submitted by parent on December 30, 2013

rice is the best school ever! rice's enviroment is very friendly and well put. here they challenge you and help you. they help prepare you for the long run. no kid is left behind academically. there are very high level classes for all students. i am in 7th grade here and this is my second year. im very proud to say im a rice raven. we have many fun activities too. the teachers do not put soo much stress on you. we had our principal dress up in our charlie the raven costume one day. some people also got to pie the teachers in the face! though there is fun, the teachers strictly manage the students and are firm. they teach kids to be proactive and plan ahead. people may think rice is a very competive school for nerds, but thatd not all it is! rice is by FAR THE BEST school in the world!