Ralph Cadwallader Middle School

Posted: July 25, 2026

Im a former student and honestly I saw things that no one should have to go through. Students, especially ones that are already in tough living situations are forced to struggle more at school. Staff does not care about what students are being put through and the only thing they are will to take care of is if youre using your phone. Bullied? no one cares. Struggling? No help. Threats? Oh well people are just like that. Thats not ok. Ive known too many people that have gotten into habits because they think that no one is there for them. And at this school no one is.

Posted: July 25, 2026

Posted: July 25, 2026

Posted: July 25, 2026

Posted: July 25, 2026

Posted: July 25, 2026

Posted: July 25, 2026

Posted: July 25, 2026

Posted: March 7, 2026

Posted: March 7, 2026

Posted: March 7, 2026

Posted: March 7, 2026

As a 7th grade student here at Cad, the school isn’t great in terms of accommodations. As of the 2025-2026 school year, they have banned plushies. I was one of those kids who had plushies at school. They acted as a safe haven for me to have during panic attack or anxiety episodes, or meltdowns I have in class. Teachers expect students who seem to have a disorder such as anxiety, ADD, ADHD, or anything related to mental disorders, to work just as hard as neurotypical students. Even if the student is in accelerated/double acc, they still should be asked if they need help. I would recommend this school for education, but if your child has a high functioning mental disorder, choose any other school. Even if it requires open enrollment with CCSD

Posted: March 7, 2026

Posted: March 7, 2026

Posted: March 7, 2026

Posted: March 7, 2026

Posted: March 4, 2026

I'm a former student of cadwallader, and I genuinely dislike a majority of the staff, from the teachers to administrators, the teachers pick and choose which students they entertain, and they fail to effectively correct behaviorally challenged students. The teachers are not remarkable and do not respect their students, they lack emotional intelligence which makes sense as they are surrounded by pre-teens all day, furthermore, this school is rough.

Posted: March 4, 2026

Posted: March 4, 2026

Posted: March 4, 2026

Posted: March 4, 2026

Posted: March 4, 2026

Posted: March 4, 2026

Posted: November 21, 2025

As a former student and as a high schooler whose siblings went to this same school, I am certain that this school is terrible. Not only have I been harassed and left with no support when I used to be targeted and harassed, but now my little brother in the 8th grade is experiencing racism right before his eyes. A white student can proudly yell the n-word, and the teachers turn a blind eye to it and the other students support it. The school is a mess and everyone who's heard of it and been there knows how shady the place and staff are.

Do not send your kids to this school, please.

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: November 21, 2025

Posted: September 18, 2025

This middle school is fantastic with advanced classes, elective options and supportive teachers.

Posted: September 18, 2025

Posted: September 18, 2025

Posted: September 18, 2025

Posted: September 18, 2025

Posted: September 18, 2025

Posted: September 18, 2025

Posted: September 18, 2025

Posted: January 2, 2024

This school is strange and I recommend going to a school that has 2 lunches at least, why did they make 3 lunches for us anyway.. it was easier and better when we had two lunches and a pack pause. The school also needs to have better ways to deal with stuff like skipping pack pause instead of creating another problem by adding 3 lunches which no one needs. Do better guys.

Posted: December 5, 2023

I'm currently in my 3rd year at Cadwallader (8th), and I have hated almost every second while being there. The principal has made too many drastic changes throughout the school year, and it makes it incredibly hard to have a good routine while trying to learn. For instance, (and a disclaimer), this school does not allow backpacks whatsoever, because of "behavior-relate problems" that weren't even apparent in the first place. So now, I am carrying 2 binders, a Chromebook, textbooks, and a water bottle all in my hands, that get pushed and knocked down constantly. And recently, they have just gotten rid of our only break, and have made our classes 80+ minutes (with a 4-class schedule).

The teachers and staff have no care in the world for the students here. Although that it isn't completely all their fault, it makes it very difficult to enjoy my education. All teachers there will agree that "this generation is horrible" or "how dumb we are". They tell us this every day.
The amount of student at this school is well, insane. I have 45 kids in my History class, with a room that is only supposed to sit 37. On some occasions, we have had to sit on the floor, a table, or other objects that are anything but a chair. We now have 3 lunches, and all are extremely overcrowded. They have to dismiss us by table like we're 3rd graders that can't control themselves.

Overall, my experience here has been horrible, and it's not going to get better. I do NOT recommend this school, because all of the kids here are miserable.

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: December 5, 2023

Posted: March 4, 2022

This school does not care about the kids. We had a pretty serious situation with some other girls and my daughter and I called, emailed numerous times and no one cared to call me back. I had to go down there and they still acted like they were clueless. The attendance lady is rude and we since switched schools because of the “administration”. They would rather gossip with each other than to actually focus on the tasks it takes to run a school properly. They have no problem giving you attitude so be prepared. I wouldn’t send my child here if this school was my only choice. I received an email from the math teacher letting me know his way of disciplining is giving attitude right back. Yep! That’s working so well for him. Overall, Cadwallader is a joke!

