Quimby Oak Middle School

This school has unreasonable rules. They seem to not care for their students, but more about how the district will think of the school if they were well disciplined. Even with the rules, students there have fights every week. The school lacks academic skills, but a surplus amount of sport skills. If you want your child to be a basketball player, this is probably be the school for you. If I were you, I'd transfer them to Chaboya.
—Submitted by a parent

Poor sport team; poor teaching skill, poor communication from teacher, poor school overall. I after spending 1 year at this school, I send my kids to George LeyVa Middle School.
—Submitted by a parent

I was impressed with calls from the assistant principal telling me my daughter wears inappropriate dress ; but I was very surprised to have not seen any communication from any of the teachers which I think is a must
—Submitted by a parent

QUIMBY OAK LOBOS ARE THE BEST . we offer many electives and have many sports . our curriculum is EXCELLENT . it`s practically the best middle school you can get . OH! and no touch policy . we have speed lines that sell food both healthy and junk (; ahahahah
—Submitted by a student

Quality of academic program is very good. Music and Art activities should be emphasized as extracurricular activity program. Parents involvement in various activities can be increased through invitation by mailing letters or email. It will allow parents to know about upcoming events as well as encouraging kids to do their best in school. Thank you!
—Submitted by a parent

This school as great programs. My children were well prepared for high school and had plenty of opportunities to be involved in extracurricular activities.
—Submitted by a parent

Some great teachers, but the school lacks discipline, guidance, modivation, and challenge.
—Submitted by a former student

As the demographics for this school change, so do the academic results. The students in honors classes are as bright as in any other school in the district, there are just less of them than at Chaboya, where the feeder schools are from the highest income homes in the district. Overall, my son enjoyed Quimby socially and athletically. Academically, it's the only middle school in the district that offers an honors math class, which was his favorite class, and he got to be in the A band in 7th grade instead of waiting for 8th grade. I felt that all of his honors class teachers were excellent, but I know he had more homework in his elementary school, so he wasn't being stretched academically as much as he should have been.
—Submitted by a parent

Poor communication from school as a whole, that includes lack of an up-dated website. Teachers are willing to work with you if you take the first step as a parent, but there is a strong chance you won't find out your child is having problems academically until the report card comes around.
—Submitted by a parent

I appreciate the policy that requires progress/report cards to be signed by a parent, This accountability is crucial. I wish more parents realized that their middle-school age children need them just as much as their grade school hcildren do--just in a different way. Parent involvement is critical to the success of a school.
—Submitted by a parent

It is great, safe environment, good education,good athletics, clean.
—Submitted by a parent

This school needs to focus more on academics. They need to cut down on trespassing which leads to gang violence.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is attended by students from a variety of neighborhoods with diverse cutural backgrounds, and financially, the well-to-do, the sufficient, the below average, and anything in between. Therefore, its student quality reflects in a wide range - a number of them does well accademically and behaviorally, most of them are average or mediocre, and the rest belongs in either of these two groups or both - trouble makers and under achievers. There's plenty of room for improvement; unfortunately budget cut has not been helping at all. Academic programs are few, honors language for grade 7, honors science for grade 8, and one advance math class for each grade, usually limited to 30 students. The school band is supported by donations. After school sports are normally available to those who qualify. Any other programs are hard to come by. Parent involvement is minimal. My child is performing quite well regardless.
—Submitted by a parent

Academic program is good for students without academic problems. Language Arts instructor requested conference, realizing my child was not working to potential. Went from C to A. However, went from A to C in math without any notification from the math instructor. Parents must stay involved with student progress. Learning cannot be left entirely to the instructors. Motivation to succeed must be received from instuctors and parents. There is always room for improvement within any educational institution.
—Submitted by a parent

85% horrible: our child had a serious problem doing her homework on time. Only one out of six teachers let us know by calling. Report cards mailed with no requirement for parental signatures (not a Quimby Oak-unique problem). 85% lazy and un-professional teachers says problem is lack of leadership. It's not lack of money: a phone call would have cost them a few pennies. Now my wife and I have six problems to clean up: our daughters, and five teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

I wrote one of the earlier 'glowing' reports. In only one year, the school has really gone downhill. Staff is inattentive to students needs, and almost completely fails to communicate issues to parents. I now give this dump the lowest possible scores in each category.
—Submitted by a parent

Quimby Oak is a great smart school!
—Submitted by a former student

My daughter this past year attended Quimby Oak for 8th grade and 7th as well. She has struggled through 8th grade. Her counselor met with us on one occasion to let us know that her GPA was low. He told us that if she raised it to a 1.5 in her last quarter that she would graduate & walk the stage. He now tells us a week before graduation that it has to be a 1.5 GPA accumalative. She will not walk the stage as he stated. I think the counselor should communicate more with the students and parents so they have a better understanding. I don't think they take the time out of their day, paying attention to those who need it the most. Especially from a school that has the most funding.
—Submitted by a parent

My oldest daughter attended Quimby Oak. She had serious problems in 7th grade math, nearly failing. Her teacher went out of her way to provide assistance in the form of an intensive summer school program known as Jose Valdez Institute. This turned her around 180 degrees, and not just in math. She is now a Freshman at Evergreen Valley, and doing well (B's). My second daughter is now in 8th grade, and has earned nearly straight A's. She enjoys her science class, which goes on several field trips every year. Overall, there seems to be very good parent/teacher involvement, although I would echo another reviewer in suggesting the teachers could be more forthcoming with progress reports, especially when there is trouble. I believe this is a common problem, and parents need to be proactive and ask.
—Submitted by Jay Titus, a parent

This school has been on average. In 7th grade my son has some issues and fell behind, no teacher or vice principle intervention, it was upon us parents. Then they were concern not until. This years 8th grade a teacher allowed my son almost fail a class, even thought through two semester he was a straight A student. Again, it seem like they just do not care about the child. The children are not adults, they need to be guided. This is not high school or college. Not very happy with this school that is supposed to be one of the better schools in the district. No wonder our children are falling behind in so many critical areas of studying. Parents beware.
—Submitted by a parent