Lewis Middle School in San Diego | Military Town Advisor

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	9/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data from California Department of Education, and using 2025 California Science Test data from California Department of Education.
Student Growth	5/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from California Department of Education.

Posted: May 26, 2026

I have had two kids go to Lewis and both have had great experiences. The teachers and counseling staff are fantastic, and go above and beyond to work with parents to make sure they understand how their students are doing both academically, socially, emotionally. The honor roll assemblies are very appreciated, and the after school clubs have been great when my kids have been interested in the subject matter.

The only real drawback about the school is the persistent traffic issues, caused by impatient parents during drop off. I have watched with dismay almost every week as parents drove recklessly in spaces where kids walked, dropping their kids off in the middle of the street, making u-turns into on-coming traffic, rushing in the opposite lane to go around cars letting kids out in the street. It feels unsafe, and I wish the school took it more seriously. (The crossing guard they had for a brief period of time was functionally useless, as the problem is parents driving unsafely by the Irwin gate, for instance.)

Posted: May 7, 2025

I went to school here a couple years ago, when I told this girl I didn't like kpop she kicked me in the shins and cried but the pe teacher only punished me by sending me to the principals office for hurting somebody's feelings, keep in mind I only said "eh kpop".

I forget what the teachers names are but two of the white male history teachers would say the nword, pretty sure one retired but idk about the other.

Posted: November 12, 2024

My experience at Lewis was okay. The VPS and principal are biased and dont take things seriously. They seem to care more about things like your stomach showing than addressing actual problems, like a fight. The students are fine, but you cant really change how people behave to have a better middle school experience. The bigger issue is the administration, which is incredibly poor, and the unqualified staff they hire. It feels like no one truly cares about their job or the students' well-being. While some teachers are genuinely kind, take you seriously, and seem to enjoy what they do, the overall environment is lacking The principal is incompetent, and the vice principals dont care about you or what you have to say. There have been multiple complaints about them, yet nothing ever seems to be done. While I was at Lewis, I saw kids get bullied and report it to counselors or VPs, but they just didnt care this school is a mess and nobody takes there role seriously besides some teachers. I would highly recommend not sending your children here.

Posted: September 15, 2024

To put it simply: at this school, teachers dont actually teach. They just purchase assignments online and post them on Google Classroom, leaving students to complete everything at home due to lack of class time. There are no lectures, only endless videos and questions from packets bought on teacherspayteachers.com. It seems teachers dont review the materials before assigning them. My family is eager for middle school to end because both my daughter and son are bored, unmotivated, and dislike going to school.

Posted: April 20, 2024

As a parent of a student at Lewis Middle School, our experience with Lewis Middle School has been overwhelmingly positive: excellent education, safe, support teachers and staff, adoption of technology, and devoid of disruptive elements.

I find myself compelled to share our family's experience, particularly in light of recent discussions and reviews that have surfaced. Navigating the landscape of our children's education, we often encounter varied opinions and experiences, each offering valuable perspectives. My intention here is not to diminish the concerns raised by others but to provide an alternate viewpoint based on our journey with the school.

Initially, the school's approach to involving parentsrequiring us to engage with Google Classroom through our child's accountseemed unconventional. However, this method has fostered a collaborative learning atmosphere in our home. It's an approach that encourages students to take the lead in sharing their educational journey, promoting responsibility and active participation. This method, while different, has been effective in keeping us involved and informed, bridging the gap between home and school learning environments.

The curriculum's inclusion of topics like gender theory and critical race theory has sparked much debate. Speaking from our experience, these subjects have been introduced thoughtfully, aiming to enhance our child's critical thinking and empathy. Discussing these complex issues within the structured framework of essay writing has not only improved their analytical skills but has also prepared them to navigate and appreciate the world's diverse perspectives. It's an educational strategy that, in our view, equips students with the tools necessary for thoughtful and informed discourse.

There have been concerns about parents being "kept in the dark" and the school's reliance on digital resources and independent learning. From our perspective, the digital tools and resources employed by Lewis Middle School are not a shortcut but a means to enrich the students' learning experience. The emphasis on independent learning tasks and critical engagement with materials has fostered a sense of self-reliance and curiosity in our child. The school's pedagogical approach, emphasizing exploration and personal initiative, prepares students for a lifetime of learning in a rapidly changing world.

