Sunnyvale Middle School

1080 Mango Avenue

School District

Sunnyvale
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

public

School Map for Sunnyvale 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 other on January 10, 2025

In my most recent sojourn to the esteemed corridors of academia, I had the distinct opportunity to evaluate the institution in question, a place that ostensibly presents itself as a bastion of enlightenment and erudition. Curiously, while the scholastic rigor is commendable, with a curriculum replete with a plethora of intellectually stimulating courses designed to cultivate the minds of young scholars, one cannot help but lament the anemic condition of its wrestling contingent. The squad, without a scintilla of doubt, languishes in mediocrity, bespeaking a distinct deficiency in both prowess and zeal that would likely leave even the most ardent aficionados of the sport in a state of resignation.Nonetheless, this establishment finds itself basking in the luminous glow of its commendable achievements in other athletic domains. The prowess exhibited by the soccer and track teams is nothing short of prodigious, showcasing an admirable dedication to excellence that is seemingly reserved for only the most elite of athletic institutions. It is in these arenas that the institution shines brilliantly, distinguishing itself from the lackluster grappling endeavors.Alas, one must divert attention momentarily from these accolades to address a most unbecoming aspect of the school’s infrastructure—the abysmal state of its lavatories. Emblazoned with a smattering of graffiti that speaks either to a certain juvenile delinquency or an unrelenting rebellion, these facilities are notoriously neglected, scorning the sensibilities of those who might seek solace in clean and hygienic surroundings. The persistent olfactory offenses and grotesque stains that adorn these utilitarian chambers stand as a poignant testament to a gross dereliction of custodial duties, leaving one to ponder whether the institution’s attention to detail falters, much like its wrestling team.In summation, while this academic establishment may be lauded for its scholarly achievements and its commendable performances in various sports, it is painfully apparent that the wrestling arena is in a state of disquietude, and the sanitation conditions leave much to be desired. It is, perhaps, a microcosm of the institution itself—a paradox of promise ensconced within a framework that is, regrettably, marred by neglect and inefficacy. One naturally wonders what the future holds for such a venerable institution, beset by both commendable potential and disconcerting shortcomings.
Submitted by student on November 21, 2024

This school is amazing, they provide all students good working Chromebooks and the staff members and teachers are very nice. Middle School is my favorite year(s)
Submitted by parent on October 23, 2024

My kid went to SMS from Cherry Chase. Pros:* Music program is fantastic (5+ stars). Mr Ancheta is awesome and is a very devoted teacher. My kid absolutely loved being in band/orchestra and used to spend every free minute in the music room. This was their safe haven. Musical instruments and instruction are very expensive so this program alone in a public school is amazing. Unless you are in an expensive private school you wont get access to such programs. He plans music performance trips (Disneyland, Great America) for his students which the kids love. * Some other teachers my kid had were good.* Accelerated Math program offered.* Variety of sports offered. My kid did tennis, swimming, table tennis while at school. Kids do PE every day- 1-2 miles of running and they move indoors when the weather is not conducive.* After school clubs offered - though I do not know the quality* Japanese Exchange program for Sunnyvale residents* Special Ed teachers seemed very caring from what little I saw* School counselor was great when my kid needed social-emotional help one time.* Free lunches and breakfast provided by Sunnyvale school district. Quality of the food is ok.* Drop-offs were pretty quick and easy especially if you drop off a block or two away from school. School crossing guards help keep the crossing safe for everyone during school hours. * There are hundreds of kids in every grade so the diversity is great.Cons:* Safety - My kid felt pretty unsafe in the school. There were some knife brandishing and physical bullying incidents in 2023. Seemed like the school suspended the kids involved but it left my kid feeling unsafe and anxious.* Curriculum was not challenging enough for my kid - problem with California public schools. Math and ELA are way too simple even though they were in an advanced course and my kid did not feel motivated, engaged or challenged and felt they were wasting their time academically in school. You will have to supplement Math at the very least. * Quality of teaching in some cases was low. Homework was non-existant in 7th grade. Some 6th grade teachers gave a lot of homework. So, it really depends on the teachers you get.* Cleanliness - The toilets are not very clean. My kid waited till they came back from school to use the restroom.* PDA - There is a lot of PDA here and my kid witnessed inappropriate behavior between kids. Not sure if the teachers / principal were aware of this.
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2024

These teachers are so smart that I wonder why they picked teaching middle school- and it’s because they really like helping kids learn. Thank you SMS
Submitted by parent on October 27, 2023

I’m so happy our kids went to Sunnyvale middle school. My oldest is an honor student and thrived. Thank you teachers!!
Submitted by student on October 15, 2023

The teachers are nice, helpful, and kind.JBK
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2023

The students are not seen , only the gradesViolent environmentNon-educational solutions that support negative results lacking to build a positive environment
Submitted by parent on June 18, 2023

First and foremost, the quality of education at SMS is subpar. The curriculum lacks depth and fails to engage students in a meaningful way. Teachers often resort to outdated teaching methods, relying heavily on lectures and rote memorization rather than fostering critical thinking and active participation. The lack of innovation in the classroom is disheartening and does little to prepare students for the challenges of the modern world.Moreover, the faculty at SMS has been consistently underwhelming. Many teachers seem disinterested in their subjects and show little enthusiasm in their teaching. The lack of passion translates into uninspiring lessons and fails to inspire students to explore and pursue their interests. Additionally, the staff's inability to provide effective guidance and support is a significant letdown. Whether it's addressing academic concerns or offering career advice, the school's staff appears ill-equipped to meet the needs of the students.Furthermore, the facilities and resources at SMS are severely lacking. The classrooms are cramped, outdated, and often in disrepair. The library is poorly stocked, with limited resources available for research or study. The absence of well-equipped science laboratories and modern technology further hampers the learning experience. It is clear that the school has neglected investments in essential infrastructure and resources, which is deeply concerning for any educational institution.Finally, the overall atmosphere at SMS is disorganized and lacks a sense of community. There is a lack of extracurricular activities and opportunities for students to engage in creative pursuits or develop leadership skills. The school fails to foster a supportive environment that encourages teamwork and personal growth. This deficiency in creating a positive learning environment has a detrimental impact on the students' overall experience.
Submitted by parent on June 21, 2022

