Cardinal Forest

As a parent, I couldn’t be happier with Forest Ridge Elementary School. From the moment you walk in, you feel the warmth and sense of community that makes this school special. The staff and leadership team truly care about every child—they go above and beyond to make sure students are safe, supported, and excited about learning.Academically, the school sets high expectations while also providing the right support so that every child can succeed. Teachers are creative, dedicated, and keep families in the loop about progress. I love how much emphasis they place on both academics and social-emotional growth. Programs like the Zones of Regulation help students learn how to manage their feelings and build positive relationships.Forest Ridge also shines when it comes to diversity and inclusivity. The student body reflects so many cultures and backgrounds, and the school celebrates that in meaningful ways through events, activities, and curriculum. It’s wonderful to see children learning in such an accepting and respectful environment.Communication from the school is excellent, with regular newsletters and updates so parents always know what’s happening. There’s also a strong partnership with the PTA, which plans family-friendly events that bring everyone together.Most importantly, my child feels happy and proud to be a FRES Eagle. The school’s values of Focus, Respect, Empathy, and Safety are more than just words - they are lived out daily. Forest Ridge Elementary truly is a place where students can soar to success!

I am extremely concerned about the leadership and overall direction of this school. There appears to be a significant disconnect between administration and the day-to-day realities affecting both students and staff. The current leadership has been in place since the school opened, yet meaningful progress and accountability remain noticeably absent.It is deeply troubling that student performance challenges are consistently attributed solely to parents, with little acknowledgment of the school’s own standards, instructional quality, or leadership responsibility. Effective leadership requires shared accountability, transparency, and a commitment to measurable improvement — all of which appear to be lacking.Messaging such as “Just show up” reflects a concerningly low expectation standard and does not align with the level of academic rigor and commitment our children deserve. Students should be encouraged to strive for excellence, not minimal participation.Additionally, there seems to be a misalignment of priorities. While community initiatives and fundraising efforts can be valuable, they should never overshadow the fundamental responsibility of providing a safe, accountable, and high-quality educational environment.At this time, the school’s trajectory feels unsustainable. Families entrust this institution with their children’s education and well-being, and that trust must be earned through competent leadership, clear standards, and demonstrated results. Significant change is necessary to restore confidence and create the environment our students deserve.

The school is extremely racist. When my daughter attended most of the staff was white and was so unqualified to teach children it was ridiculous. It seems as though they were employed strictly from the color of their skin. Many of them had drug issues, anger issues, mental issues, or just extreme flaws like being dishonest and disrespectful and all around extremely unprofessional and shouldn't be anywhere near children. They mistreat children with special needs and disorders and the principal did nothing about it. I went through absolute hell with my child there and I was elated when she finally left that place. Wouldn't recommend at all.

We are thrilled to have our two children attend the Julia Brown School of Laurel. Our older child has thrived and become more resilient and independent, and our younger child's language skills have increased substantially. The staff are caring and compassionate while maintaining high expectations. Our children look forward to attending each day. We love JBS!