Oberlin Middle School

2816 Oberlin Road

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 October 19, 2024

This school has been terrible for my kids. There is no warmth or caring here. The principal is ex military and she runs the school like a jail. No bathroom breaks, no lockers, assigned seats in every class and lunch, no chance to make friends. There is no trust in the kids, the administration takes joy in metering out punishment constantly but there are zero opportunities for positive reinforcement. The school dance was a joke, announced one week prior, 3-5, no dress up, my kid got in trouble for starting a Congo line, my other kid for making a hat out of paper towels. Minority kids are targeted especially. We know of multiple families whose children have been suspended over ridiculously small infractions. Yet the country club kids get away with constant bullying and girls wearing extremely inappropriate clothing. The teachers are fine. The administration is horrific. From the first time walking into the school we were met with a bad attitude, distrust, and defensiveness anytime we have come to ask for help. 6th graders are expected to function like adults on day one. Between the miserable administrators and the country club popular kids it makes for an overall stressful, extremely negative environment and my well-behaved kids have been very unhappy. We will not send our younger kids here, we will go with a magnet option instead.
Submitted by parent on September 16, 2024

My daughter has been at Oberlin for two years, and has been very happy here. It’s a diverse community, full of teachers who seem to really care about the students. They are supportive and work to challenge the kids. They also help them understand their place in the larger global community, and teach them how they can make a difference.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2024

Our oldest has been at Oberlin for two years. Some of his teachers are amazing; two of his teachers in 7th grade have been awful to him. Our kid isn't perfect; we know that, but their treatment of him is petty and borders on bullying. We're actively looking at private school. My wife and I are public school kids and wanted to stick with public school, but for our oldest it's not worth the environment created by some of the teachers.
Submitted by parent on April 09, 2024

Horrible staff and faculty. No disregard for the parents who advocate for a safe sound environment for their children. The school fosters a hostile environment that encourages bullying and assault amongst the student peer group. Oberlin Rd Magnet is not what I thought it would be. If you are a parent your may want to truly reconsider putting your kid in this school.
Submitted by other on August 04, 2023

This school is bad .The teacher are very disrespectful to the kids and the teacher where spectating me all the time and was say I did stuff and I did not do it . They don’t care about you emotionally until you say something life changing .There are doors open all of the school there are kid that are say inappropriate thing to people of color there are harsher punishment to people of color.They make family think it is a good school and it not
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2022

All 3 of my kids have attended here and we have been very pleased with the teachers as they really care about the kids and the school. We have been extremely impressed by the Band, Robotics and Science Olympiad programs!
Submitted by parent on March 25, 2022

The administration is unprofessional and lacks communicating skills. You leave messages to reach out to your childs teacher about there grade and no one calls back. You ask the receptionist who can you speak to since no one returns your call and her response is, I don't know. Not one teacher communicates with a parent. If the child is failing, they do not realize they fail as a teacher as well. It's very disturbing to have to deal with this behavior coming from your childs school. What happened to the best interest of the child because this behavior clearly is the opposite. Communication plays a big role and the staff in the school definitely lacks it.
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2014

This school is driven by the haves and the have nots. There is a constant plea for money. Before school even started there was a newsletter sent out that was about 7 pages long, over half were asking for money in some way. One of the ways the school asks for money is to make a straight up donation. I know of no other school in the Wake system that does this. With certain donations you get a sticker for your car for the "Blue Jacket Club" and your name on the wall in the gym. There are students that can't afford lunch and it's necessary to have families names posted on a wall because they donated over $1,000? I kid you not, this is an amount. There is no mention of where this money goes. I am all for a Fundraiser maybe twice a year, but donations as if it were a college or a private school is unfair. Not only are the student cliquey, the parents are just as bad. The ITB families make the others feel bad for not being like them. When picking up Fall Fundraiser items, the PTA ladies were rude, barely spoke to me and definetely never thanked me for supporting the school. I am giving the school 2 stars only because my student has so far had great teachers she likes and challenge her.
Submitted by parent on October 28, 2014

My son started 6th grade at Daniels this year, and I've been impressed so far. The transition to middle school has been seamless. His teachers are very good and there have been no concerns about safety, discipline, etc. The students at Daniels seem to be a great group of kids. The homework load is adequate but not overwhelming. We are very happy there!
Submitted by parent on September 29, 2014

We have been completely underwhelmed by this school. Our daughter has not been challenged academically. She is supposed to be in AG classes, but the school has not scheduled her for any. She keeps getting scheduled for the same electives because "there is nothing else available." Really? Everything from simple communication to parent conferences have been disorganized, and nobody seems to care about doing things in the best interest of the students. Even when going into the school to pick up my child, the office staff sighs and rolls their eyes as though I am ruining their day.
Submitted by parent on August 05, 2014

I was a student here for 3 years I just left in the 2013-2014 school year here is a brief view of daniels middle school: bad teachers (and I was in all advanced classes), students are split up in 2 groups (preps,and ghetto), did not have good grade principals (epically the 8th grade principle), school did not know how to spend there money, teachers don't know how to control student, and will pull you out of class for an hour to tell u to walk around and get money for the school instead of studying, and it will be hard for you to fit in if you arnt the Carolina country club type.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2013

I have two children at Daniels and am more or less pleased. The teachers are average in terms of responsiveness. The class curriculum seems challenging enough.
Submitted by other on June 18, 2013

So far I have finished 6th and 7th Grade. Academics are exactly what everyone explains great. But really if I had a child I would NOT send them here. You are judged by how rich you are, your clothes, and the size of your house. If you don't wear Lilly Pulitzer and Nike socks and shorts you mine as well commit social suicide. Yes I have friends and they are great friends but if you plan on sending your child here the first thing you should worry about on the first day of 6th Grade is what they are wearing. I am already looking at other high schools besides Broughton where everyone in my grade is going. I love the teachers, sports, and electives but the students make middle school exactly how it is in the movies, clicky.
Submitted by parent on April 11, 2012

I am very disappointed with my son's first year in Middle School at Daniels! I have always been a very involved parent since my kids started school. When I first walked into the front office at Daniels it was so cold and the front office person was not friendly at all. I understand that in 6th grade the staff expect the students to be more mature and independent, but there is almost no contact with the teachers unless you initiate it. I emailed my son's team leader about scheduling a conference and it took almost a month to get it set-up. I can honestly say that I am not at all thrilled with this school so far this year.
Submitted by other on December 13, 2011

This school is a ITB, clicky school, and huge so for someone that needs a smaller community and surrounding i do not reccommend this school but overall, the teachers are okay, could be a little more challenging, the electives are great along with sports, but the surrounding of people is definately not the best..
Submitted by parent on June 24, 2011

I have had two children at Daniels, which is best characterized as an elite, inside the Beltline neighborhood school. (It is no longer a magnet.) We transferred in at 7th grade and found the school to be superior to our other magnet choice. Our child was challenged academically and given support when struggling or challenged to take more advanced classes without our having to ask. Classrooms are orderly. Problem students tend to be removed from class so learning can continue. Quite a few male teachers here, rare these days. Teaching expertise varies here as anywhere. Our second child has had engaged teachers with high expectations and at least one who gave credit for merely turning in homework regardless of accuracy. Counselors have been accessible and excellent, although I can say that transitional counseling to high school is heavily weighted toward Broughton, for which Daniels is a feeder school. Overall, Daniels is a superior learning community. An involved parent can advocate for their child and get results. Extracurricular activities (sports, fine arts presentations, student recognition programs are high quality. Your experience here will be what you make it.