Columbia Middle School

The worst school I have ever taught for. Rampant defiance by many of the low-income students that attend. No administration support for the teachers that are trapped in a room full of hoodlums and thugs. If your child gets placed at the school, pull them out as fast as you can.
—Submitted by a teacher

HORRIBLE SCHOOL: My daughter got into a fight with another student at Columbia and the assistant principal knew the other child intended to do harm to my daughter. She failed to notify once she found out and my daughter had to get three stitches on her face, and she had a minor head injury. The day I went to pick my daughter up from school they didnt know where she was, by the time i found her I was so upset with the school because of their incompetence. When I asked the assistant principal why didnt she call me and let me know what was going on with my child she could'nt even answer the question. We send our child to school to learn and we thought she would be safe but this is not the case at Columbia. I'm not impressed with this school in no way they need new staff there that really care for all children regardless of race.
—Submitted by a parent

columbia magnet school is a very good school my daughter has been attending there an the staff handles many problem that i have had with my child an they do respond quickly to your issues, sandy an aimee are wonderful when i come in an they alway's greet me,now if u want to hang around the rough kids that don't want better for themselfs when then change your surrounding's an stop complaing about the school.
—Submitted by a parent

THIS SCHOOL IS HORRIBLE! MY NEPHEW WENT TO THAT SCHOOL AND THEY REFUSED TO RELEASE HIM BECAUSE THEY WANTED MORE MONEY! HE LATER WAS ATTACKED BY ANOTHER KID THERE AND WHEN MY NEPHEWS MOTHER WENT TO COMPLAIN SHE EAS TOLD TO WAIT. AFTER BEING THERE FOR A LONG TIME SHE ASKED WHEN THEY WOULD SEE HER AND THE PRINCIPAL LAUGHED AND SAID SHE FORGOT ALL ABOUT THEM! MY SISTER FOUND OUT THAT FIGHTING.IS NOT AN AUTOMATIC EXPULSION AND THAT A CHILD HAS UP TO 5 SUSPENSIONS BEFORE THEY GET EXPELLED! FURTHERMORE SHE RECEIVED NO APOLOGIES AND EAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT BUT DOUBTED THEY WOULD FIND ANYTHING OUT!!!! IF YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN SAFE KEEP THEM AWAY FROM THIS SCHOOL
—Submitted by a parent

I attended Columbia for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade when the school first started out. In my opinion, back then, the school was great in so many different ways! The teachers helped me to succeed and always had a positive and motivating spirit. They would change the principal every year though, which was weird. As for the academic programs, they were great and I experienced a lot that others haven't. This was back when they had GAVRT and NASA exploration. I don't know if they still have those programs but I hope they do because they were very beneficial. I know Columbia was the best school I have attended until i got to high school because Silverado is now the best in my opinion. Trust me I've attended up to 10 schools so I know what I'm saying when i say it is a very great school.

I can say that at first I was afraid for my child to attend Columbia just by the things that I heard and seen. However, she is now in the 8th grade and she loves it. I love the fact that the teachers are great and they care.
—Submitted by a parent

I was very excited to get my first teaching job at Columbia. They played up the school's opening so much that you couldn't help but be dissapointed. With the changes in administration, the turn over of staff and the loss of programs, I can't help but feel this school was set up to fail. My last year at Columbia was frustrating. I could not get any support. I am happy to be out of the district (employment wise) and my own son who will enter 7th grade next year will never set foot in that school.
—Submitted by a teacher

First of all, I would like people to understand that this is an unfair site. People only come on to bash individual schools or to vent not to praise them. I do understand the frustration of CMS but please rest assured that Adelanto School District heard their public and fired the principal in question. There is a new sheriff in town and she is awesome. Great things are happening there such as Club Columbia which is an afterschool program so cool that many of our students have joined and love which keeps them from joining other causes such as gangs and what not. It is also a new school, give it some time to grow because the teachers are overworked and underpaid. Please remember that when reading reviews on all schools but especially CMS!
—Submitted by a parent

I am now attending Columbia [and I feel] it is a very unorganized school. The teachers and administrators do not comunicate enough with each other or with the parents.
—Submitted by a student

Feel the principal is the main problem with the school with his flippant attitude that he is always right. Feel they made a big mistake in losing Mr Early as a music teacher. Counselor attitude as bad as principal.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent I do not reccomend this school, because is not save, there is too much violence and the kids are not save as they supposed to be in school campuses, officers are not to trust they do not do anything to protect your child.
—Submitted by a parent

Ive attended this school ever since it opened. This school didnt prepare me enough. I recommend avoiding going to Columbia.
—Submitted by a former student

The principal of this school does not care about the community or the students. Every year the staff leaves and the original vision of the school no longer exists. I am glad my student moved on to high school. My other children will go elsewhere.
—Submitted by a parent

Last year when this school first opened, it showed so much promise. A NASA school with AVID,GAVRT, University Prep, and the promise of so much more. Well, in its 2nd year the programs are gone or are on the process of being eliminated. My son is going backwards in his academics. He is no longer challenged. It is now just another Adelanto school with nothing to differentiate itself.
—Submitted by Memory Meier, a parent

Unitl this school has a strong principal who supports the NASA and AVID vision, this school will continue to fail. I pulled my child because of the safety concerns. On a positive note, this school does have great teachers, support staff and assistant principals.I appreciate the assistant principals for going out of their way to help me get my student to a safer school.
—Submitted by a parent

Ive been in this school since 6 grade and the past year was out of control. I love this year so much better than last year! We have lots more things to look forward to. Lockers, avid, new teachers new teams of more sports, and defiantly better students. Im coming next year!
—Submitted by Nancy, a student

Avoid Columbia Middle School at ALL costs. It is unsafe, there are no or few extracurricular activities and the ones they do have are poor. The parent involvement is okay, although it varys greatly. the discipline is very poor. All in all, I gave this school a negative score after attending it for two years...but that's not a choice, so I'll give it a 1.
—Submitted by Billy Nunya, a former student

This school is the best. It is underrated.
—Submitted by a staff

This school is supposed to be a NASA school. It doesn't appear that the moeny they received is being put to good use!
—Submitted by a parent

I've been teaching for 5 years and this is my first year at Columbia. We've had ups and downs, but things are getting better every day. With the addition of our new principal, Mr. Brawley, things have improved so much. I have agreed to teach her next year and am looking forward to a better school year.
—Submitted by a teacher