Posted: March 1, 2024

I am very happy with Lewis Middle School. My first son graduated a couple of years ago and now my younger son is in 7th grade. The grounds are clean, the staff and teachers are amazing, and my boys have been very happy there. High standards are very important to my, and I feel that this school has done a great job on keeping the expectations high. All of the resources you need are available including tutoring and counseling. There are social clubs after school, ASB opportunities, and after school activities such as dances and dine-outs. Lewis Middle School does an excellent job of preparing students for high school by giving them planners at the beginning of each school year, and teaching them how to keep track of homework and other assignments so that they can be organized.

Posted: February 2, 2024

Parents are kept completely in the dark. Academics are focused around laptop learning. Google classroom is central to every classroom. Parents are not supported, and only told they have to log into google classroom on their kids login in order to know whats going on. PowerSchool shows grades but many teachers dont put in assignments until its too late to do anything about it. Some of the gifted classes focus on teaching gender theory and critical race theory to 6th graders under the guise of essay structure. The new math curriculum forces students to write more rather than do math. Its all on computer. Points are docked for not explaining ones feelings about math enough, rather than just doing the math.

Posted: September 29, 2023

Great school, kids, and staff! Nice location with plenty of extra curricular activities.

Posted: June 21, 2023

Our son just finished 6th grade at Lewis and we are very satisfied. Leadership is strong and focused on students' wellbeing. Teachers work hard and really care about the children. Yes, the amount of homework was higher than expected, but this will be the first year that we won't need to supplement any subject at home during summer, which is priceless. In addition, this was the first year we didn't need to teach math to our son at home because the teacher did a really good job in class and by assigning daily homework. As parents, this was the first stress-free year we've had since our son started school because Lewis does what it's supposed to do: teach entire curriculum, assign homework, teach good citizenship, all while keeping engaging and fun. Our student had a solid year and feels prepared for 7th grade and beyond. As another reviewer mentioned, Lewis holds non-curricular activities only during breaks, advisory time, and after school hours, and we really appreciated that precious time is not wasted during the year. In our opinion, Lewis is a great bridge between elementary and high school because they encourage students to take agency and advocate for themselves, they teach time management and organization, and they have the perfect size for a middle school.

Posted: June 14, 2023

Honestly, as a student still in lewis middle school, the school isnt that bad. But most of the problems with the school are the staff, I feel like most of the teams dont understand how other students think, and I feel like they are pretty mean. They would yell a lot out of you if you did something wrong. I mean, I get you did something wrong. But do you have to yell them out? Talk to the kid about how they shouldnt be doing that instead of yelling at them. That can make things worse. But as I talk about the staff, I am not talking about the teachers. The teachers are great at this school, and most of the teachers understand their students very well. The teaching here is okay, though. Sometimes I feel like some teachers are lazy. They only hand out printed papers from the Internet and show you videos. I have this one teacher, but I never saw him teach us but just gave us books and worksheets to do while we sat there and tried to learn them ourselves. I dont remember anything I learned this whole past year, and I mean, who doesnt? The school also has a special education which is pretty well if you are interested. Most of the problems are the students, some of them are very violent and speak a lot of discrimination. But you cant change a kid's mind that much. Overall, if I ever had to rate this school, it would be a solid 6/10. It's nothing much, but its still pretty fun to be there.

Posted: June 8, 2023

With the exception of a few (there always is) the teachers my children have had at Lewis have been excellent.
I appreciate the weekly updates that I receive through text & email from the school. They are full of pictures and are positive and informative. I am impressed by the engagement of the leadership and the parent foundation at Lewis Middle School.

