Shaw Middle School

4106 North Cook Street

School District

Spokane
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
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 parent on April 17, 2024

IF YOU CAN, KEEP YOUR KIDS AWAY. Shaw is unsafe, administrators withhold information from parents and refuse accountability. They do not notify parents of weapons or fights in classrooms, do little to nothing to curb the rampant drug use, and allow so many other destructive, damaging, and traumatizing issues to remain unchecked. They degrade children whose parents have called with concern in front of other students. Teachers talk negatively about certain races, political ideologies, and religions. Academics average 3 grade levels behind. They give over an hour of homework a night, beginning in 6th grade, as well. They rely so heavily on technology to teach, many students have early elementary level writing and spelling. There are students attacked on a weekly basis. Students are NOT safe on campus and told when an incident happens to "not tell anyone." Administrators count on the low-income area leading to parents who won't have the resources to call them out.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2023

This school is ran like a prison. Constant student fighting and vaping and the staff are careless. The students are guilty as soon as they walk in the school and they are expected to act like they are adult. The safety officer is lazy and the sits around. The education is far below what they would get at nearby schools because the students are so out of control. Both of my kids have been assaulted seriously at this school and the school never reported either incidence to me.
Submitted by student on September 27, 2023

shaw is good but its just that people blame it for their problems.
Submitted by parent on February 03, 2023

In 2016, I was bullied there since 7th grade and like a bunch of people bullied me, the teachers did not care at all, they have those ridiculous school rules at this school. I would never forget how I innocently hugged my close friend and one teacher and a paraeducator gave me lunch detention. And teachers and one gym teacher allowed me to get bullied and I'm so lucky I got out of this school and moved into Glover Middle School and it was a good school than Shaw. I recommend you to stay away from Sha Middle School, it was a horrible area.
Submitted by other on September 29, 2017

For me I feel that Shaw was one of the best place for me as a student to grow. Things are tough sometimes, yes. This school gave me different strategies that I can use later in my school years to help my education progress father than I ever expected. There is one main problem. There is no sort of system established for students to follow. Shaw can be a get out of jail free card for basic rules that are needed. Rogers has spoken that the school hasnt prepared the students enough yet for highschool.Schools need basic rules and things that people can follow without feeling like they have to be bad to fit in.Dress Codes in schools are a big thing in schools. Education can be based on how your keep yourself modest.When wearing belly shorts, short shorts, and sagging indicates the students are ready for oposing anythings teachers may say.Detention is a big part. Shaw may not believe in detention, but detention is a good way for students to refocus their minds on class instead of other things. It is not to punish kids but more to remind them that school should be taken seriously.One main lack that Shaw has is the lack of helping. Every student has a time when they may be being bullied or stressed from things such as work, homework, and assessments. Teachers should spend time in the first month or so having students doing projects that help the teachers understand their students better. Powerpoints, Posters, and Timelines are useful to teachers.But the biggest thing about Shaw is screen usage. By letting the students use phones during the day without permission such as for "texting mom" is a signal that they need to focus on the screen than the work. Many kids when bringing the phone to class are always checking Snapchat, Messenger, and Instagram because they believe school is the best time for that sort of stuff. By limiting screen time students can focus more on their work.Other things that can be useful to making a school better:·Gym Uniforms·Textbooks for Home and TB's for school·No Phones in the Halls, Classes, or Outside.Schools may not be able to change the way their neighborhoods are, but if we cut the line fast and stop the things that are keeping kids from learning best in school then the students can create a better example for those in their surroundings. Less Drugs, Less Drinking, Less Fights, Less Depression. All those rates can go down starting with how schools keep their environment safe and appropriate for students learning.Ex-Student Brandon D.Shaw Years - 2016-2017Current School - Chase
Submitted by parent on September 30, 2016

Blended learning is a great program that allows independent learns to learning at their own pace. Students did their learning through online resources, seminars, individual help, small groups, guest speakers, and field trips. They stayed as a small community during the first four periods of the day allowing them to make good friends. Similar in many ways, they had the dream academy, but without the online aspect. They had fewer transitons so students could delve more into lessons due to longer classes.This year, they got rid of both of these amazing programs. They still have sprint, but who knows how long that will last. This new principal has gotten rid of all the other spirit teams.With Mr. McMurtery gone, I see no positives about this school. The best teachers are leaving for other schools under this principal's leadership.
Submitted by other on August 09, 2016

My children lived through 2 years at Shaw Middle School. The teachers are good and really care but the students are total animals and there is nothing that can be done about it. Thank God I got the rest of my girls into Pride Prep!
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2015

My daughter has been bullied relentlessly at this school. The staff even bullies my daughter and has tried to bully me. They care nothing about their students or what they do to one another. My daughter has been seriously assaulted twice and the school has done little to nothing about it even going so far as to make excuses for the boy who was the first to assault my daughter stating that he had a rough home life and that is why he assaulted my daughter. There were no consequences for this boy. The second major assault took place in the lunch room with several witnesses which I believe is the only reason there were any consequences at all. My daughter was slapped so hard that her head hit the wall behind her and bounced off. Mr. Selk kept her in his office for an hour before calling me then despite having my home and cell number he only called my home number which I was gone so I didn't get the message for another hour. By the time I got to the school the only mark left was a slightly pinker than normal cheek. Mr. Selk refused to speak to me and sent her out with the 7th grade counselor who implied that my daughter had done something to bring it upon herself despite there being several witnesses to the fact that my daughter said and did nothing to merit such an attack. The girl was given 1 day suspension and that was it. The principle and both vice principles are always to busy to speak with parents when there are real concerns unless they are accusing your child of doing something wrong. My daughter was also constantly in trouble for standing up for herself saying she was disruptive to class never mind the kids in the class calling her names or tripping her in the isles and the teacher ignoring it. She got in trouble for getting fed up and walking out of class. She was accused of calling a teacher the B word which my daughter doesn't cuss, she'll correct you if you cuss around her and still calls it the B word rather than ever saying it. She won't even say the cuss words in a song instead going silent for that part. Every day she is slapped, kicked, tripped, poked, cussed at, and called names often times in front of teachers who choose to look the other way until she does something they deem wrong then she gets detention or Saturday school. This school teaches students to be little monsters who care for nobody. Horrible horrible school please avoid it!
Submitted by parent on January 25, 2013

My son attented both 7 and 8th grade here. I would not recommend anyone sending their child to school here. There is never homework, no challenge for the students whatsoever, and a majority ot the students who are there don't want to be and make it very hard for the few who actually want to give their very best. At the beginning of the school year the principle stated that they do not give homework because the majority of the students wont do it so they just give extra time in class. My son has come home on more than one occasion having been completed w/ his assignment to have them sit and do nothing for a week while they wait for the other students to turn it in. However I do have to say that the music teacher truly does care about the students and they have an amazing music program even offering Jazz band. I would hightly recommend thinking twice about enrolling your child in this school unless you are ok with them just getting by.