Ligon Middle

706 East Lenoir Street

School District

Wake County
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

School Map for Wake County 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 parent on March 15, 2024

I don't really get the complaints about AIG at this school. Both my kids are dual-identified and had positive experiences at Ligon overall (some teacher turnover-- endemic in a state that pays teachers so poorly, not just a Ligon problem). If your child excels in math, they will be in a high-level math class appropriate to their skill. Call it AIG or call it "math 3"-- it's the same thing; smart kids who are at the same aptitude. Both of my kids were in cohorts of AIG students in their other core classes even if not all kids were technically AIG. Kids are identified AIG in third grade (with a lot of Wake parents getting their kids privately tested to push them into the program). Creating exclusive classes that leave out other high-performing kids based on someone's skill at test taking as an eight year old flies in the face of equity and does a disservice to all kids. These exclusive programs created a school within a school at Ligon for years; I'm glad they've changed their model. Ligon also has truly amazing and well-resourced arts programs. If your child is at all interested in music, art, theater, or dance the programs are excellent.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2023

Ligon has continued to be an overall disappointing experience for us with our child who is in 7th grade now. While there are some incredible teachers (including Mr. Wilson in Math, Mr. Huisking in Social Studies, and Mrs. Camarero in Spanish), the administration seems to have very little investment in the students and their families. Our interactions with the principal, assistant principal, AIG coordinators, and testing coordinator have all been incredibly negative and even downright hostile on numerous occasions. The school does not appear to value collaboration with the families as a general rule, although there are some individual teachers who excel at this. There are no longer AIG courses offered (despite the fact that Ligon is somehow still considered to be an AIG magnet school), and instead the AIG coordinators just have a few pull-out sessions with the AIG students each semester. Our child did not have a Science teacher for much of the first semester, and then the teacher who eventually assumed the role was a complete letdown in terms of his ability to motivate the students to learn as well as his overall approach. Our child’s Math teacher from last year was excellent, but she opted to leave after only a short tenure at Ligon because of the environment. We have kept our child enrolled at the school because of the friendships made (middle school can be quite an adjustment, and it would be difficult to change schools) and the positive educational experiences at the hands of a few outstanding teachers. It’s a shame that the legacy of academic excellence that Ligon once had has completely fallen apart.
Submitted by student on November 02, 2022

I don't know where to start with my dislikes of this school. The AIG program is terrible, many teachers do nothing to help bullying and harassment, the 6th grade counselor basically told my mother that lots of kids (she implied me as well) were faking mental health issues for attention. The school would rather put up new decals and signs than replace old (and very dangerous) equipment that quite literally CAUSED A FIRE TODAY. Minorities lack support and are constantly thrown in suspension and the rules and punishments are ridiculous! Our (recently former) 7th grade principal explained that self defense was apparently never okay and that it's the victims fault for being "aggravating". Many teachers (including the principal) favorite students on the football and basketball teams. The school barely makes an effort to welcome and support LGBTQ+ children and I guess the best they can do is put little pride hearts on their doors. The 6th grade counselor is in charge of the NJHS chapter and is constantly canceling and rescheduling meetings and then blaming students on their lack of attendance. She also constantly forgets her students and completely misgenders many of her kids. The world languages classes are severely underfunded. Heck, all classes are underfunded! I know that's a national thing, but getting new signs and useless bike racks is not a solution! We constantly have tours going on which disrupts classtime as random people peak into our classrooms and stare at us. We can't use the bathroom or get water during that time anyway. The 6th grade counselor threatened to expel 2 kids who had *accidentally* gotten lost on a field trip while constantly talking about how we are "pristine" and how we need to uphold an image. The school seems so obsessed with their "image" that they forget about their students. Last year a majority of the 6th grade team left and coming into the new year, I had no homeroom and math teacher (they were a sub). Instead of being truthful, parents were emailed that their kids did in fact have a math/homeroom teacher despite us not. We were taught nothing for almost 3 weeks before finally getting reassigned after dissolving an elective.
Submitted by parent on May 10, 2022

