Sligo Middle School

1401 Dennis Avenue

Silver Spring, MD 20902

School District

Montgomery County Public Schools
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:12
Type

public

School Map for Montgomery County Public Schools

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 26, 2024

Too many fights and violence bad kids
Submitted by other on April 18, 2022

I graduated from Sligo last year (2021) and I had a great experience. The school had a really amazing atmosphere and I always felt supported. I felt prepared for high school, even for the advanced program I'm in.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2018

My child was an A student at Sligo and is now struggling in high school because she can't keep up with the work. Sligo just doesn't prepare students to work hard. They don't teach any study skills and don't challenge the kids.
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2018

My child had a great experience last year, our first at Sligo. I have been paying attention to Sligo for years, deciding whether I was going to send my kids there. Until new principal leadership came in 5 years ago (around 2013), I would have said no. Since that change, the admin team has been strong and the school gets better every year. Note that the "star" rating on this website really changed once the pre-2013 principal left and things starting turning around. Now, teachers seem to be happy and motivated, and turnover is low. We've been really happy with my daughter's experience there so far.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2018

Great experience. Totally prepared for high school.
Submitted by other on January 27, 2017

I attended the open house held 1/26/17 for the incoming 6th grade class and their parents. We had a child at Sligo 2011 thru 2015. This school has really worked and changed in the time we have been away. Teachers and administration gave a presentation that was engaged, student centered, parent welcoming and over all enthusiastic. It was a very different and altogether great experience compared to our first experience.
Submitted by other on June 19, 2016

I agree that the new principal is making a big difference. My daughter is in 8th grade and Sligo has been improving every year. The principal encourages teachers to try innovative programs such as a combined history/english class that really engaged my daughter and it is now her favorite subject.
Submitted by other on May 19, 2016

New Principal is compassionate, understanding and extremely down to Earth. Have had awesome interactions with him. Truly an asset to the school.
Submitted by other on November 01, 2014

I am in 8 grade and I love the school, but one thing I hate is all science classes. The teachers don't care about you as a student. The teachers make mistakes very easily and I am getting frustrated. If I graded their science 1-10 I give -1, sorry but the truth had to be said.
Submitted by other on October 07, 2014

As an 8th grader, I would also say I've 'endured' 3 years of middle school. The students talk over the teachers constantly despite being scolded just 5 minutes ago, then proceed to talk over the teachers again the next day and it's a cycle for the whole year in almost all my classes. The music department consists of amazing teachers who connects with their students. I agree that the science department is the worse you barely learn anything. Their "advanced" classes aren't really advanced at all. In all my advanced classes half of the students are at least the students whose parents need to be called, even during the first few weeks. The teachers also choose favorites and it's not very subtly. The teachers do talk to you once they see you're really interested in what you're learning, or if you have been constantly turning in your work, you'll be recognized. Overall, I wouldn't say this is a school I wouldn't recommend or a school your child won't be happy. It depends on your child because I have also made a lot of important friends, and met a lot of important people like the teachers.
Submitted by parent on March 24, 2013

Sligo is an improving school. My older daughter went there and lunch was a chaotic. My son is not there and lunch is enjoyable. Although there are new math teachers, my son is having a much better time in math than my daughter. The math teachers expect more but are willing to help the students. My experience with the principal has been limited but positive. The World History teacher, Ms. Chichester is wonderful as is the Spanish teacher and instrumental music teacher. I've heard many parents complain, but I don't know what they are doing to improve the school. My son is doing well and is a happy, healthy child. I appreciate the hard work that the teachers do at this school. My friend has a special needs students and she is very happy with the school. She says her child has a much easier time than in elementary school. My daughter is doing well in high school, except math. I know my son will have an easier time in high school math because his math teacher is making sure he understands the content. I thank principal and staff at the school for continuing to improve the school. My son is making new friends every day.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2012

The school is deteriorating. My elder just got through, "endured the year" as one parent wrote. He's now back to his old self. My second is in 7th and I can't imagine 2 more years here. Echo all the parents who talk about discipline; it's low level and rude language and completely disrupts instruction time and the administration won't help. Teachers leave the school in droves -- highest turnover I've ever seen. Test scores are lowest in county. The principal is very polished and puts on a good show, but I don't think he can lead. The best ever English teacher retired; spanish teacher still great. Band teacher is a rock. Echo that there is no grouping by GT in science or social studies; but not much rigor in the other true GT classes. But if the last few good teachers we know leave, so do we. Very sad. Looking at options and ready to pull out at midyear if need be.
Submitted by parent on March 20, 2012

My child is currently at Sligo and I am requesting a transfer to another school. While the school has some great teachers - the band teacher is wonderful - my child has been bullied so extensively and pervasively that I no longer feel my child is safe at the school. There appears to be a culture of bullying at the school. The assistant administrator has tried to help, but the principal won't even meet with us about the problem.
Submitted by parent on May 26, 2011

Both of my children have attended Sligo Middle School for all 3 years -- the older one finished in 2009, and the younger one is "graduating" 8th grade this year. We stuck with the school because we hoped it was improving, but instead most things have deteriorated over the 5 years. There is a new focus on discipline this year, but that has very little impact on the main problem for the better-prepared kids -- the fact that the school does not challenge them. Except for math, classes are not divided by level of preparation. "Advanced" English is not at all advanced. (This is NOT the same as what "Honors" English used to be.) Parents are sometimes told that in the heterogeneous classes, teachers provide extra enrichment or other extra material or work for the more-able kids; but that never happened with either of my kids in any class. There are some bright spots--some talented new teachers this year, a wonderful Spanish teacher, both band and chorus, and school plays. But if your child is capable but not necessarily self-motivated, s/he will not wind up doing much work, and will not be well prepared for higher-level classes in high school.