Lively Middle School

I went here for 3 years, and it was amazing. On top of having a wide range of academic programs (I was on the Quiz Bowl team), it's just a really fun place. I'm glad I didn't go somewhere like Kealing where there's to much homework to actually learn (You're brain needs time to relax if you want it to function properly). At Fulmore I was able to take Algebra 2 as an eighth grader, which isn't always available at middle schools, and I felt like I learned a lot in all my classes. But I still had time for my friends and family! Thank you Fulmore!

So I went to this school for all 3 years and never missed a day. I know everyone's experience is different, so let me tell you mine. At first it was a bit frightening during the 6th grade because I didn't know anybody, but I eventually found a great group and it was nice. I've never really experienced bullying, but I've had my share of bad experiences. Having said that, I think everyone goes through something like that during middle school, regardless of where you go to school. I have met some incredible teachers who have challenged the way I think and helped me develop my work ethic. Fulmore gave me a great opportunity to learn and grow. As cheesy as that sounds.

I loved Fulmore and I created a lot of really amazing memories there. There's a wide variety of people so you're bound to make frinds. I know I did! The athletics program was amazing and I recommend getting involved with some type of club. The majority of the trachers are well humored and fun. I love Fulmore and I'd do anything to go back for one more year.

I had an amazing year at Fulmore Middle School, the teachers are excellent& made learning very fun, my classmates were nice and the magnet director, Ms. Northcut is very welcoming. Shame on you sir, for having said that this school should be flattened and replaced with a strip mall.

From a 6th Grade Magnet Parent:

First off, to all the parents out there who are looking at reviews and feeling skeptical or nervous about sending your kid to Fulmore: take a really deep breath and relax, there are amazing things happening here.

Short version of why we are here: super smart kid with maturity issues that didn't get into Kealing because he a) irritated his teachers and they gave him crappy recc's and b) while scoring highest percentiles on STARR had some low B's and even a C because Life and Young. Who cares?

Kealing isn't everything and frankly we are glad he didn't get in. He will always have the science and tech focus, he lives for it but what he gets at Fulmore is the Humanities and THAT is the Liberal Arts education that will leave him far more well rounded and less neurotic than the unreasonable pressure Kealing offers. Best outcome ever.

Let's look at the demographics:

Fulmore l (Blk) 8.7% (Wht) 15.6% (Hisp)73.4% (NA)0.2% (Asian)2.1%

Austin ISD 11.3% 25.8% 58.9% 0.3% 3.7%

State 14% 33.3% 48.6% 0.4% 3.7%

75.5% are economically disadvantaged and 59.9% at At Risk.

Fulmore serves a local population of poor, disadvantaged and mostly Latino kids in a city that has done a poor job of servicing that population in a State that does a far worse job than that. Those scary brown kids that white West and Southwest Austin parents are imagining will eat their precious babies alive are kids who come from a deck stacked against them. Are there some tough kids at Fulmore? You bet. Are they the majority of kids? Not even by a long shot. Are there some kids who get bullied? Yes. Is it worse than the bullying that happens at Small or at Murchison? Not so sure about that based on known experience and first hand experience. Bullying happen at every school, it's just when potential Magnet parents read the reviews all of a sudden THEY are the "Other". We felt that way, too.

Yet, our experience has been so much the opposite of those fears. The Magnet director Ms. Leigh Northcutt-Benson is so incredibly on top of everything, we haven't seen such dedication and personalized commitment from an administrator in a long time. Academically our child's teachers (these are 6th AP classes) are without exception kind professionals who set high expectations yet are realistic and compassionate. Kids are learning a lot and being seriously challenged. Most importantly, they are being challenged to THINK. Classic Liberal Arts ed.

It's true the Magnet kids are sort of int heir own world, the track is not the same as the regular kids, but they do mix especially in PE, lunch, extracurriculars, fine arts, etc. That's a good thing, especially for kids who might be coming from a world that is homogenous. Consider it part of the Liberal Arts curriculum, social reality for the 21st century America.