This school isn't good and they dont really care as much for there students. The teachers were mean and discouraging. However some ( a very few) were nice and helpful.
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2022

The teachers here are so dedicated and passionate! They know how to hire them great talent. I feel comfortable with the pace of instruction and parent communication.
Submitted by parent on March 31, 2022

My child started this school in grade 6 and currently he is in the 8th grade. My child was deemed gifted in an assessment and we tried a private school before choosing the public route and we couldn't be more happier.For us kindness, compassion and empathy mattered most and the admin staff plus the teacher plus the principals have been awesome in this respect. They respond to your queries, keep you posted, make adjustments to your specific needs etc. In short, very helpful and caring.My child got an opportunity to select the courses he wanted to, for example, he was put on an accelerated math path, and he is doing algebra and geometry both in grade 8. He was well supported and challenged in other subjects. We have had great history and ELA teachers. He was given reasonable amounts of homework which helped ground the concepts and provided extra practice. On an average it was 1-2 hours every day. They played a variety of sports in PE (such as TT, badminton, soccer, basketball, swimming, etc.).Overall we are very satisfied with both academics and the learning support provided by the school and its staff. We highly recommend this school to parents who may have second thoughts due to its ranking, but I would suggest talking to some current parents or teachers or even the staff of this school before you make decisions based on ranking alone.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2019

Greate Experiences with the dedicated teachers and support staff.
Submitted by student on February 10, 2017

Agh. Sixth and seventh were OK but 8th grade was absolutely horrible. You know what sucks, getting a PDA just for hugging a guy. HUGGING. And my friends and I were kicked out of where we would hang out by a teacher I believe, and she didn't even say why. She just told us to leave and gave us no reason whatsoever. The teachers are all right. But some of them are so oblivious to their students eating in class and being on their phones and the sarcastic remarks as well. And besides that, they have blocked several websites with just "site" as the reason. Deviantart has a mature filter so you can't see anything that has been marked mature unless you have an account. And seriously, wattpad? It is a community for writers, and it is barely social media related. And people barely use faceboo at this school, sweet jesus. And you even blocked some harmless music videos on youtube?? Seriously, I just wanted to listen to a song by doddleoddle while working in class and it was blocked. This school needs to get it's priorities straight, along with their knowledge of what websites actually do instead of saying that they are all "social networking" websites and blocking them.
Submitted by parent on August 21, 2016

My daughter had wonderful teachers in 6th grade here. They have an emphasis on good behavior/no bullying. She has found a great group to hang with and when we had illness and family emergency, the school really helped us get her back up to speed.
Submitted by parent on October 16, 2015

We are so happy and thankful for this school. The teachers are super engaged and the atmosphere is great!
Submitted by parent on June 14, 2015

It's a great school. My son had a hard time adjusting to 6th grade so they put in place a great program to follow up with homework. He has made a lot of progress thanks to all of the wonderful teachers. They also have a lot of after-school activities. I just wish the homework center was more than one hour as they do need more time to finish everything. Also starting at 9:30 am on Wednesdays makes it very difficult for full-time working parents.
Submitted by other on May 11, 2015

My first impression of this school is that it looked like a dump, and that opinion has not changed much throughout the year. It's as if nobody bothers to wash the classroom windows, as there are usually disgusting, oily stains on them. The staff does not promote a safe, healthy learning environment for its students, and I have witnessed students being bullied by the same teachers who teach them that bullying is bad. Talk about hypocrisy! In addition, the principal does little to assist in such bullying issues. The teachers abuse their power. It was discovered that several students used swear words on their private, personal social media accounts, and how the staff found evidence of this, I would like to know. Once this was discovered, one of the teachers compared this to a war, saying if the students wanted to start a war with the faculty, they were free to, but he then said "I'm pretty sure we'll win." It gave the impression of the staff as an oppressive government rather than actual teachers, in my opinion. I will be glad to graduate and leave this place.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2015

My daughter is about to graduate from grade eight and has been at SMS for two years now. It's a great environment and the kids are all pretty good to one another. The teachers are fair, but the English teacher Ms. Knight is incredible. My daughter was in Ms. Knights class two years in a row and during that time she developed a love for reading and writing like I had never seen before. The students do well here, I think, because they come from motivated families. But even that seems like it would be a good thing to look for in a school. I would recommend SMS.
Submitted by other on December 11, 2014

I love this school SO much. I have never been bullied at this school, because the majority of the children there are really nice. It's great for being social, as I have met so many amazing people here. Plus, the teachers are WONDERFUL, my favorite for 6th grade being Ms. Leonard and Mr. Martinez, as they were the best teachers any middle schooler could ask for! Not just that, they also have extra events, like electives (you get a choice in 6th grade between art, music, wood shop or computers), and they also have Renaissance, where if you get good grades, you get to go to a party! Overall, this school is amazing, and if you had a choice between all the other schools and this one, I would definitely pick Sunnyvale Middle School! :D