Vandenberg Middle School

Mountain View Blvd.

School District

Lompoc Unified
Grade

7-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:19
Type

public

School Map for Lompoc Unified 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 August 13, 2024

Bullying has been the biggest issue in this school and looking at the other posts here, doesn’t look like the faculty are addressing this concern.
Submitted by student on September 01, 2023

I kind of hate this school, i almost died 3 times, got a potentially sprained finger, and keep on being partly choked, and pinched. i also got assalted by being kicked. some people even push my stuff over. The teaching and teachers are understanding and very mature, yet when i get hut in any way, nobody sees it, and its really hard to tell any body because they some people are my friends, yet they are hitting me lightly, but they are just trying to be funny, and , they are.
Submitted by student on June 15, 2023

This school sucks. I've been bullied and written at least 5 reports and the school did little to nothing about them. For example, someone at the school choked out 5 students, one being me. One of them was my friend who got sent to the hospital later that day. My friend got back later than the student who assaulted them. Another example is when a group of students broke my glasses. Everyone at the school new and my grades dropped because I couldn't do schoolwork, but none of the students involved got in trouble. I was also hit by a tree branch by a girl who sat next to me in science and it took me forcing myself to cry to get a new seat. Yet another example is that I was sexually harassed and after reporting it twice he just did it to other girls and got in no trouble despite admitting what he did. Literally the only thing going for it is the amazing librarian, Miss Nelson, and she is the best librarian ever and I love her. (Mr. Eppley aka 7th grade social studies teacher and Mrs. Taylor aka 7th grade math teacher are also cool but MISS NELSON>>>>>>)
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2021

The principal doesn’t do his job right. The entirety of the staff doesn’t know how to punish kids who are repeat kids who beat up others. I’m sorry this school sucks and will never be a good school for your child to attend. They make LVMS look better as a school.
Submitted by parent on April 28, 2017

Leadership often jump to conclusions and punish inappropriately.
Submitted by parent on March 09, 2016

This school has an assistant principle, principle, and some teachers that struggle to appreciate students. It lacks teaching methods that are creative. The role-modeling of the principle and assistant principle is based on an assumption that students cannot be trusted to act well and so administrator imply to all students that they are not trustworthy. Teaching methods are lacking in terms of engaging students in open dialogue and thought provoking activities. The adults in charge seem more interested in controlling students though punishment verses teaching students to learn and explore. There are minimal school spirit activities led by teachers or students to enjoy or look forward to.
Submitted by other on June 06, 2014

This school is excellent! The teachers there are supportive and will always help you when needed. The staff is friendly and not too strict. If you are a patient student, it takes about 3-8 minutes to get your lunch from the cafeteria. This school is better than LVMS (Lompoc Valley Middle School).
Submitted by other on January 14, 2014

Eh, the schools okay I guess. Most of the teachers are nice and helpful but the buses are really crowded. You have to sit three kids to a seat. There can be some really annoying kids but I wouldn't really consider them bullies. The lunch line is a little long but that's only if you get there late. I guess I'd rather be here than LVMS.
Submitted by other on September 12, 2013

I like this school so far the teachers are nice especially Se ora Garmendia and Mrs.Zender. Mrs. Froemming is super nice lunch line wait is a little long people do cut but most kids bring a lunch so it doesn't bug me or my friends because we still have a lot of time to eat and hang with each other , before SSR(firth period) Aerospace is a bit boring my friends brother said it was a lot of fun last year, now its just boring. Every class I go to I learn something new or more about something I already learned about. I was a bit scared about going to this school after me and my mom read the reviews. especially the ones about the bulling because I was bullied and that's why I don't go to the boys and girls club any more. Actually when I got there and saw how it is for myself I liked it. One thing that is bad is the busses because its very crowed especially the g street bus because we have 86 kids and one bus but Mr. Fernados sister said a second bus is soon to come Im looking forword to a better edicatn and fun year at Vandenberg Middle School I recommend it to future 7th graders and 8th graders
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2012

I have had a wonderful experience at VMS so far. I am sorry that the previous parent did not. I don't expect the administration to follow my kid around, call me personally with an outcome when I can speak to my kid and hear it directly after school from the one person I care to hear it from ( my kid). I don't expect the teachers to hold my kid's hand because I expect that my child can follow instructions and enjoy the school experience to grow up to become independent.
Submitted by parent on September 14, 2012

After reading the comment by "TEACHER", I laughed at first. I then realized that this is a clear example of what seems to be the normal reaction of staff that are so overwhelmed with students that it is impossible to be in touch with what's really going on. The dead giveaway is the claim to *fame* that initially excited us when we moved her and enrolled our 7th grader. These claims of excellence don't hold much weight when the entire state performs so low (is it #49?) in our already poorly performing nation. It has been about two weeks since we started school this year and I am pulling my child out. On the first day of school, my daughter came home ravenous with hunger. She and her friend told me that they waited in line for the entire 30 mins of lunch and still weren't able to get close to the front of the line. I figured it was an isolated issue since it was only the first day. We began packing just in case. Thankfully, we did. There are always kids in line when the bell rings. 2 of my neighbor's children won't even go in line because they don't want to have to get pushed around by the swarms of bullies who make their way to the head of the line. So, yes, this is still a problem.
Submitted by teacher on January 13, 2012

The comment of December 2, 2011 could not be further from the truth. Vandenberg Middle School is known throughout the community as a place where academic excellence and high expectations are the norm. Discipline is a top priority and per 2011 student survey responses, the vast majority of students feel safe and believe VMS adults care about their well-being. There have been incidents with regard to bullying, but they are investigated and dealt with swiftly by administration. In a middle school of over 800 students, one can expect that there will be some incidents of this nature. Bullying is a zero tolerance offense at VMS, but it is unreasonable to think that it will not occur. This is a public middle school with children from all demographic and socio-economic backgrounds. The school's API of 818 is a reflection of the quality education that is available to students. A robust elective program rivals any in Santa Barbara County. In an era of reduced California budgets, this reflects Vandenberg's priorities. As far as the long lunch lines -- NOT THE CASE. I am in the lunch room almost everyday and students have their lunch in plenty of time.
Submitted by other on December 02, 2011

This school is absolutely terrible. Bullying is definitely an issue for students. Horse playing around and disrespecting others in the process is the number one preferred actively. There s a new slapping game going around and a lot of students are participating. Some students are being approached and asked to participate in fighting. Students need to be reminded about school policy on harassment and bullying. Reporting incidents is highly discouraged amongst student for fear of retaliation with their peers. Some students fluent in other languages tend to challenge the teachers authority by using inappropriate language in a language that the teacher isn t fluent in. Lunch lines are long and some students aren t able to eat due to long lines. Students resolve the issue by cutting in front of other students patiently waiting. Teachers aren t observing the lunch lines properly so disrespectful students aren't unpunished. The buses are always late to and from school and school officials appear to always be uniformed and out of the information loop. Whenever a transportation employee providing busing services for the school is late the school should request to be immediately.