Thomas W. Pyle Middle School

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thomas W. Pyle Middle School
Together, Building on Excellence

School type	Public Middle School
Established	1962
District	Montgomery County
Grades	6 to 8
Principal	Michael Zarchin
Students	1,139 (2005-2006)
Colors	Black and Red
Mascot	Panther
Location	6311 Wilson Ln. Bethesda, Maryland 20817
Information	301-320-6540
Website	Link

Thomas W. Pyle Middle School is a school in Bethesda, Maryland. Named after poet Thomas W. Pyle, it is the largest populated middle school in Montgomery County, Maryland consisting of approx. 1,309 students. It feeds into Walt Whitman High School. Pyle Middle School is a National Blue Ribbon School. The current standing principal is Michael Zarchin. Along with being a great school academically, Thomas W. Pyle School is recognized for its extensive After School Activity program. The elementary schools that feed into Thomas W. Pyle Middle School are Bradley Hills Elementary, Burning Tree Elementary, Wood Acres Elementary, Carderock Springs Elementary, and Bannockburn Elementary. It is also sometimes noted as Westlands rival school.

[edit] Music program

Pyle's instrumental music program has been under long time direction of Frankie Ball, who retired on February 2, 2007. In addition to concert bands for each grade, Pyle has a string orchestra and jazz ensemble. Mr. Ball will continue to direct Pyle's jazz ensemble. Pyle's chorus is directed by Dianne Hope.

[edit] Trivia

Pyle's mascot is the Panther
Pyle Middle School's former principal, Dr. Alan Goodwin, is now the principal of Walt Whitman High School, the high school that Pyle feeds into.
While it no longer exists, Pyle used to have a School Song. (Note that the song refers to the original school colors, orange and white, not the black and red of today.
Pyle is the largest middle school in Montgomery County Public Schools.
Approx. 11% of Pyle's students come from countries other than the United States