Posted: March 4, 2022

Posted: March 4, 2022

Posted: March 4, 2022

Posted: March 4, 2022

Posted: March 4, 2022

Posted: March 4, 2022

Posted: March 4, 2022

Posted: November 10, 2020

Posted: November 10, 2020

They can't be effective when there are too many kids in one class. This school is way overcrowded!

Posted: November 10, 2020

Posted: November 10, 2020

I never saw nor heard anything from principal. Administration is severely lacking and it is true disappointment.

Posted: November 10, 2020

y daughter started mid-year and did not even have a seat in her class. The school is dealing with a major overcrowding issue as it is the very last middle school this part of town. The teachers are good at what they do but when they have too many kids in their class, they can not teach effectively. The bus transportation is severely faulted. My daughter would wait an hour for the bus and half the time I had to drive her. After a few months of attending, this school became an absolute nightmare for my daughter. As a military child, she has attended many schools and she said that this was the worst one out of 3 other middle schools she attended. I am thankful that she only attended one year here as I feel that with overpopulation and with a lacking administration, this would have brought her education down.

Posted: September 20, 2019

I can not say I have had the best experience here.

Posted: September 20, 2019

I haven't seen much homework at home. I like that they do not want to overwhelm your child with homework but I would also like to see what they are working on. If your child is struggling in a class, you honestly do not know how to help because there is nothing in front of you that you can help them understand.

Posted: September 20, 2019

Posted: September 20, 2019

If the principal is the leader... that tells me all I need to know.

Posted: September 20, 2019

I can't speak of things I have no idea about.

Posted: September 20, 2019

I can't speak of things I have no idea about.

Posted: August 22, 2019

My daughter is starting her 3rd year at Cad and has done very well. She has been placed in several advanced classes to keep her engaged. The school offers a lot of support from teachers and staff.

Posted: August 22, 2019

Most classes except Advanced Math don't give very much homework.

Posted: August 22, 2019

We are starting our 3rd year at Cad and my daughter has had amazing, fun, engaging teachers that have helped her grow.

Posted: August 22, 2019

The administration, teachers and staff are very engaged with the students and encourage good behavior and kindness.

Posted: August 22, 2019

We had a small issue that I wanted addressed and the next day I sat down with both assistant principals and explained the situation and felt that I was heard and the issue would be dealt with.

Posted: May 15, 2019

A great deal of homework was assigned and fairly graded. An after school HW Club was available to those who wanted additional help in Math.

Posted: May 15, 2019

My son had challenging work that was on par with the Great School rated 8 school from which we transferred. Advanced classes required expected levels of studying and homework and prepared my child for the next year's subject.

Posted: May 15, 2019

Posted: May 15, 2019

Posted: May 15, 2019

Posted: May 15, 2019

We had a bullying incident that was reportedto the dean. The school responded immediately, met with all kids involved, kept me informed of the conversations, as well as school and district policies. I was satisfied with the manner in which the situation was handled. No further incidents occurred after the resolution of the complaint.

Posted: May 15, 2019

We have had a good experience with this school.

Posted: April 2, 2019

Teachers within this school are either overwhelmed with sheer numbers or they simply care about the next paycheck and how to raise it. In many cases such as the PE teachers, the teachers will be enrolled or actively doing something in order to further their career or financial standing.

Posted: April 2, 2019

In terms of character, I have become a much colder individual while attending this school. When I found ways to overcome obstacles the councilors and faculty shot me down simply because it was too much work for them. They do not care if this will hurt you in the future.

Posted: April 2, 2019

Posted: April 2, 2019

The teachers and staff take part and watch as bullying is taking place.

Posted: April 2, 2019

This school almost broke me, had I not had the support of my family I am not sure what I would have done. Please take your child elsewhere, somewhere where they care about your child surviving and becoming a capable citizen.

Posted: April 2, 2019

You are lucky if you have a teacher that actually cares about the kids within their class, however, you are much more likely to be exploited by the teacher in order to boost class grade average in order to benefit the teacher themselves.

Posted: August 13, 2018

Cell tower installed May 2018 at driveway enterance and administration denies any knowledge and didn't know was there. If they can't see a 30 foot tower at the enterance then they should not be in charge of children.

Posted: August 13, 2018

Teachers don't waste their personal time grading or giving homework. If not done in class - no homework.

Posted: August 13, 2018

They don't waste time getting to the root of problem - are oblivious to activities under their nose.

Posted: August 13, 2018

Nope. You can argue till blue in the face - your wrong from the get go.

