Hammond Elementary School

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!

We are a military family on a 2-3yr PCS cycle. This school is fantastic!!!!! The teachers, staff, admin and parents are great. My middle and youngest children attended and were supported with IEPs and 504s. They worked with us before school and during to be sure the kids felt ready and comfortable. They worked with me as a team to teach the kids how to advocate for themselves. They were knowledgeable and had great suggestions and ideas to help with adjustments. I am so thankful that we were able to spend the time here that we did!!! I hope they receive a Blue Star rating for being military friendly.

Esta escuela es muy buena, el personal, las maestras son muy amables y respetuosas, siempre están dispuestos a ayudarte si pasa algo siempre escriben o llaman para informar a los papás , siempre tienen eventos para los niños para los padres, cuando llegas en las mañana, las maestras siempre están afuera saludando a los papás a los niños, con muy buena actitud y ánimo, se preocupan por que los niños estén bien.

Learning/Teaching: If you have a self-motivated kid, they'll do fine. Any shy/ unmotivated kids are ignored and swept under the rug. Half the teachers are there just to get a paycheck- lazy, lack of grading, want the easy way out without challenging the kids. Other half of the teachers are wonderful, but your kid's trajectory is impacted if they get a subpar teacher. Staff and administration relies on a rich demographic to make up for their teaching gaps with private tutors. Such a joke. Bringing up issues to administration is met with precanned language just to cover the school's liability.Special Education: Jump through hoops to get IEP meetings, makes parents prove issues above and beyond just because there aren't enough resources to truly support all the kids that need them. Again, the school just relies on parents being able to afford outside help. Safety: Front staff acts like any person coming into the building is an inconvenience to their day. They just buzz anyone in without properly vetting ID/ reason for their presence. Downplayed events in 2024 where adults were watching/taking pics of kids from other side of the fence and blamed it on "excited grandparents."

My kids want to attend the best school system, where they can also gain good knowledge.

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.