Madison Middle School

4444 West Bay Vista Avenue

School District

Hillsborough
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
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 student on May 12, 2024

It is nice cool teachers and good learning envorment
Submitted by other on November 30, 2023

I went to Madison from 2019-2022. The level of emotional incompetence from the students, teachers, and admin at this school is on another level. South Tampa elitism outshines anything good I could say about this school and if you have a child who is talented/smart/filled with potential please do not send them here. The STEM program is honestly weakly hidden class segregation and the insensitivity of the kids in STEM should be studied.. What should also be studied is the way the administration and teachers encourage STEM students to put themselves on a pedestal and consistently express their superiority over the “traditional” students- often referred to by teachers/admin as “genpop”, “troubled”, etc. despite being capable children that have been given up on and have zero support system. Despite South Of Gandy hardly being the land of prosperity, parents and consequently children who go to Madison truly believe they were sent by God to improve the world with their presence. If your child is someone with emotional depth they will feel out of place, ostracized, and dissociated from their peers who clearly don’t have parents that actually speak to them and encourage them to have hobbies/interests beyond vaping, gossiping, and bullying those deemed weird. Talking to the vast majority of students there is the equivalent of talking to a badly trained AI. The arts education is lacking severely and extremely underfunded and undervalued, the teachers are clearly stressed, social emotional learning is basically mocked, and the guidance counselors top it all off as a place where motivated and talented minds go to die. Send your gifted child to a school where they will succeed and prosper, NOT Madison.
Submitted by parent on April 19, 2023

Mr Parker is the worse example for authority. He has no empathy for students and acts like he has a point to prove in order to deem himself appropriate for his position.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2022

This school is not the place for any students all of the students are bad Behaved and the teachers are not even teaching me kide I DID NOT RECOMMEND THIS SCHOOL
Submitted by parent on March 01, 2018

The STEM Academy at Madison is top notch. I've been to a few events where different schools show what they do. Madison, like ALL middle schools, has it's problems. However, the STEM Academy is an amazing program. My kids were challenged from start to finish, coming out with high school credit courses and a drive for success. The teachers truly care about the students and push them to be the best they can.
Submitted by parent on February 13, 2016

The school is reactive not proactive. The administration is terrible with only a few (literally) good teachers. The students are disrespectful. Terrible school with a terrible principal.
Submitted by other on December 19, 2014

6th grader at Madison. I laughed at some of these reviews because, now is 2014-2015 and these kids are really rude and won't listen to teachers. Just cause work is too hard, boring, I choose to work cause I care for my future, If these kids don't care about what they do and think that they're all that, but let them be that way, if the parents don't do anything about it, guess what, Broke. Let's say this for example:Parents low on money and the child they had is 18+ but needs money that is unemployed for dropping out of highschool. The family would be broke now. Parents, teach your kids, I've been the same and now I'm in all advanced classes. :) By me getting to college will be my goal. My only word to the "Gangsters" of this school, have fun working at mcdonalds or any job that doesn't gives you good money in the future. Kid's your choice. Parent's/Guardians who care for you and is strict is the best you can ever ask for, they just want you to get somewhere in life.
Submitted by parent on May 09, 2014

my son attended this school for his 6th grade year he went from a honor roll student in honors classes to a C and D student. His absence from one class was not excused when he was signed out early because he has to have allergy shots twice a week so he was failed in that class because the teacher wouldn't give him the make up work. I don't really think he's learning anything in this school because he's bored and he gets distracted when he's not challenged. The way they let some of those kids dress i.e. 8th graders because they don't have to wear uniforms is ridiculous. They also allow kids to steal. My son cell phone was stolen in the care of a teacher having it and they gave me a hard time about paying me back for it. Luckily my son will be attending Stewart next school year since he wants to go to college for engineering. I'm hoping his grades come back up with the change. I wouldn't recommend this school for any child that is above average in grades let alone a nice, respectful kid.
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2013