Posted: August 13, 2018

Administration is useless. Better luck at a vending machine.

Posted: August 13, 2018

The rights of disabled child dismiss your child's safety. No exceptions. Don't bother bringing it to staff attention - they are untouchable.

Posted: August 13, 2018

Any one involved in bullying, even the victim, is included in the bully NRS codes and put on file.

Posted: March 16, 2018

Posted: March 16, 2018

Posted: March 16, 2018

Posted: March 16, 2018

Posted: March 16, 2018

Posted: March 16, 2018

Posted: March 16, 2018

This particular school is a joke. The administration is among the worst of the worst. This group of unprofessional, supposedly educated adults will treat you as their enemy. They don’t follow IEP’s and they aren’t in compliance with any kind of district reports. I had no other option than to withdraw my 7th grader and pay for him to attend a private school. They have even treated the private school poorly with not submitting the appropriate paperwork for a transfer. Please reconsider another school before you deal with the hell I and my child have been through.

Posted: February 4, 2018

Posted: February 4, 2018

Posted: February 4, 2018

Posted: February 4, 2018

Posted: February 4, 2018

Posted: February 4, 2018

Posted: February 4, 2018

My son’s experience with Cadwallader Middle School was, to put it mildly, not good at all. The school is kind of like a prison, really…so many arcane rules designed to make life difficult.

The school has a mandatory uniforms policy (polos and khakis in “approved” colors, paid for by parents), championed by the principal. Every 3 years, a vote is taken, supposedly by the parents of the students. The vote is rigged in favor of the policy, due to the school’s administration heavily marketing its “benefits” to key parents before the vote. Most parents are not even aware of the vote. Some parents vote for it, even though their kids are graduating and will no longer be affected by it.

The school/district has a “one way hallway” policy for middle schools. The kids get only 3 minutes between periods to get to their next class. The one-way-hallway policy prevents kids from exiting a pod they just entered without going around the entire pod. So, if a child has a class near the entrance of a pod, but he has to get a book from his locker farther down, he would need to go completely circumnavigate the pod and re-enter the pod at the entrance. It’s almost an impossible feat if the starting class and destination class are in different pods.

The administration runs occasional “lock out” drills. Any student who cannot make it to class in 3 minutes gets written up. If this happens twice, the child will get detention. How can kids gain a measure of maturity, if they are treated like inmates in a prison?

If your child runs into a personality conflict with a teacher, don’t EVER think you can switch him out. The guidance counselor will convene a meeting and he and your child's teachers will team up against your child. Staff will assume no responsibility. The principal FORBIDS switching teachers...NO EXCEPTIONS...even if the kid is a NERVOUS WRECK and, as a result, is DOING POORLY. I fool you not.

We transferred our son to an online school. Best decision ever. Now, he doesn’t have to deal with arcane rules and uncaring teachers and administrators. His grades are amazing and he's much happier.

Posted: June 16, 2015

Im a student in 8th grade now and I just don't see why we need uniforms. Even if we all look the same, bullying still happens. I see it happen everyday. And plus people want to express their self with the art they wear. by letting people wear what they want to wear,people can create bonds with others and create friends quicker than when wearing uniforms. Also if you want people to look the same its never going to happen. No matter what you make us wear, people are always going to be different from others. It doesn't really matter if we all wear the Same thing, people are still gonna judge and bully the people that are different from them. I see it everyday to.

Posted: April 24, 2015

I just started sixth grade this year right after winter break. This school seems to always be very clean and tidy. In my opinion I think the uniforms will help kids to not make fun of other kids and less kids will get dress coded. Moving on, the teachers are very well educated and most of the kids understand. The choir program is amazing and the teacher Mrs. Ricci is super nice! I am currently in choir and it is really fun. Also if your a fifth grader some of the teachers you will want are Mr. Winder and Mrs. Thurmond those two teachers are very clean, tidy, well educated, and organized. I look forward to spending all three years at this school. Have a nice day.

Posted: February 14, 2015

The school is void of Artwork, The rules are archaic and many lack any reasonable explanation of why they exist. Teachers ate as un-creative as the general physical environment of the school suggests. Communication with between the teachers and the parent's of students is non-existent. Las Vegas is generally a transient community where people move to find employment in the hospitality industry and the school takes advantage of this demographic by providing minimal activities for the students, which does not center around the three R's creating an environment that is more representative of a prison than a place that fosters creativity and learning. It is overcrowded and students are quite easily lost in it's hallways. Schools are supposed to be preparing our youth to be good citizens as well as competitive in the global economy. I do not feel that the school has the ability to do either. The Teachers are burned out, Administrative leaders seem to be as well. This does however seem to be a systemic problem filtering throughout many schools in the Clarke County area. The City of Las Vegas while having the financial resources to improve these schools they choose not to.