Posted: June 2, 2023

I have had three children attend Lewis Middle School. While my oldest had a rocky experience years ago, my two kids (6th and 8th grades) have had a wonderful experience! Principal Phillips and the vice principals are truly interested in engaging students' minds and caring for the students and reinforcing this with the teachers. Almost all the teachers my kids have had the past few years aren't just there to collect a paycheck, but instead are interested in helping students learn. It does take time to have our kids advocate for themselves in the classroom. However, as they have learned that skill, they are getting the help needed from teachers before school, during lunch, or after school. One of my kids has an IEP and the teachers have been very involved in the process. I have been impressed that Principal Phillips actively attends the annual meetings as well with us and is actively part of team that helps ensure the plan is in place.

We are big fans of Lewis Middle School!

Posted: April 10, 2023

Lewis has been a great school for my kids. I love that there are so many teachers/staff who have been there for years and are dedicated to the school and the students. The principal is great and really cares about the students. Communication is spot on; education has been great and my kids are happy there!

Posted: April 7, 2023

My child is currently in their first year, as a sixth grader at Lewis Middle School. We are pleased with the school, both as parents, and as a student. Of the 7 teachers my student has, 6 are amazing. I am appreciative of the communication and the organization of their virtual classrooms- which has been tremendously helpful as my child has had 2 long stretches of illnesses this year, but was able to maintain honor roll level grades.

We are also very thankful for the tutoring the school offers and the ability for students to turn in late work if needed. While my student strives to turn in work on time, life gets in the way and the policy allowing late work helps maintain positive mental health (& reduces anxiety). While no middle school experience is perfect, we honestly have no complaints beyond a single teacher who is a bit grumpy- but that's a small issue amidst an otherwise very positive experience.

Posted: March 9, 2023

Weve had more issues here than any other school my kids have attended. I get middle school is a difficult age and kids will test the adults on their lives, but our experience has been that the problems start at the top.

The Administration and teachers are disrespectful to the students, I witnessed this myself.

Teachers blame the students and never take responsibility/ownership for their own actions- also personal experience.

Admin staff does not correct the teachers actions because of the union so theres no point for parents to address the issues at the school because nothing will be done.

Parents are not listened to or taken seriously. I was told that I couldnt excuse my childs absence, she was responsible for talking to the teacher herself!

The staff says that kids need to advocate for themselves, but when they do, students are belittled, made fun of and bullied by the adults that theyre supposed to trust.

Send your kids at your own risk.

Posted: January 1, 2023

I attended Lewis middle school for three years and 90% of the student who went there will tell you they had a bad experience. They have so many outdated, teachers who are just begging for retirement. On my first day of six grade there was a teacher who made multiple people in the class cry. While there are some really really amazing teachers at the school. Unfortunately, its plagued by grumpy old teachers who clearly hate their job. I had multiple teachers at the school, explicitly say that they did not like my class, and I even had one teacher said that we were his least favorite class. During my eighth grade, I went through four English teachers and two math teachers before they settled on my schedule none of which was informed to me or my parents until I showed up to the class. The communication is horrendous and the counseling office is a joke a doesnt help students. Since I have left school, nothing has really changed there still the same old teachers that have been there for years and fight videos come out of the school regularly.

Posted: November 8, 2022

This is our first year at this school. We like the school in general, principal is responding, kind, very well spoken, and enthusiastic about his pupils and the school. This is a very inclusive school. Teachers seem to really like what they do, they are thorough, very dedicated, and follow the curriculum. I love that this school doesn't waste anyone's time with so many non-curriculum activities during school hours. All non-curriculum activities (e.g. parties) take place after school hours. However, the reason for my 3-star review is the amount of homework. We had been told 6th graders would have about 60 minutes of daily homework, but my child is spending between 2.5 and 3 hours doing homework every single day. I understand other children might take less time to do their homework, but if your child strives to do a more thorough job, she/he will take at least 2 hours to complete their daily work. I believe this happens because the schedule includes ALL subjects every single day, and that results in the children having homework from ALL classes almost every day. The teachers will say they mostly have work that was not finished in class, but that is not always true. First of all, there is never enough time to finish anything during class, and second of all, my child always brings home an actual extra homework to do that was not started in class. Daily math homework alone takes my child, a straight A student, more than one hour to complete, and then, he/she still has the other classes' homework to do. My child has not participated in any after school activities because he/she does not have any time left of his/her day. It's getting to the point that my child doesn't enjoy school anymore like he/she did before and is always asking when the next holiday is. My student is really exhausted and it hurts to see he/she has lost his/her love for school.

