I am president at a Middle School PTSA. it's true we do not have a lot of parents breaking down our doors to volunteer- but the main reason was- they think they are not welcome. parents have been mis-informed that the kids don't want them there (adolescence and all- leave me down the street- don't kiss me in front of my friends etc) and unfortunately that has been misinterpreted that the SCHOOL does not want them there.
Nothing can be farther from the truth. Middle schools would love to have parent volunteers and the PTO or PTSA or whatever the parent group wants to have them too. In fact there are really lots of opportunities to volunteer at MS- there is chorus, band, teams, etc. So the parent groups have more "competetion". for the parents that want to help out.

The key I have found is to visit the elemntary schools that feed into the school and personally invite the 5th grade parents to be involved in the PTSA at our new school. I point out it is a new school, new teachers, new principal, new rules etc, and the best way to stay informed is to be a part of the group. I then do the same thing at our 6th grade orinetation night.
I have found the parents want some kind of contniuity as all the changes come with their child- and we have had very successful membership drives.

Is it as many as at the elementary school? No- but that is comparing apples and oranges. Be happy and welcoming of the parents you can recruit. Do not work them to death and they will come back- and pass the word to others.
That is how we doubled our membership this year (to over 500 members).

I'm still in elementary and won't be in the Middle School until next year. However, our district has liaison meetings with the PTO's of all our schools to share ideas and here what they have going on. From what I know, parents tend to slack off when kids are in middle school. The school relationship with the PTO is very different too. The schools handle most of the events and most require teacher sponsors or chapperones to represent the district. The PTO cannot just have an event 100% on their own. So it is different. They try and raise money to purchase some extras for the school, but they don't have class trips, assemblies, & fun days as when they were in elementary. So depending on how much to want to do in Middle School, it may be difficult to get parents. Start small with no expectations and build over time.

We are looking for information from middle schools who have successful parent-teacher groups. We are in a small town (10,000) and we have around 400 6-8 graders. Parents don't seem to be as interested at this level. Help!