Horizon Middle School

3981 South Reservoir Road

School District

Cherry Creek 5
Grade

6-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

public

School Map for Cherry Creek 5 School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 08, 2025

The year before my children started at HCMS, I worked for a program in district. One of my 7th grade students begged me not to send my children to HCMS. I should have listened.The first year my daughter was spied on and bullied in the bathrooms. I told both my children not to use the public restrooms at this school. I went to Dr. Wienhold with my concerns. He listened to me on the phone. That was about it.During 7th grade, the experience was ok. My daughter was in 7th grade Honors Language arts and her teacher, Ms. Hooks, did an amazing job challenging her and supporting her emotional well-being. My daughter went on zero field trips, because she was not part of the AVID program anymore, as our family does not meet the criteria. My son did get to go on field trips because he was a part of ILC and has been supported and sheltered by the amazing ILC team at HCMS. They are a bright shining spot at HCMS and deserve so much more recognition than they receive.In the fall of 2024, my husband and I received a message that the Honors Language Arts class would be studying "Stamped." My daughter was offered alternate curricula as Stamped is a controversial text. We opted for the alternate unit, assuming it would be taught by a licensed teacher. Instead, my daughter was expected to sit in a hallway reading three different books, all which would have been excellent choices for the entire class. Example, "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind," a wonderful book about a man who overcame his struggles through perseverance and persistence. "Code talkers." An amazing book that uplifts the importance of Native Americans during World War II. As my daughter sat in the hallway, teaching herself for almost two months, I started to think, if she is wise enough to read three books without support, why not elevate her to a more challenging, supportiv environment?In January 2025, I withdrew my daughter from this school and enrolled her in Cherry Creek Elevation. She is smiling again. Her anxiety and depression from experiencing HCMS is starting to wane. She will go on at least two field trips before the end of the school year. She has joined Yearbook and Leadership with an amazing teacher at Cherry Creek Elevation. All that I regret is not starting her there at the beginning of 8th grade. I wish I would have moved her sooner. Rise from the ashes, Phoenix. You are worthy of love, inclusion, and respect. I am so sorry I ever sent you there.
Submitted by student on January 13, 2025

I don’t go there anymore as I’m now in highschool but I don’t recommend this place I went there for a year and a half and had to leave to severe bullying and almost getting stabbed. The kids here are actually super mean. The staff I feel like the deans and security try hard to protect the students but not hard enough as I didn’t really have the amount of safety needed. The teachers some like their job but a lot of the ones I had didn’t. There was only about four teachers I had there that were passionate about what they did it was Spanish (I don’t remember her name), science for both years(I don’t remember sixth but 7th was Mrs. Sembeta/Senbeta, and my 7th grade math teacher(Mrs. Lin). I’m only a freshman.
Submitted by parent on September 19, 2024

As a parent of a current student, I feel compelled to share my experience at Lincoln Middle School. Unfortunately, my expectations have not been met, and I believe it’s important for prospective families to be aware.Academic Environment: creativity. Many subjects lack engaging materials, leaving students feeling bored and unmotivated. The teachers, while well-intentioned, often appear overwhelmed and unable to provide the individual attention many students desperately need. There is a significant lack of communication between the school and parents. Important announcements often go unnoticed, and it can be challenging to get timely responses from teachers or administration. This disconnect has made it difficult to stay informed about my child's progress and school events.The school facilities are in dire need of repair. Classrooms are often cluttered and poorly maintained, and essential resources like textbooks and technology are frequently in short supply. The lack of a proper library and extracurricular spaces limits opportunities for enrichment and growth.Bullying and Support: I’ve also been disappointed by the school’s handling of bullying. While they claim to have policies in place, the enforcement seems lacking. There have been several incidents involving my child that were dismissed rather than addressed appropriately, leaving a sense of insecurity. While every school has its challenges, Lincoln Middle School seems to have systemic issues that hinder both student learning and well-being. I hope the administration can make significant changes to improve the environment for the sake of the students. Until then, I cannot recommend this school to other families.
Submitted by parent on June 27, 2023

I’m sad about the negative reputation this school has, because I don’t feel that it’s accurate. The people who are the loudest are often the ones who have had issues, but the majority of the school community doesn’t fit that. It’s middle school- and middle school issues happen in every middle school. I had a child go all three years on an advanced track, and we felt that the quality of their education was fantastic! I love the diversity of the school community and I wonder sometimes about the undercurrent of negativity from people running parallel to their own opinions on diversity. Character matters, and this school does a great job in promoting PACK values. There are multiple opportunities throughout the year for family engagement- from the monthly engagement nights, student performances, after school clubs, and sports. Are there issues? Sure. It’s middle school. Some students don’t know how to behave. However, the majority of the students want to learn and those students can absolutely access a Cherry Creek Schools level of education here.
Submitted by parent on March 28, 2023

