Columbus Elementary School

My daughter is in the pre-k special ed class, and I give this school 5 stars just with her teachers alone. They are an AMAZING group of teachers! The problem with the school isn't THE school it's the parents and their LACK of participation. I've gone to a few special meetings open to all parents and I was the ONLY parent there. So sad to see so many parents depending fully only on the teachers and not showing any effort themselves.
--Submitted by a parent

I just enrolled my son today at Columbus...so we will have to see how it goes. So far, everyone was very nice and for a city mom like myself I think the school had a great eye appeal! Cute library and very pleased that they have an Art class & Spanish as well.
--Submitted by a parent

My child currently attends and is now in 5th grade. She started for 3rd grade. She's an above avg student and has been in gifted n talented clasess which have now been cut. When the GL classes were in effect it consisted of them being pulled out of class for a pd or so. W/ the exception of her 3rd grade teacher who's been teaching there for many years the teachers don't have much skill or experience. The school's had 3 different principals since we've been there and the changes were made without even informing the parents. My child's 4th grade teacher didn't have good classroom control. She also spent a LOT of time talking about her personal life and her son during class; she wasn't spending enough time on lessons. In fact-she doesn't even remember my child! Any teacher that can't remember a student (not a quiet student, had very good scores on tests etc) a few short months later seems to have a big problem. The PTA is disorganized and ineffective-1st meeting not held until Nov. There's poor communication to parents, inexperienced leadership, terrible afterschool care and no real activities. No class trips since we enrolled not even if we paid. Not a good school @ all.
--Submitted by a parent

Columbus School finally has had a principal stay more then two years. He tries really hard to work with the kids and parents. The teachers are great and really care about the kids. They got a lot of new technology and smart boards.
--Submitted by a parent

Columbus School lost its best principal (Mr. Rapollet) and things are backsliding already. This school has alot of spirit and alot going for it, but there's one huge problem -- the teachers and administration don't work with the parents. There are so many parents who want to contribute, but the teachers are not genuinely interested in working with us. That will have to change if Columbus School is ever going to live up to its potential.
--Submitted by a parent

Academic progress is good. Sports available. Stress on parental involvement.
--Submitted by a parent

Columbus school has come a long way this past year. There is still much more that needs to be done. We finally have a principal who works for the students best interests and not the BOE. Unfortunatley our parental involvement is week as is the support of the BOE. This needs to change. We can only demand changes within the school district if the parents stand up and show the board we will no longer tolerate them treating our children as misfits. The main problem is and always will be as long as the schools are not districted fairly Columbus will continue to have lower test scores. As for my child he has done very well at this school his test scores are high and we take advantage of every program that is offered to us. I would say 90% of the teachers at this school are top knotch.
--Submitted by a parent

The teachers at Columbus School are excellent.
--Submitted by a parent

Classes are overcrowded, K-22 students, 1st gr.-24. Teachers are nice but students don't learn much in such a big groups.
--Submitted by Dorothy Sohail, a parent