Staring at the second one for a while... The sign definitely looks better than the lamp post but I don't think either looks *bad*.  Maybe just crop off the lamp post and have the sign with text?  Seems like they're moving that way anyway, less visual elements and more just text.

Just to add some info, I've gotten a handful accepted that are arguably lower quality... Some back in the day when filters were just becoming a thing.  I got our school on the map as one of the first in the state with its own filter, but others more recently that I don't think are anywhere near as good as these.

Maybe it's the Columbia text because it's vertical and in handwritten font which makes it a little bit harder to read it at first glance? just my experience that is, and maybe try changing the lamp post color to a more greyish color?

all rejected (thoughts?)