Ligon unfortunately stopped offering the AIG core classes that they had offered for years to qualifying students and instead incorporated all students (except for those who are at a remedial level) into the core classes. They did this during COVID and did not communicate this to current or prospective parents so many parents remain uninformed about this change. This has meant that the core classes have been geared toward the lowest performing students. The only real AIG experience for qualifying students has been during the pull out sessions that happen a few times each quarter. While I'm sure that there are many students who are on the border of qualifying for AIG classes and therefore would be appropriate to be included, there are many students who are not appropriate to be included. The principal and 6th grade assistant principal (who just departed) have been very defensive about even discussing this issue and have been completely disinterested in the education of our student. It seems that there is no longer a goal of maximizing the experience for all of the students. It appears that Ligon is hoping that their strong reputation of academic excellence will help them to survive, but that will not be able to sustain them. It's a shame that the solid teachers who are currently there have had to go along with this new subpar model of education.
Submitted by student on June 25, 2020

Ligon is a great school. Ligon has all of the electives, The great teachers, and a amazing community. If you are looking at Magnet Schools in Wake County, Please consider Ligon as an option and take a tour! You won't regret it.
Submitted by parent on January 04, 2016

Seems like folks either love love love it or have not so great experiences, but ours is middle of the road. How it seems in 6th grade will definitely change by the time 8th grade rolls around - the experience transitioning to middle school is as diverse as the electives and the student body. It's not perfect, it's middle school. The starry eyed 2nd grader who thought school was the Best Thing Ever! is now a moody tween who doesn't like to get up at 5 for the 540 bus. But, we do it because Ligon is pretty cool and the best option from our choices. The teachers are engaged but don't baby the students, which can be a stark contrast to the warm fuzzies of elementary school. My husband and his siblings went to Ligon many moons ago, and from his account its pretty much the same. The electives are what score high with the kids- the nonmagnets have one choice of language, maybe 2; home ec, some PE...maybe some IT...but the arts program is what makes Ligon special. Excellent opportunities to learn and grow in drama, music, etc and interested students can also work 'behind the scenes' on productions. Is there a rough crowd aspect? Yep. but not so much that it can't be managed, which is important for children- to learn how to handle themselves and navigate through the bullying (exists at all schools), $*%&( language (sad fact but swearing like a sailor empowers some kids), cliques (they had those in elementary school too!). It's pretty much school + puberty = awkward no matter where you go. The teachers are supportive but not enabling; the electives really mix it up and keep the students interested. The orchestra is amazing - wonderful teacher, creative culture. Some kids with thrive here and have "no adverse reactions to anything" (kudos on your well adjusted child!) and some may pause and say hey, this is weird and I wish I was back at 5th grade. In the end, they adapt, some slower than others, but Ligon is a good place to make the move from little kid to big kid.
Submitted by parent on October 23, 2015

My 6th grade child has not experienced any of these issues I've seen listed here. She's in AG classes. Has a lot of homework, which is to be expected; has a couple of tardies because she had a long way to go from once class to the next; but she busts her butt to move from one spot to another & is getting straight A's with no adverse reactions to anything she's seeing/hearing. I went to Ligon as a child and am happy my child will have the same great experience!
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2015

I want to love this school. My child has looked forward to Ligon since we started looking at magnets in 4th grade. The arts program in particular. Problem is, the students are just rude and appear to be oftentimes uncontrolled/unchecked and they seem to know it. I have had to address explicit sayings that my child had not encountered and frankly I didn't expect to be part of the vernacular of middle schoolers. My kid IS AG. That doesn't seem to matter though I know some reviews say that AG kids get the better experience. The 8th graders appear to be particularly rowdy - I get the transitions they are making emotionally and physically, but come on Ligon. Crack down on bullies and don't allow obscene gestures or talk to fly under the radar, looking the other way. Students don't feel empowered because it seems to them (my child at least) that consequences are selective- not guaranteed - for egregious behavior. Maybe it's just our rude awakening to middle school, but I am disappointed so far. Maybe the 8th graders will get over themselves and stop acting like jerks with mouths their mothers would leave the bar of soap in if they heard the things they were saying to each other. They spent 3 full days of orientation, going over all of the policies, and it seems they should sit the 7th and 8th graders down for a refresher at the start of the year. The should consider following Orange County's lead and increase the transition between classes from 5 to 7 minutes- with the way things are spread out, electives in particular, getting a tardy is guaranteed if you have to go to your locker or the bathroom. After my experience, I wish elementary was 1-6 like it was back at my school, with 7-8 as jr. high. The 6th graders, some of whom are a young 11, are getting negative exposure to the amped up 7th and 8th graders. Sure, they need to learn to let stuff roll off and stand up for themselves, and learn to navigate a diverse landscape but I've checked other middle schools and NONE of the parents I have spoken to have had the examples I have had in the first few weeks. Zero, and I am talking other magnets with 'zone' kids as another parent put it in the reviews..Hoping Ligon changes my mind as time goes on but not off to a good start at all. It's not just GT kids that have a rough go interacting with some of the kids at Ligon.
Submitted by student on August 24, 2015