Posted: September 19, 2022

The principal is very enthusiastic, all of the teachers we have met are competent professionals, and the staff has been supportive and responsive to all of our inquiries.

Posted: March 16, 2022

Opportunities for all children. Whatever the area. We love this school.

Posted: March 16, 2022

Posted: November 11, 2019

Lewis teachers give the students homework so that they can learn at home. Not to implement what they learned in class. The teachers at Lewis expect the parents to teach their own child. The teachers do not teach, they 'tell' then move on to another subject area the following week. If the students don't learn at home then too bad so sad...they have moved on and are leaving your student behind. 4 of 7 teachers my child had, publicly shame students. They (Ms. Provins) 'tell' students how to do a math problem then if they ask a question or don't understand she'll say in a very loud unapologetic voice 'We already went over that, you should know it'. At one point she threw another child's backpack across the class and broke stuff inside it. Nothing was done by the parent or the administration. The poor child was not my own, yet, my child watched the event in horror. Other teachers are skating through the day, not checking for understanding, not being clear about their expectations and then expect the students to read their minds. The principle supports the teachers whole-heartedly, even when they are not doing anything that is stated in the 504. Ms. Oshiro was the best. She cared, she tried, she wants the students to learn. P.E is a joke; they literally throw the ball out and only grade on attendance. It's no wonder kids don't want to exercise. The teachers don't care or have no clue how to use what they learned on college and should be held accountable for the lackadaisical P.E. programs they have at Lewis. My child received a C in one class and D's and F's in the rest. At the new school, they are teaching my child, my child is learning in school. He has all A's and one B. There is homework, but it's for practicing what they learned in class. As opposed to home work being a way for them to figure out what they were 'told' in class like they had to do at Lewis. I wish any child attending Lewis good luck, it's a sad excuse for a school. As a parent you have a responsibility to put your child in a school that teaches children and cares about whether they learn. It's very difficult to find a good school in San Diego. I feel like my child was very lucky to have been chosen to attend the charter school they now attend.

Posted: November 11, 2019

Posted: August 27, 2019

I think the school should offer a study hall or sorts after school. The library is open but, it is not optimal for serious students to study.

Posted: August 27, 2019

The teachers Ive spoken to have a passion for education and children. There has been one English teacher who was condescending toward my oldest son but, he learned a life lesson from her in that we dont always get along with everyone but, we need to work it out.

Posted: August 27, 2019

I simply dont know what programs are offered at Lewis to make a statement. The counseling staff has been amazing though so, Im sure theyve got something up their sleeves.

Posted: August 27, 2019

Principal Callahan is by far the best administration leader Ive seen in action. My sons have been to several school, unfortunately due to job changes. He is intelligent and has his thumb on the pulse of his students.

Posted: August 27, 2019

I cant make a statement here as I dont know what their SPED team is like.

Posted: August 27, 2019

My sons have been welcomed and made to feel comfortable by their peers.

Posted: August 27, 2019

The staff, especially Ms. Stadler are exceptionally understanding and kind to our family. We have struggled and the office staff helped ease our minds and welcomed us late in the year with open arms

Posted: May 4, 2019

My son was prepared for the high school because of the level of homework that was given at Lewis.

Posted: May 4, 2019

Great school with passionate teachers and staff.

Posted: February 19, 2019

Teachers are wonderful and school goes above and beyond for their students

Posted: February 19, 2019

Posted: January 7, 2019

The staff is extremely knowledgeable in the area of special education.

Posted: January 7, 2019

I say this because my son has had no issues with this at this school.

Posted: January 7, 2019

They are firm, but caring. They truly make an effort in getting to know your child.

Posted: January 7, 2019

I love the programs that they provide, not only for the students but also for the parents.

Posted: January 7, 2019

The admin staff is very personable and deal with issues right away.

