Columbia Elementary School

18501 Cypress Lake Glen Boulevard

School District

Orange County Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Orange County Public Schools

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 May 27, 2021

The principal and staff continually work to improve the education experience for students. They adopt new programs, budget to support disadvantaged students (like paying for bus pickup during summer), and value feedback from parents and the community. I highly recommend parents us the Controlled Open Enrollment program to enroll their child at this school.
Submitted by parent on January 27, 2016

Great School so far! Mrs. Tanner is a very nice teacher and gives regular feedback on my son. All the staff are very engaged as well. My son will only be here this year and moves to the new K-8 in Wedgefield. Hopefully the experience will be the same!
Submitted by parent on May 19, 2015

This is a great community school. It is not as large as other over populated Orange County Schools near this school. My daughter has been there since the 1st grade and loves it. We have never had a problem. Teachers, Staff and Parents are very involved. The PTA is one of the harder working PTA's I have seen. The school is clean, nice, modern and safe. I love that my daughter can walk to school with tons of her friends and I don't have to worry.
Submitted by parent on December 17, 2013

My daughter is a Kindergartner in this school and so far I am extremely happy with our teacher and the rest of the Kindergarten teachers. I have been a parent volunteer for class parties where I've been to each of the teachers classrooms. These teachers really care for the kids. Also my daughter does have a harder time then my older daughter when it comes to learning, however Ms. Leskody has done wonders with her and she is at grade level and is reading books by herself. She's made great strides in only the 4 months she's been there. I have not had any contact with the principal so far, so I can't say Yeah or Nay on that one yet.
Submitted by parent on November 07, 2013

My daughter just entered kindergarten and within two month, she was infected with lice. She has attended a daycare and preschool pretty much all her life and NEVER had a problem elsewhere. What I hear from other parents, lice infestation is a pretty common problem here at Columbia. I am grossed out. Now she has her hair in a very tight ponytail everyday.
Submitted by parent on September 25, 2013

Principal is gone! This school now deserves a 5 star rating Elvis has left the building lets all celebrate!
Submitted by parent on July 26, 2013

My child has attended Columbia for 4years and has excelled at every turn. We have been blessed to have what we feel have been the best teachers in each grade so far but do not be fooled, the school has teachers that should not be in the classroom. The principal has been a total disappointment and has only cared about putting on a show for her guardian angels on the school board. Thank god she is retiring and we are getting a new principal. This school also has discipline and bullying issues. The PTA is a joke, run by a micromanager who's ego is only surpassed by that of the outgoing principal. All that said, the remaining majority of the staff truly care about the children. Look forward to the new principal and hopefully some significant changes this year.
Submitted by parent on June 09, 2013

My children transferred in from North Carolina and i really enjoy how they were accepted. Both my children tell me they like this school better then there last school. We look forward to the first grade next year!!!!!! Really like the summer reading and homework list from the school. My daughter has already read almost every book on the list and they have only been out of school one week.
Submitted by parent on February 01, 2013

As an educational consultant, I was thrilled to send my child to such a beautiful school. However, it didn't take long to recognize that the administration is more concerned with putting on a 'show' for the community, than doing the work it takes to individualize learning, support teachers, and utilize the parents. If your child falls into the 'norm' of a typical child who learns easily and behaves well then the school is adequate. If your child falls into a fringe category (either a higher level thinker/gifted learner or a slower learner with any specific needs) then this is NOT the school for you. Your child will get lost in the numbers that the school is unable to handle. From my experience working in schools, I believe the teachers' have their 'hands tied' by the administration. They do not seem able to teach freely. Additionally, decisions are made that are not in the best interests of the children. The school does have many parent volunteers that the Additions program utilizes. The PTA brags about its memberships, but less than ten people ever show up for the meetings, which to me reflects poorly on the PTA officers' ability to involve its members effectively.
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2012

I agree! My daugher goes there and the gifted teacher should have left teaching a long time ago. She has no business in the education industry. It's obvious she does not have a genuine interest in being there!
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2012

This school is the worst, if your child doesn't get it to bad, put you in back of class & move on! I moved just so my son wasn't in that district! If go there hope you like lice!
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2012

My son's gifted teacher at this school is HORRIBLE. Her philisophy is "if you don't get it, too bad, I'm moving on". She has no patience when students don't get it the first time and calls them out in front of the class. The only consolation is that there is an additional, new gifted teacher that actually makes the students feel like it is safe to ask questions....and actually fosters a positive learning environment.
Submitted by parent on June 28, 2011

My child had a great teacher at Columbia this year in third grade. However the adminstration at the school I don't think is as great. Whenever I tried to talk to them to give a compliment about my child's teacher I had no luck. My child's teacher was in her first year at Columbia. My child and I loved her. She was a very great teacher. The teacher is moving, and I don't know if that was exactly her choice. I've noticed during my years at Columbia horrible teachers stay, and the great ones end up "moving". My child was very upset to see her teacher leave. I think the school needs needs a new principal to help get good teachers to stay and the horrible ones to leave.
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2011

I was concerned about Public Schools so I homeschooled my daughter the first 2 years. Then this year I sent her to a private school, but I didn't feel it was worth the $480 a month I was paying. I talked with a few parents and they told me how good Columbia was so I decided if my daughter got into the gifted program I would send her there. She made it in. The gifted teacher and program are excellent and my daughters regular teacher is great too. The school is much better than what I expected and my daughter likes it better than the private school she was in.
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2010

I'm not too familiar with the Parent involvement or the new Principal at Columbia, so I rather not rate those two categories quite yet until I get to know more about them. But from what I do know and from both of my son's going to school there for over 2years, I love the school!
Submitted by parent on August 18, 2010

Words cannot describe my frustration with the administration (specifically the Principal). All I can say, in my opinion, not send your children to this school.
Submitted by parent on June 16, 2010

I'm extremely pleased with this school. My children are both excited and challenged. They have had creative and engaging teachers and the PTA is phenomenal! The principal is always visisble and ready to assist whenever needed. I am most excited with the community feeling you get when you walk in the door.
Submitted by parent on September 22, 2009

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Submitted by parent on August 26, 2008

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Submitted by parent on June 23, 2006

As a proud parent of two daughters who attend Columbia Elementary, one going to second and the other going to first, I say congratulations to the entire staff for a job well done.My girls are happy and they love their school.The motivation and commitment my girls received from their kindergarten and first grade teacher this past year was awesome. A peice of advise to fellow parents, send your kids to school, sign their planners, motivate your children to read, and maintain contact with their teachers and you will see a difference. As a parent, assume some repsonsibility for your children. Don't expect school to teach your child all about life, hopefully you spend more time with them than the school does so pitch in. Hopefully, once they relocate there will be more time and space for activities.