I just started my 8th grade year at Ligon this year, and despite what people can say about the school, I believe the faculty and staff have done a great job in preparing me for high school. The reason I give it a four star, is that although the school as a whole is great, some of the students that attend it can often disrupt class and depending on the teacher you have, it can cause a major disturbance. In addition to disruptive students, my only other complaint is the long bus ride. Other than that, the teachers and learning environment is very friendly and inviting. I really look forward to another year here!
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2014

Ligon is a really good school. Like any school, it is better suited for some children more than others. Pros: large number of really good, interesting, diverse electives; committed, smart teachers; a principal who seems fair and cares about her students; and, because the school is attractive to many families, children are able to find "their friends group" -- smart kids, artsy kids, musical kids, athletic kids, and/or kids who want to find trouble (they are there too :-)), etc. Cons: if your child's teacher doesn't have strong classroom management or English-speaking skills, your child's experience can be very negatively impacted (my son has 1 teacher that seems to think yelling will do the trick :-( ); long bus rides for children living in the suburbs (as much as 3-4 hours/day); and lots of homework - which often consists of just another worksheet. NOTE: Some of the worksheet load may be from NC's common core implementation as I saw a dramatic increase in worksheets last year in ES. Overall, I think Ligon is a very good/excellent school that offers lots of academic and extracurricular opportunities but I'm not sure it would be worth the long bus ride 2X/day for many students.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2013

I have an 8th grader at Ligon and I am excite with all that Ligon has to offer. Most of the teachers are awesome. In the three years at Ligon he has only had one not so great teacher. The principal,Ms. Dula loves all her students and thinks of them as her babies. I feel very fortunate that my son has so many opportunities at Ligon. The diversity and the electives are things you can not find in other schools. My son in in the AG program and already has several high school credits before finishing 8th grade. He chose Ligon because of the electives and the feel of the school. He has had several robotics coures, ecology, chemisty, forensics, he tried to get into physics this year but his band class was at the same time this elective was offered. With three electives each quarter or 12 a year it is still not enough to get in all the wonderful class that are offered. He catches the bus at 5:45 each morning but he thinks it is worth it to go to such a great school. He loves his band teacher Mrs. Todd and his Earth Science teacher. I could go on and on about Ligon and the great things that happen there.
Submitted by parent on October 07, 2013

My son school really stay on top of Bullying, By making sure each student know the do's and don'ts.a lesson the students are taught. The social worker go to each class with a work sheet they must complete. Just like everything the students are taught i have always felt that Bullying should be a required subject. Ligon is right on top of it.
Submitted by other on September 19, 2013

I loved this school, even though I only spent 1 year there, it was the best school year of my life. They have so many opportunities for you and arts classes and they have the best education possible. I would highly recommend this school to anyone thinking of coming here.
Submitted by other on July 21, 2013

Ligon Middle School is one of the best schools I've ever heard of! The population is so diverse, and students can never feel alone. The teachers are such creative and well-educated people, who really put dedication into their profession. The staff at Ligon give a lot more than just a few notes from a textbook; they give factual information, encouragement, discipline, expectations, compassion and sympathy. The arts and academics programs are phenomenal, with educational and artsy electives and clubs. The principal and assistant principals are natural born leaders who actually try to relate with the students and see things from their point of view while applying the proper amount of discipline and rules. My family has been with Ligon for over eight years, and we're constantly being pleased.
Submitted by parent on January 12, 2013

My son is a 7th grader at Ligon. We have been pleased with this school since day one! His teachers have been very good. They are approachable, and work hard to meet the needs of each student. The elective choices are phenomenal, and their discipline policy is outstanding. Every school is going to have some tough kids, but they seem to handle it well. I give high compliments to the principal, Gretta Dula. She is very visible, out and about with the students, and holds "principal coffees" that allow parents to meet with her. The security meeting she and her staff held after the Newtown tragedy was one of the best school meetings I have ever attended. Not only was it well organized and clearly presented, they stayed until every last question was answered. If only the busing issue could be resolved. My child's bus stops at Enloe, another high school, Carnage, then Ligon. We were faced with a 90 minute bus ride and ended up carpooling.