Posted: January 7, 2019

This is our first year at Lewis Middle School. We were previously at another school, which we had many issues with. My child had so much anxiety about going to school and definitely lacked confidence. Moving was scary because I knew he would have to start all over again, however, I hoped that a fresh start would be good for him. Being an educator in the district myself, I asked around and heard nothing but rave reviews about this Middle School.

Before the year even started, the assistant principal combed through my child's file and noticed that he was placed in classes that were non graduation bound. This was absolutely not something I was aware of. I was so grateful that she was so knowledgeable and caught it quickly so that it could be fixed. I cannot imagine what I would have done finding out later that my son was non diploma bound. :( She was amazing.

From the first day of school, the staff has been welcoming and kind. His teachers are firm, yet, caring. They took time to know who he was and dedicate time to learn how he learns best. I was overwhelmed with gratitude because I saw my son go from being a child I had to fight with daily to go to school, to being up early and out the door before I was. My son comes home and raves about the teachers and staff. He has been given the tools he needs to learn and in the cases where he is irresponsible and does not complete something, I know that their policies are fair and in the best interest of the children.

I would like to mention his teachers, each and everyone of them has reached out to me in order to help make my son's transition smooth. Mr. Eiselman, PE, Mr. Pucci, Social Studies, Ms. Miller - English, Ms. Krager, Study Skills, Ms. Norman, Math, Mr. Crawford, Science, Ms. Coussa. Every single one of these teachers are absolutely amazing and if your child gets the chance to have one of them, you know they will be getting the best education possible.

I also LOVE the office staff, the Principal and the Vice Principals.

Thank you Lewis Middle for providing my son with a fun, safe, and academic environment to thrive in. My only regret is not coming sooner.

Posted: January 7, 2019

I love the reminders that come via phone

Posted: April 17, 2018

Every time I visit the school I see the Principal which is awesome to see. I really appreciate the times the school has open house so I can get to know my daughter's teachers.

Posted: April 17, 2018

My daughter has an IEP and Mrs. Labor that works with her is doing her best to help her in all her classes. I can see my daughter is improving some, but still needs a lot of work. English is the only class this year that my daughter is struggling with and she is in 6th grade.

Posted: April 17, 2018

I would give this rating a higher score, but won't because out of all my daughter's teachers I feel that one of her teacher's doesn't care that she does well or not in her class. I would have to hunt the teacher down just to make sure my daughter's homework got graded.

Posted: April 17, 2018

Posted: June 16, 2017

Specifically D Schamp. He is not suitable to teach. D Schamp 6th Grade English & Drama is not excellent he does not even rank as neutral. He is a bully, who uses intimidation and manipulation to run his class, engage with students and even parents. A strong confident 6th grader doesn't really exist, they may survive the class. It is for 2 hours per day with excessive homework and projects. Schamp changes the requirements mid-assignment. He states that being a trained thespian he has a booming voice, if this is true he could make it less booming less intimidating. He assigns too much homework. While he allows students to work on assignments in class he plays music - many kids are distracted by it. He is in appropriate on several levels. If we could do 6th grade again, we would change all the classes around make sure our son did not have Schamp.

Posted: June 16, 2017

Lewis is a good school. There are some great teachers and at least 1 rotten teacher. Staff is exceptional - Leadership is excellent - Some teachers give too much homework - laptops are good and bad - IEP students aren't able to have electives as their IEP is provided during that time -

Posted: June 16, 2017

Open access to the internet on their school provided laptops is a real concern. They are not locked down as much as We needed them to be

Posted: June 16, 2017

Our son was bullied. He finally opened up to us, we discussed this with VP Garcia, Counselor Weiss - both who were exceptional in helping us work with our son on how to better handle this situation, personally. They also were in communication with the bully and assisted them a similar situation where they had been on the receiving end. There are several ways a student can report a bully instance - anonymously or not. The policies on bullying is clear and all teachers and counselors engage with this zero tolerance. The process to address it is a very smooth and effective.

