Student
I studied in this school for 14 years (from 2007 to 2021) and I'm currently graduating from the Communications and Media Studies degree at the Universidad Anáhuac Querétaro. After graduating from High School I had to move away from Mexico City to live a quiet life focused on my university studies. My story with the school was always hard to tell publicly but in my perspective I had a pretty hard life "surviving" every single class they used to offer even though some people who knows me pretty well would tell me that it's not true, but oh well... some people have their own perspectives.
First of all to put things in an "optimistic way" VERY few of the teachers I've met truly supported me in my educational journey, particularly in English, Science, and Literature; three of my favourite subjects. In fact, they knew that I'm destined for something greater because I was a student who always create something unusual either in painting, writing, dancing and even theatre (future filmmaker/novelist here!).
On the other hand, it's the enormous mistreatment I've endured that almost cost me my life. From middle school through high school, I was bullied by my classmates and looked down upon because of my social background (coming from a middle-class family) and my personal choices; girls often left me alone on group projects or made fun of the things I dream to do. But things got worse when I started high school because it was a time when boys and girls mixed altogether (mainly during recess), and everything they did to me was absolutely terrible.
Verbal and physical abuse, threats, nicknames like "poor" (because of my socioeconomic status) or "saint" (Santa, as they say in Spanish) because I didn't want to risk my life by going out partying every Friday night at a club, drinking and doing drugs as if the dangers of the city after dark didn't matter to me. All of this caused me constant stress (due to my tight study schedule), lack of sleep, and problems eating and drinking properly. I lost a lot of weight, suffered from insomnia, and the mood swings were so frequent that my parents thought I had some kind of bipolar disorder. News Flash: I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder at 21, three years after graduating, and I'm still battling it, even though I continue with medication, psychiatric consultations, and therapy after two severe relapses.
After reading previous reviews on this page, I can confirm that the school is completely elitist and that wealth determines status within it (students from humble backgrounds were considered inferior, although I've always believed this is NOT TRUE). Catholicism is treated as a joke; even if they call any group together for a quick morning mass or to help the priest, they continue to carry out these nefarious actions to maintain the school's "high status."
And this is my message to all the staff: Where were you when I was vomiting in the bathroom during my stressful episodes? When some of my former classmates threatened to destroy all my homework or any work I did? When they mocked my family background (I'm a young Venezuelan-Mexican woman)? Or, to put things serious...
When I was going through a difficult time after the death of my grandfather (with whom I had a very close relationship) at 77, and my group mocked my grief?
You can offer whatever you want, from a top-notch English education to Catholic studies, but I felt absolutely pressured to study at a place where status is far more important than staying close to God (after all, I never lost my faith in Jesus and his beliefs) and I just hope that if you or anyone else is reading this, please reconsider which school you want to send your children to.
3 other reviews for Cumbres International School Lomas - (Reviews aren't verified )
Student
The worst years of my life. I was at this miserable school for five years.
1. Non-international education: There are no programs that extend to an international level. The IB, IGCSEs, or A levels are critical for admission to an international university. This school doesn't even make the slightest effort to push you to leave Catholic institutions (ANAHUAC), much less Mexico
2- Toxic Environment: Too much elitism, money, and your parents' relationships with the coordinators determined how the teachers treated you. There was a lot of bullying, a social hierarchy, and in my last years there, it escalated to physical violence against one of my classmates. The perpetrators were simply spoken to harshly; there were no suspensions or expulsions. They didn't know how to control the girls, who had been bullying them since they were 7 years old, discriminating against them, and making sh... read full review
Student
Avoid this school:
1.- Toxic atmosphere: The school is very elitist and the overall vibe is one of materialism and appearance-keeping above everything else. Lots of bullying and favoritism toward wealthy kids.
Your wealth will determine your status within the community, and your kid will learn to think this way. I used to feel a lot of pressure to own expensive brands and show off how privileged I was.
2.- No international focus: English is barely used, and poorly taught. An international student would struggle unless they are fluent in Spanish. The institution does not adopt IB or any other international standard. The main selling point of this school is the contacts you will make as part of their community, and these contacts are almost exclusively Mexican so even this won't add much value unless you are Mexican or plan to stay in Mexico for long.
3.- Low Academic standar... read full review
Student
Because the teachers are very bias, they don't treat students they don't like well, meaning there's so much favouritism and only favoured ones succeed. Catholicism is shoved in your face all the time, with extreme doctrines that mislead you, leading me to hate said religion. The hypocrisy is evident as well as there's nothing international abt this school. We speak in spanish all the time, with bad quality english teachers and little to no opportunity of thinking about a university outside of CDMX, let alone Mexico as a whole. The environment is toxic and bullies/ "mean girls" dominate the school, teachers can't control their classes. My years here have been the worst. No talk of international exams, like IB or IGCSE's, meaning no remote connection to the European Syllabus.