Posted: October 17, 2014

I just started attending Cadwallader this year as an 8th grader, and I already love it here. Yes, there are some faults (which are completely understandable, they just irk me a bit) including not being able to wear sweaters in class, even if its cold, and the entire "uniform" thing. I understand that without it, there would be unnecessary bullying, although wherever you go, there's going to be bullying. Some of the factors of the uniform are really unnecessary as well, like how the jeans can't even be slightly faded. Moving on from the attire, the staff at Cadwallader is top notch. For you soon to be 8th graders, know that you're lucky if you get Mr.Mesenburg and/or Mr.Farmintino as teachers, because they're wonderful, funny, caring teachers. I know I'm receiving excellent education, and the work they give out isn't mind-bogglingly difficult, its challenging, which is perfect. There are advanced classes as well. The teachers are very involved and care about their students' education. I'm in choir, and even Ms.Ricci, the choir instructor is doing her job right. So, on a final note, if you're thinking about joining CMS, do it asap, because its one of the best schools you'll go to.

Posted: July 27, 2014

My daughters are new to this school i heard it is a very good school i was wondering when is open house!!??

Posted: June 21, 2014

Come on people! This school, as any other, is what you make it. The negative comments posted here are attributable to parents and students that could not get their way or were not prepared to deal with life's challenges. It takes a village to raise a child and some if the parents refuse to take responsibility for their portion of raising THEIR child. Step up parents and students. The staff and administration care about your kids. Ms. Martinez is wonderful as is the rest of the administration. So many of the teachers are willing to stay and help students, we've not had any concerns with getting help. Now the CCSD presents many road blocks and the NV department of education is ridiculous. Yet with all those potential road blocks, the staff does a great job. The Cadwallader Band is a shining example of what is right with Cadwallader. All those kids in the band do great things.

Posted: April 6, 2014

My son has attended Cadwallader for the past 3 years (he's finishing up his 8th grade year now). Education is what you make of it, and I feel that my son has succeeded at this school because of the excellent teachers he's had over the years. Everyone in the office is also extremely helpful from the student aides you see at the front desk, to the registrar (who is an absolute pleasure to talk to). My son has received a great education here, and has been accepted to Advanced Technology Academy (computer science) for the 2014-15 school year and I feel it's due impart to his experience here at Cadwallader.

Posted: October 1, 2013

Cadwallader Middle School's social promotions for students who don't pass sells our children short. No help or communication with parents regarding missed assignments, poor test scores doesn't help parents to be engaged easily with their children. The online grade / assignemt sight is often not updated correctly and is clunky to use. The lack of parents feeling welcome is unacceptable. I understand the need for security and safety but when it makes you not feel welcome as a parent then you can't build a community around the school. I am moving out of this school dristict to a much better one before it is too late.

Posted: June 8, 2013

Cadwallader is the best, there's no other school as awesome as Cad. I was went to Cad for all three years of my middle school year. the teachers are awesome, even the coach of the boys basketball team was my english teacher for eighth grade. i will miss him dearly.

Posted: May 13, 2013

This school is an example of what is wrong with the Clark County school district. My son has attended this school for his 6th grade year and out of 6 of his teachers I can say only ONE of those teachers made any real effort to push him and encourage success. When he was struggling one class in particular, he went to his teacher to ask what he could do to improve, and her response was so negative. Teachers here seem to be bothered by questions asked with regards to class topics or classwork, they do not spend any extra time with the students, and a parent teacher conference consists of ALL teachers not just the one teacher that any issues need to be addressed with. When a district survey is given the teachers will hover over the students shoulders and if any negative comments are written will advise the students to remove. This is a complete disgrace, why ask a student for their opinion if a teacher is going to censor their opinion? Furthermore, why are the students not confidential and linked to their school id's? Clark County School District will continue to be a horrible district and placed in last place nationally if they continue on this path.

Posted: May 12, 2013

My son attends this school and he HATES it!! We just recently moved here from California and my so has always been a good student. He was on the honor roll every year. Once he started attending this school his grates have gone down hill. I have reached out to several of the teachers for support and I was told that they have no extra time to help my son. They cant come in early, stay late or give out any extra credit. I would not recommend this school to ANYONE!! I must say that I now see why CCSD ranks near the bottom in the U.S.

Posted: December 26, 2012

I, a student at Cadwallader, believe that this is not the best school. Most of the teachers/staff are rude and don't do anything to help you, you get in trouble for very minuscule things (like leaving even a little piece of trash at the lunch tables on accident gets you a dean's detention), and the dress code is terrible. I've been dress coded 2 times for wearing my jacket in between classes, which they TOLD us you're allowed to do, and you're not even allowed to wear scarfs. I don't think they realize how cold it is outside. I could go on, but I will end my rant there. Thank you.