Posted: June 16, 2017

Posted: November 13, 2015

Lewis has all the perfect ingredients to be an amazing middle school, except for parent involvement. The Principal simply rocks. He has the perfect energy and enthusiasm, the right level of cool with the kids during the incredibly difficult pre-teen/early teen years, yet has their respect and commands with ease. He is the biggest advocate for the children and a true gem as a principal. The teachers in our experience have been terrific. They are committed, and put a lot of effort into the lessons. I focus my complains towards the district and the public education system that is making teachers try to fit everyone into the same box. In spite of that, I've seen teachers instill the critical thinking skills that kids need and keep them engaged. I've been super impressed with the teachers on every one of my interactions with them. The Music teacher is dynamite! His involvement with the band and orchestra programs is outstanding. The groups advocating for the children in the school (ASB and the Foundation) are great as well. And then I ask - Where are all the parents? Where is the community? Specially during this stage (11-14 Yo) where the kids are, what I see is a hands-off approach from a lot of parents. And that lack of support limits what the school can offer and how far it can go and keep growing in quality programs and experiences for the children.

Posted: February 10, 2015

A bit much to say the least. They offer after school Prime-time, which is great. As a working parent, the last thing i want to do after working 8 long hours, is come home and sit for hours on end to do tons of homework. They do have laptops with internet, for 6th graders which is great. On the flip side it gives them endless internet access which if you can imagine. Every time my sons misses 3 homework assignments he gets taken out of class to call me and let me know that he has 3 strikes... I think it would be a better idea if the teacher would allow for him to just work on the assignment, stay in class and listen to the lesson, and maybe email me if she thinks my son is behind. My son says he likes it, but i'm not thrilled to tell people "hey bring your kids here, and have tons of homework every night, every weekends.,

Posted: November 8, 2012

Compared to Hearst, a feeder school, the teacher quality drops but they do increase the volume of mindless homework and cryptic grading systems.

#	Name	Type	City	State	Distance
1	Del Cerro	Neighborhood/Subdivision	San Diego	CA	1.2 mi
2	Canyon View	Neighborhood/Subdivision	San Diego	CA	2 mi
3	Spectrum Center Blvd, Kearny Mesa	Neighborhood/Subdivision	San Diego	CA	3.9 mi
4	City Heights	Neighborhood/Subdivision	San Diego	CA	4.4 mi
5	Riverfront Condominium Rentals	Apartment Complex	San Diego	CA	4.9 mi
6	Mission Hills	Neighborhood/Subdivision	San Diego	CA	6 mi
7	The Heritage	Apartment Complex	San Diego	CA	6.9 mi
8	Legacy Walk	Condominium/Townhouse	San Diego	CA	7.1 mi
9	Santee Villas	Apartment Complex	Santee	CA	7.6 mi
10	Lakeview Village Apartments	Apartment Complex	Spring Valley	CA	7.6 mi
11	Jackson Pointe Townhomes	Condominium/Townhouse	Spring Valley	CA	8.3 mi

#	Name	City	State	Distance
1	Del Cerro	San Diego	CA	1.1 mi
2	Kensington	San Diego	CA	2.5 mi
3	Serra Mesa	San Diego	CA	3.1 mi
4	East County of San Diego	La Mesa	CA	3.8 mi
5	North Park	San Diego	CA	4.7 mi
6	Santee Trolley Square	Santee	CA	6.4 mi
7	Mission Hills	San Diego	CA	6.8 mi
8	Santee	Santee	CA	6.8 mi
9	El Cajon	El Cajon	CA	6.8 mi
10	Old Town San Diego	San Diego	CA	7.3 mi
11	Old Town	San Diego	CA	7.4 mi
12	Gaslamp Quarter	San Diego	CA	7.5 mi
13	Broadway Pier	San Diego	CA	7.8 mi
14	Seaport Village	San Diego	CA	8.1 mi

Base	Distance
San Diego Naval Medical Center	6 mi.
Miramar MCAS	6.1 mi.
MCRD San Diego	7.9 mi.
San Diego Naval Base	8.3 mi.
Coronado Naval Amphibious Base	9.7 mi.
North Island NAS	10 mi.
Naval Base Point Loma	12.1 mi.
Camp Pendleton	42.7 mi.

Lewis Middle School

San Diego, CA 92120

School Ratings

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Lewis Middle School

San Diego, CA 92120

School Ratings

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