As a parent, Community Middle School is not a safe place to send your child. School staff only wants to build a rapport with their most troubled students to the point of almost behaving like them just to be "cool". Whenever I enter that school, I see that most of the girls are barely dressed ressed , all five security guards gathered around gossiping, out of controll students rummaging the halls and yelling obscenities, and the principal can be found doing stetches as if he's earned it. Also, the staff is very incompetent!
Submitted by parent on March 02, 2023

my name jeff a a a a
Submitted by parent on February 28, 2023

The whole school is a joke. My daughter wouldn't even go to the bathroom because she was afraid of getting jumped and security can't watch the bathrooms. The actual Principal did nothing. The learning environment doesn't not support real life - the kids don't have to study or turn in anything on time. They can turn it in whenever they get around to it. Why study when you can take the exam over and over again? This school is violent and needs rules for safety. The kids drink and smoke on the property and get a slap on the wrist. There is NO dress code - boobs, butt, stomach all hanging out. I highly recommend you stay as far away from this school as possible if you love your child.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2023

I actually give no stars.... Horizon campus is like visiting a prison yard. I got my child out of there with the quickness. The dean is well, for lack of a better word...lazy. If you want your child to be successful, fight to have them located to another school.
Submitted by parent on April 14, 2022

My child is maintaining straight A's and is learning, so I give them Kudos for that. Lots of afterschool activities for the kids to participate in. Knocking 1 star off because the school has a policy that if there is a fight and both parties throw punches, then both parties get suspended. So if a child goes here and gets bullied, rather than get to the bottom of the matter the school will suspend students. Furthermore, 1 fight gets you suspended? That seems overboard to me. Teenagers get into fights, that's part of growing up. Unfortunately, I'm seeing a lot of these types of policies at the CCSD schools my children attend. It appears to me the policy is designed to 1) not single anybody out, 2) make the staff's job easier, 3) make it look like "they" are doing something when in reality they're doing the bare minimum. I'm all for policies that help the staff, but the needs of the children have to come first. I expect teachers, deans and principles to have enough brain power to figure out who the instigators are, whether suspensions are justified and to exercise some judgement in general. Applying a black and white policy like this in a world that is really shades of grey demonstrates a lack of leadership and isn't a good example for the kids.Nevertheless, my child is learning, generally enjoys the school and extra-curricular activities, so they're getting most of the equation right.
Submitted by other on July 24, 2019

I had high expectations since it was in Cherry Creek, equally bad as APS which I avoid at all costs. Terrible bullying by other students, kids act like gangsters instead of students. Girls dress inappropriately and do not get sent home??? Missed the Mark! The teachers some are excellent, principle is nice but that is not enough! Need to step up to the plate and stop playing politics or favors.
Submitted by other on May 17, 2018

Negative- Cherry Creek Schools are supposed to be top notch. This school is nowhere close.
Submitted by parent on May 07, 2018

Bullying is horrible at this school. The Dean doesn’t do anything about it and is inconsistent. Spends more time singling out the kids being bullied then dealing with the kids that are being bullies. Mr. Henderson also lacks communication with parents and returning phone calls and concerns.
Submitted by other on September 15, 2017

Terrible experience. The teachers consistently degrade the students, principal is not present, and administration does not effectively deal with concerns or issues, degrades and bullies students.
Submitted by parent on May 25, 2017

Horizon has been great for our son he has truly excelled and his teachers have,been wonderful.
Submitted by other on April 28, 2017

Teachers bully and degrade students. Administration does nothing.
Submitted by other on February 19, 2017

Horizon is working out great for my child. He has teachers ho are engaged and working with him to help him succeed. That makes a huge difference.Totally happy with the school the staff, the programs.
Submitted by other on July 15, 2016

I have attended a lot of schools, yet this school is one of the most memorable for me. I made strong connections with several teacher who would even, at times, stay late to work with me. I entered this school thinking that was just not that smart. Luckily, I was able to meet teachers that believed in me and helped me change that mindset. There I learned that I was dyslexic, but I was encouraged to not allow that to limit what I believed I could do. This support help to mold the rest of my life.
Submitted by parent on April 05, 2016

I enjoy the staff., BUT what I find disturbing is that they assign homework the day before major tests. This is 6th grade, 1st year of multiple teachers and A&B type schedules and then their bombarded with homework. It's no wonder these kids are failing their main classes. It's alot for some students and I think something needs to be done. HOW ARE THEY LEARNING???????
Submitted by other on August 15, 2014

This school is really great they have wonderful teachers that care and you can make friends really fast and easy my frist day I already made 3 or 2 friends sure there might be bullys but they do the best they can to stop that if i were a parent I would want my kid to go to horizon.
Submitted by other on November 07, 2013

This is a great school the teachers are so friendly it's just that the students aren't so friendly they are kind of mean.otherwise it's a great school the teachers really care