Columbia High School

When you enter high school, all of the babying halts and the true character of your willingness and self motivation takes control. That is the virtue I presume Columbia High is promoting. They will not hold your hand, nor will they continue to ride you to get YOUR work done, or bring YOUR books to class. Trust me. At every school there are students who were forced in and don't care about the mischief they cause at school. Therefore, just like every other institution, Columbia offers excellence, and prosperity, but it is a personal decision whether or not you run with it. GO EAGLES!!!
--Submitted by a parent

TRUTH IS THIS IS THE WORSE SCHOOL EVER... THE TEACHERS ARE NOT TRYING TO CHALLENGE THE STUDENTS AT ALL.. THEY REALLY DOESNT CARE WHAT YOU DO OR SAY.. BUT IM GLAD I HAVE TRANSFERED THIS YEAR.. I WOULDNT RECOMMEND ANY STUDENTS TO GO HERE IF YOUR TRYING TO SUCCEED IN LIFE...
--Submitted by a student

Unfortunately due to things beyond our control my son enrolled At Columbia High 3 weeks before school was ending. my son is only in the 9th grade and is gifted. Columbia did not have an equivalent math for him to take(because they don't have a class that high) so they opted to not have him take a math class at all. So since he effectively did not finish the class at his previous school and Columbia doesn't have it. He will not receive credit. Also my son observes alot of fighting and other discipline issues , just far too many to list, on a daily basis. A school that decides not to enroll a student in a core academic class is not a decent scool.
--Submitted by a parent

Columbia is a very great school. I was in the magnet program snd now i go to spelman college!! I did great on my sats and also made lots of friendships, you have to do certain things like activities and magnet programs to excell at columbia high!!
--Submitted by a student

The truth is, its not the worst school in the world, but if you want to succeed, youll ahve to give it extra effort. I went there for the first half of my freshman year and transffered out for a couple of reasons. I was in the magnet program, and expected to be challenged, but my expectations fell way short. Most of the staff really doesn't care, and are there just to get a paycheck. The student enviorment is enjoyable enough, no more or less than what you make it; though the kids do all seem to blend in and are a bit more rowdy. Its a below average school, so i wouldn't voluntarily go here, but if you have no other options, well....its not SO bad, right?
--Submitted by a student

I am a former senior class president, I graduated top 10%, I transfered to CHS at the end of my senior year from a very strong academic school. Columbia could no doubt be a much better school than it is, but it is not deserving of much of the criticism that it receives. The faculty and students i believe for the most part are doing the best that they can with the limited resources that they are given. At the same time I cannot over look that there are a number of lazy teachers that their that are only looking for a stable job. The number of faculty at CHS that genuinely care and want to see you succeed out weigh the number of those that do not feel the same. Overall I would not trade in my years at Columbia because there are truly magnificent faculty members and students here.
--Submitted by a student

I also disagree with the ratings that the school has been given by irrate parents. I graduated from Columbia in 2005 which was the 1st full year Dr.Glanton was principal. He was a change that the school drastically needed. He was strict about following the school rules which is exactly what pricipal should be because the principal before him could careless about the school. Our senior class had some of the highest test scores in which our school hadn't seen in years. Also most of our teachers did care about how we did in class, the main problem at the school were students who only cared about friends,how to make money,popularity,fighting and being 'hood' Overall the school had a pretty good magnet program and academics.
--Submitted by a former student

I'm a math teacher at CHS, not a parent, but I feel like a parent. We have so many smart, wonderful, and loving students! CHS has been my home for 20 years. I've seen its ups amd downs. What most people don't seem to realize is that 95% of our students are just all-round great kids. Also, I think that the vast majority of the faculty and staff care so much about our students! I hate for this school year to end, because saying goodby to my seniors will be so hard. For me, CHS really is family.
--Submitted by a teacher

The rating for this school is off by a long shot. Dr. Glaton have been what this school needed for years. I have two kids that have went to Columbia, one was Valedictorian and the youngest is an Honor Graduate. Dr Glaton came the year my youngest started at Columbia, and the change in the staff and school is awesome. These Teacher work hard to make sure our kids get what they need and Dr Glaton is there to make sure they have what they need. So time a leader must do what it takes to push both student and teacher. The only problem Columbia have is 'Parents' not being their for their kids nor the school. They have one of the best after school programs in Dekalb County. How many high school you know to the time to have Saturday school to help the kids. 'Great Job'
--Submitted by Sandra Comegys, a parent

Columbia High school could be a better school. I truley beleive that if the principal would support the teachers with their desicions and not riticule them Columbia would excel. As far as, discipline goes, yes he is the one to go to, but that's only if you agree with his desicion. If you don't agree and have questions or challenge him, he brushes you off. Overall, I think that Columbia High needs to be upgraded (not the facility, the principal and a few of the teachers).
--Submitted by L Gilliam, a parent