I would rate 'no stars' if I could. As an actual student I know what it's like to be in this school and I know what i'm talking about! Like parents think, (being outside of school) they think the school is great. Yes, it is great towards a certain point. The teachers are VERY helpful and the classes are great. As a junior in high school now, I attended ALL three years of school and if you're worried about your daughter or son's mental health I wouldn't recommend Columbia Middle School. Curious to know why?
In my own personal experience as a 6th grader I was bullied throughout all three years from girls and boys who were OVER competitive bullies who always, ALWAYS tried to appear as mature even though we were ONLY in middle school. (something that was always funny to me) I was bullied because I stood out from the group and there were so many times I could tell you about the times I attempted to commit suicide because of these pricks. Everyone always wanted to get in a fight or see one. One time I had to quit summer school because a big group of girls said they would gang up and drag me out to the fields to fight me and another time rumors were spread and people were teaming up to fight me based on those rumors (Rumors and gossip IS NOT new, there's always something new to be said about someone) There were always new trends to keep up with and if you didn't have that materialistic item you would feel left out and people LOVED to show off what they had. It didn't matter who you are, no one cared unless you were popular or good looking or had a good reputation.
To be specific I had to talk my friend out of a fight one time and lunch was extremely loud so I literally had to raise my voice in her ear to think other wise while there was another girl on the opposite side going, 'dude, when are you going to fight her?!" "Just fight her already!" "Do it!" Eventually my friend listened to me and didn't fight anymore but the girl that WAS telling her to fight called me a b___ for making my friend think otherwise and because of that, my friend almost fought HER!
I know gang members in the school and in 7th grade I knew people in 6th grade who were already smoking weed from neglectful parents and coming to schools with hang overs. I'm not the only one who went through such an experience because there's SO many other students who were suicidal and depressed from this school. Students in this school always ALWAYS felt like they had to be in a relationship. There were always people asking each other out, getting played, etc. I don't think this school is very professional considering the fact that school is a place where you go to learn but instead you have people dressing to impress, gossiping, and dating. Cheating was a big thing in 8th grade because that was the time that we had to have good grades in order to walk across the stage and graduate.
After my three years of Columbia Middle School I was relieved but I will NEVER forget my experiences. As a person who was bullied and traumatized. Rumors was a big thing about me and because of everyone having cell phones someone thought it would be smart or funny to pass around group messages saying 'if you think this girl is a bitch and a slut send this to ten other people' NO ONE cared if you said you were 'used' by a guy they always were on the guy's side because he was better looking or he had a better reputation.
As a student in high school now, I realized it took me a LONG time to regain my confidence, to truly become content and happy with life again. I remember questioning my self value as a person or wondering if I was ever worth even being alive or walking on this earth, I use to cut myself and cry everyday hoping someone out there would at least care but you know what? Columbia Middle School is just a school with self centered, spoiled brats and I would NEVER send my daughter or son here in the future because i'm scared he/she will be influenced by these people to become very negative and insecure about himself when he should be focusing on why he's going to school in the first place, to learn. In freshman year I heard rumors from Columbia Middle School that a 6th grader got pregnant because her boyfriend was moving away and they had sexual intercourse as a last resort type of thing and i'm not surprised
As a parent, you just focus on the activities, the classes, and the teachers but it's IMPORTANT that you do research on what it's like from a ACTUAL students perspective. If you send your kid to a school there must be a balance of good teachers/classes/activities and student behaviors/bullying/ attitudes. Be there for your child, don't send them to any old school and wonder why they aren't very happy anymore like they use to be. So that's my final opinion, I wouldn't recommend this school to anyone at all unless you're prepared to be there for your student's mental health and what they will be facing in this school read more