Boise

My daughters love going to this school! The principal is actively involved in the school and makes a point to know all the students. He greets all the children in the morning outside the school and you commonly see him at school events along with the teachers. There is a very strong PTA, which plans lots of fun events and activities for the students and families throughout the year. The school does a lot of programs that help the children be excited about learning. We came from another district that did not put in the same effort, as a result my daughters were not excited about going to school. It sure makes a difference when there is a friendly, supportive, and encouraging environment for the students. Thank you Southwood, keep up the great work!

Our experience at Elk Ridge Elementary School was academically adequate, but deeply challenging from a social and emotional perspective.We raised concerns early about ongoing patterns of social exclusion and bullying affecting our child. Unfortunately, these concerns were initially minimized and framed as typical peer conflicts, which delayed meaningful intervention. As a result, the situation persisted longer than it should have and had a significant impact on our child’s sense of safety and well-being.We also experienced resistance when requesting formal documentation and acknowledgment of the situation, which placed an ongoing emotional and administrative burden on our family. Rather than feeling supported as partners, we often felt that we had to repeatedly advocate for issues that required clearer adult responsibility and earlier action.While the school promotes values of inclusion and family engagement, our experience showed a gap between those values and how complex social-emotional situations are handled in practice. Stronger, earlier intervention in bullying situations, clearer boundaries, and more consistent communication with families would make a meaningful difference.We hope this feedback supports reflection and improvement for future students and families.