Ballyshannon Middle School

7515 Shamrock Avenue

School District

Boone County
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 December 19, 2024

This school sucks so badly I can’t share my name because if I do, they will punish me by making me stay after school for 3 hours so I can’t even enjoy time with my family. EVERYTHING SUCKS HERE NO ONE IS NICE NOT EVEN THE TEACHERS. the gym teacher called a student ugly and a cafeteria worker literally pushed me purposely and laughed and I’m actually a nice kid who did nothing to her.
Submitted by student on December 19, 2024

This school is terrible in every way shape or form. Please do not go here.I would rather go to camp Earnst and lick the floor than go here
Submitted by other on May 23, 2024

This school is horrible avoiding this school at all cost. There is a big bullying problem. Teachers clearly play favorites. Teachers also get away with everything and can do whatever they want. The teachers there are mediocre and don’t do anything. The punishment system is horrible. If you get into trouble you get privileges taken away like not being able to participate in dances, basketball games and other school events.
Submitted by parent on May 01, 2023

I love this school very super much.
Submitted by parent on December 15, 2022

The "discipline" at this school is the equivalent to a totalitarian dictatorship. There is no accountability for what the teachers are allowed to give the students "minors" for. Students with ANY infractions aren't allowed to participate in dances and other school activities that are meant for the fully compliant children. The teaching is mediocre and teacher quality is hit or miss. The good teachers leave and the turnover is incredibly high. They are far more concerned about molding robotic, brainless stooges than education. The school is more progressive--and not in a good way--than many in the district. It discourages free thinking and attempts to squash out any little bit of individuality that doesn't fall under the right category. Avoid Ballyshannon at all costs if you can. It is a prison. Also notice there are no reviews prior to 2022. There used to be. They weren't good.
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2022

This is a school that focuses on relationships first. Although academics are important to the staff members, relationships is foundational for student success. Teachers don't attempt to befriend students, but they do prioritize making connections with kids so everyone feels a sense of belonging. This school is unique in that it strives to break down barriers and smash cliques and instead focus on the value of each person in the school and the contribution each has to make to the community.
Submitted by other on January 18, 2022

This school is a complete joke. The teachers act like they are in a college sorority or poor actors in the movie “Mean Girls.” They walk around with their Starbucks and ChickFila as if they own the world. The office staff is the worst, intimidating young children as if they were God. The Principle, Ericka Bowles sends out email after email sounding like she’s talking to her best friend or even worse, a teenager. Camp Ernst is so much better, as is Longbranch elementary. It seems as if teaching here gives you a pass to be stuck up and rude. Not a great place at all.
Submitted by parent on January 11, 2022

This school was only open for a year before Covid. They have done a great job adapting to constantly changing conditions while still providing good academics and extracurricular activities. The neighborhood is quiet and safe and school is new with an open and sunny floorplan. Transition to home learning in 2020 was a bit rough, but they have bounced back, ensuring all students have access to chromebooks for any home learning days and have resources accessible to assist with any problems. This is a predominantly conservative area, so this more modern, open-minded school may be a bit of a culture shift from typical Kentucky schools, but in a very good way. My child really enjoyed her teachers and extracurricular activity coaches and leaders and was very happy and successful here.