Lakeland-Copper Beech Middle School

LCBMS is too big for an enrollment of 1800 kids...they need a mixture of different races and more minority teachers...the last time I checked they had no minority teachers...NAACP should look into this...my kids were always harass but they did nothing but whenever there is a problem they always target the minority student...recently my son was questioned and he asked to speak with his parents and they refused to let him and confiscated his phone..since this superintendent took over this school is on a steady decline....would not recommend sending your kids here
—Submitted by a parent

Recently got a long term suspension overturned after reaching out to some gov't organizations to look into this school. I will make it short but I can write a book about this school about their mistreatment of non-white students, working on creating a website to show all these documents & secret recorded conversations with school staff. My son was always academically a 90 student but with this ridiculous long suspension we were forced to send him to a private school, he was heart broken at 1st about losing his friends but he was able to adapt and is doing great, with advise from some senators we are in the process of getting back this tuition. This school is so bad they contact my son's school without my consent and told them my son was a really bad student after the princpal of his new school contacted me and I informed her I needed this in writing. I am sorry but this principal, counselor, registrant and superintendent must go.
—Submitted by a parent

I must disagree with a lot of the negative comments posted recently about LCBMS. In my son's 3 years at this school, I have found the administration, staff and teachers to be extremely professional and caring. The teachers are well-qualified and go above and beyond to ensure that students succeed-offering before and after school help if needed. Everyone is easy to contact and responds very quickly. Both teachers and administrators have been very flexible and receptive to thinking 'outside the box'.
—Submitted by a parent

This school should be look into, they are psychologically damaging innocent kids, they suspend kids over little things. The school have an enrollment of 1600 which is too much for 1 school, an interim principal who can't deal with little issues so suspends a kid for anything. I recently reached out to some senators, US Dept of Education and ACLU to look into their policies and procedures because its a waste that residents in Yorktown, Peekskill and Cortlandt Manor have to pay high taxes and send their kids to private schools.
—Submitted by a parent

LCBMS is a racially bias school, I just took my son out of here, the teachers, principal, superintendent over reacts to these kids, they got to remember these kids are only 11-13 year olds, my son was constantly targeted because of his skin color, I would never send my kids again to this school district, I came from Yonkers school district which was much better run and now I pay more taxes for less education
—Submitted by a parent

My sons does not focus in class much however I must say the teacher communicate often on his status so that I could work more with him at home.
—Submitted by a parent

LCBMS does not properly prepare students for HS. There tests are basic, they don't offer any help or teach any study skills. My child was an honor student all 3 years at LCBMS, and is now struggling at LHS. LCBMS focuses mostly on discipline - as the halls are a mess between classes. They give out in school suspensions for the silliest of reasons. The principal is extremely rigid and there's no compromising with her. Teachers need to properly prepare students for HS - test formats... organization... study skills... This is just not done...
—Submitted by a parent

Also, there is a choice of Band, general music, orchestra and chorus.
—Submitted by a student

excellent school. my son is very happy here. not only do the teachers here teach well they teach students to be good human beings first.
—Submitted by a parent

Heaven help your child if he/she needs extra help. some teachers are not willing to be bothered with a little extra help a child needs.They have the 'medicate the child' as not to make my job a little tough attitude.Guidance and principals take months to make changes to help. Be prepared to contact student advocacy if your child falls behind.
—Submitted by a parent

My child is in sixth grade, and has had a fabulous experience at LCMBS. She has grown academically, intellectually, and has become prepared to move on to seventh grade. The teachers are very accessible (they return emails and phone calls quickly). I couldn't have asked for a better experience for her.
—Submitted by a parent

I have two children currently in this school. They are in 6th & 7th grade. The school is excellent. They have many sports programs for the children. They have excellent bus service & the education my kids are receiving is terrific.
—Submitted by a parent

I attended this school recently. I did not think the school offers everything. The school is very big and the atmosphere is sometimes not a very positive envirnonment. Help was not available, and the ciriculum is very rigid. Someone who struggles with an academic subject does not benefit. Principal is very close minded and does not contribute enough to make it a positive environment. There are great clubs and sports teams. The teachers are very nice but because of the rigid academics, cannot divote time to help struggling students . Teachers also do not communicate with parents on poor grades, and do not make recommendations for struggling students as necessary. Ovalrall the school has very good to excellent programs for student who are regular to advanced achievers. the school also offers honors and advanced placement classes for the students excl in their academics. Great sports - great clubs
—Submitted by a student

I have read most of the comments on this page and to the people who say that this school is bad, I highly disagree. The schedule is actually very good. The 'teams' for each grade level provide less work for the teachers and more order. Even if you aren't on the same team as your friends, there is a high chance that you will have lunch, i-core or another non-team based class with them. The teachers don't give a lot of homework and they usually give 5 or so minutes at the end of class to start it. Most of the time I'm done before I get home. If your child is failing it is because they don't apply himself/herself. The school isn't that big and after a few days, you get the hang of d location of classes. One problem is that the day is from 9:15 to 4:35.
—Submitted by a student

These parents don't know crap kids always exaggerate things to make everything seem horrible. I do it too I am in 8th grade. The homework is only about 1 to 2 hours at max. Its true that sometimes there is a lot of homework but its always manageable. The school isn't that big, you can't be lost. Every grade has its own section in the school. All the student reviews are good because they get to experience the school first hand. The schedule is a bight confusing but only your first year. You always get a second chance at homework getting half credit. I get home at 4:10 everyday and I live 20 minutes away from the school in Cortlandt Manor, the school is in Yorktown. 80% for the teachers are good and take time out of their schedule to explain things before and after school almost everyday.
—Submitted by a student

Our family recently moved to Yorktown Heights and my daughter went to a very small catholic school up until 5th grade. I was afraid at first because of the size of this middle school but she loves it, she is doing great and her grades have not changed from her 90+ average.
—Submitted by a parent

I am a student in 6th grade- and I love the school. Yes, it's a bit big, but for the amount of students there are here, We need it. I am in my third month here, and I have figured out where everything is. The teachers are awesome, lunches are good, and you can choose from a variety of after school activities. its a great school.
—Submitted by a student

All three of my children attended LCBMS. Overall, it's just OK. The school is so large that it seems to be difficult to manage. The schedule is extremely confusing, the day very long, and the rules governing homework unforgiving. Since there are so many students here, the rules are enforced without any leeway. Late homework is a zero and no credit is given for turning it in after the due date, so there's no incentive to do work at all if you cannot get it in on time. The homework load is brutal, 3-4 hours at a minimum, and this is with arriving home after 4:30 pm. This middle school was not a happy experience for my children, more like something to be endured, thank goodness high school has been wonderful.
—Submitted by a parent

It may not be the school's fault, but the reality is that middle school should be thrown out. It is a bad time and it is horrible for everyone. The school is too large for 11-13 year olds and it is divided by 'teams' so that if you don't like your team, your year will be extra worse. Most of the teachers are not very good and they don't let you explore advancedment like they do at Lakeland High School. They have few honors classes and no Pre-AP or AP classes. It is not a great school. I reccomend finding a K-8
—Submitted by a student

Academically, the school seems to be doing fine. One problem is that the school is so big, that the kids seem to have a field day in the halls between classes - there seems to be no order in the halls - causing a big distraction for children who need more structure. The school offers help for students that are struggling - however, many students struggle with organization and there is no help in that arena. Therefore, a smart student can have their grades brought down simply becuase they are unprepared for class. This seems unfair. If it's a common problem - there should be help offered for them too. Teachers need to be sensitive to this problem instead of just scoring a zero for that child.
—Submitted by a parent