I have had 2 children attend Madsion, with very positive outcomes! So many people talk very negative about it, but it is changing! There are some VERY awesome, dedicated teachers that only want the best for the kids. Are there problems...yes, but there are issues at ALL middle schools, but you no one talks about the 'good' schools. If we could just get more of the parents and community involved, we could prove that we are a GREAT school!
Submitted by parent on August 31, 2013

This is a little diamond in the rough of a school. The teacher are wonderful and the classrooms are filled with great kids. This is a school filled with lots of diverese kids which is what the world made of. So happy we gave the school a chance we have not been disappointed!
Submitted by parent on October 10, 2012

I have never been impressed w/Madison Middle School. I wish that I'd complained to the School Board about the ineffective methods used by the "powers that be" there b4 it was too late for my son. If more time was spent teaching the kids there than the time wasted on dealing w/petty issues, our kids might learn something.
Submitted by teacher on October 10, 2012

I teach a special program at a host of schools in the Tampa Bay area, and have to say Madison has been my most disappointing experience of schools so far. The teachers seem dedicated, but the students at this school are just plain disgraceful. There was your mixture of apparently good kids and bad kids, but the proportions in this school lean towards a bunch of little punks. In my class of 21 kids, 5 of them were in the 8th grade now for the 2nd time. That is horrible percentages. I had 3 students who simply refused to participate, and sat there with their heads down sleeping, even though myself and the teacher tried to engage them and she threatened them with being sent to office. I was not sure if I was in a middle school or "in the hood" by he way these kids were allowed to speak, and act both boys and girls. It was a bunch of little gangsters running around. This type of behavior should be discouraged, yet in this school it seems the culture. My son is in elementary school now, and there would be no way I would send him to this school, good teachers or not, I would not want him with these type of kids and in an environment where this culture was allowed.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2012

Hello! My daughter is in the 7th grade at Madison. She is in the AVID program, which I highly reccomend. Mrs. Chowning is one heck of a motivator and really loves her kids. Mr Pettyjohn is incredible he really connects with the students and goes above and beyond. I know quite a few kids in the STEM program and they are really challenged to excel. We as residents in South Tampa owe it to our kids to fill our local schools, this will stop the bussing. I have had zero incidents with bullying. There is a HOST aftercare program. I am very glad I chose Madison.
Submitted by other on September 09, 2012

Um the students r wild and crazy at least 1 or two fights a day I was a student last year the school sports teams terrible I was in all boy sports I think they need to buckle down and control there students better my mom didn't like the school so we moved advise you parents to send you're students somewhere else immediately about 45% of the students are good are great the teachers are extraordinary they really care but again its a terrible learning environment.My favorite teacher is Mrs.Haskins she's an advanced honors teacher of the 6 th grade language arts. I'm not gonna put my name. Sincerely shadow walker
Submitted by parent on November 17, 2011

Madison has improved. They have high school credit classes, an increasing number of student are in these classes. We (me, my son and daughter) feel it is moving in the right direction.
Submitted by other on October 22, 2011

@the person who posted on August 4, 2011 I know Madison may be an ok middle school, but I just have to say Coleman is just as good, if not better so stop walking around saying it was the best decision of your "parent life" to send your kid to madison. All I'm trying to say is leave the words John A. Coleman Middle School OUT of your review. K? If you don't have anything nice to say, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.
Submitted by parent on August 04, 2011

I recently transferred my child from a local middle school down the road (Coleman) to Madison and I thank god everyday that I made this choice. The staff at Madison have a true passion for their jobs. They bend over backwards for each and every student. Also, my son is not in the STEM program. There is this rumor going around that the only good place at Madison is in STEM. Well that is not true. My son is receiving and excellent education from highly qualified teachers in an atmosphere which allows my son to be successful. Please do not elect to send you son/.daughter to attend another school, send them to Madison if you care about their future.