Forwood Elementary School

I am not happy as a parent. I was excited about this school and strategically picked a place to live so that my child could enroll at Forwood. However, it has not been a positive experience. The first day of school, he told me that he hated it because the children were mean to him. He has been bullied on punched on by kids who ride his bus. My son didn't have a teacher for the first two months of school. They just got a permanent teacher. So, in short, the children were running amuck and there appears to be a lack of control in the classroom. My son also is in 5th grade and has developed a whole new vocabulary of disgusting words and concepts that he has learned from this school (e.g., sexual gestures, words and concepts). It is very disturbing to say the least. I regret my decision to move in this school district. Now, I am researching switching schools because of the experience. It's not welcoming at all from a diversity, inclusion and belonging point-of-view. Furthermore, there is no support structures in place for children who need it. I didn't have this experience at Mount Pleasant Elementary. They had support in place when my son attended that school -- and it helped him to transition. I guess that Brandywine schools are going downhill because they are losing a lot of good students to charter school programs. Thankfully my son only has one more year -- I'm going to try to choice him into Newark Charter, Conrad or Odyssey. But again, this has been a terrible experience. I wonder if Talley Middle School reads these reviews? I received paperwork from them to consider enrolling, but I'm not trying to have my son follow these students into that school. Also, my son comments that the students are behind. Like, they are struggling with basic information. Even worse, he gets bullied and reports that his work gets stolen away from him, copied and the teachers don't do anything about it. How are children learning by not doing the work? I'm telling you that if you care about your child's academic progress and their social/emotional well being, evaluate your options and reconsider sending them to this school. Because had I read a review such as this, I might have moved somewhere else. I guess that, on the bright side, you can always roll the dice and choice your child into Claymont. But do I really have to do this? Shouldn't they just get it right? ***Nothing further follows***

The staff is friendly and knowledgeable! Want a great neighborhood school? This is the place!

This is the school that made my son hate school. Years later in the appo school district, and we are still undoing the damage forwood did. Forwood doesnt allow the kids to move or burn energy throughout the winter and then the staff complain about how many hyperactive kids they have (recess is sit quietly and draw time if the weather is anything but perfect). The staff wouldn't tell us about the problems with our son or respond to our emails asking how things were going until situations reached crisis level. Then we'd get called in and they would "diagnose" him with any number of SEVERE mental disorders including borderline personality disorder!!! (Hint: they're grade school teachers, not psychiatrists. The professionals were appalled the teachers would even dare suggest such a diagnosis!) Absolutely awful school for my child. It was a cyle that repeated EVERY year that we were there.We moved to appo, and my son has flourished in comparison and almost likes school again. All the "forwood issues" we had just ceased to exist. I always blamed myself for the troubles he had in elementary school. But the night and day difference between our experience at forwood and cedar lane convinced me the school had a lot to do with it.Basically if your child isn't low energy and naturally subservient, this school won't know how to handle them and will do a terrible job educating them. Even if you know your child can be a handful and try to stay involved, they'll cut you out of the process as much as possible while they mishandle the situation as badly as they can muster.The staff was childish and rude when confronted about their refusal to respond to our emails and the principal was condescending and angry the few times I spoke to her. I remember asking myself why someone who didn't seem to like kids would be a principal at an elementary school.I really don't understand the positive reviews here. I guess everyone's experience is different. Ours was definitely not a good one.

My daughter has attended Forwood for the past 3 years. It is such a wonderful place! As a teacher myself - I tend to be picky about the education of my own kids. She is consistently challenged and encouraged to succeed! Keep up the good work!!!

Love this school. Both my kids go to it and the teachers and staff are wonderful.