Fulmore apparently used to have some issues that were legitimately dysfunctional, or so I have heard and so I read in older reviews. It hasn't been that way for several years, so in my estimation anything older than 2012 is not necessarily applicable now.

And again, this is a Magnet experience, 6th grade. I can't speak for parents who aren't in the Magnet program and clearly your milage may vary.

I just know that when we were looking at MS and especially after Kealing wasn't an option we were very nervous reading online reviews and hearing word of mouth (which were reflective of online reviews). I wish there had been one review that offered this advice. It would have saved us a lot of worry until we came to realize it was all unfounded.

We wouldn't want him to be anywhere else.

I love Fulmore Middle School!!! Even though there was a lot of fights and problems. The school is not bad just the people that go there are. I am not saying that every person that goes there is bad, just some.

We just wrapped up 3 years at Fulmore. I can't say enough nice things about Ms. Northcutt, the magnet director, and the other teachers he had. Because of his experience at Fulmore he is more confident and prepared for LASA.

Very Excellent school.. Teachers are always there for you and care for all the students. The Teachers is there for you if you having a ceiling grade there to help you improve in your work.

I can't really describe how great this school is without showing you what a day is like for me.

5:00 AM: Wake up

5:30 AM: Wake up again

6:00 AM: Put on my fresh timbs

6:30 AM: Walk to the bus stop

7:50 AM: Arrive at le Fulmore

8:07 AM: Start 1st period

10:48 AM: After lunch, hella tired

3:34 PM: School's over, lovin' the freedom (and tha ladies)

4:30 PM: Get home, reflect on my day, realize how much I hate my life

9:00 PM: Cry myself to sleep

Here's what a day is like for the average Fulmore student:

8:07: start 1st period

11:11 AM: punch a 6th grader, get BMC

12:30 PM: buy drugs from a kid in BMC

1:03 PM: do drugs

1:09 PM: skip the rest of the day

Repeat

This school changed my life #legit. Seriously dough, I learned so much about the world and gained a insight into the perspectives of others in a way I couldn't anywhere else. I created friendships that shaped me in a way my highschool ones could not. This is a school of close nit weird people and it's amazing

Great school! I went to kealing and it was absolutely terrible. Fulmore's magnet program is terrific and is probably the best in the world! The band is great also!

It is an amazing school, the best, do not listen to Billy Joe McCain he did not go here. He does not understand its majesty. He was probably payed off by a rival school or district.

I go to fulmore middle school and it is one of the best I love all my friends and the teachers are so nice and if your thinking about it apply for the magnet program you'll love it

Love love love this school. So much diversity and a very accepting environment. Pick this school. The education level is great. Your kids will thank you.

I go to fulmore this is my first year as a 6th grader it is amazing all schools have bad stuff that can not be controlled by staff but there are amazing people there that set great examples and have bright future thanks to fulmor...GO FALCONS!!!!!

Fulmore MAGNET is an amazing school yes it is a school yes they're maybe one or two actual fights at the school mostly from non-magnet kids I suggest you send your kid to the magnet program if you don't thats ok they're are several students who are basically magnet but aren't in the program and it's middle school you're not going to find a perfect middle school with no sex or drugs there are far more worse than regular Fulmore and the magnet kids rub off on the non magnet and some of the non magnet become friends with magnet students and create friendships but it's middle school you can't guarantee no drama and a lot of the bad reviews are messed up kids who wanna make Fulmore look bad and the teachers are AMAZING they will only be mean if the class is mean which is why I recommend the magnet program because there is respect going both ways

I use to go here 6th-8th and loved it. I had exceptional teachers and it overall was a good school minus the ghetto bs.

I will be absolutely destroying it in the Fulmore Middle School gym today. I might break a backboard I'll be throwing it down so hard. Get your pens and notebooks ready kids!

My kid loves it. He has met a diverse group of kids and has been challenged and appreciated by his teachers.

It has no gangs freindly staff great c.i. s=communities in school staff and great attitude