Countryside Elementary School

Our family recently moved from Lowes Island to Sterling Cascade, and the transition to Sterling Elementary has been an absolute revelation. If you are a parent considering this school for your children, please know that it is a hidden gem. Principal Jennifer Short and Assistant Principal Colt Fletcher lead with total transparency and a deep commitment to safe community, diversity, and academic excellence.The progress of our daughter Aafiya in the Special Education program has been life-changing. Thanks to the expertise of Ms. Karen Rios, Ms. Ericka Valles, Mrs. Long, Ajima Sarah, and her other dedicated teachers, Aafiya improved so much in just six months that she transitioned to the standard school bus. She is more communicative, confident and engaged than ever before. Our first-grader, Sophia, is equally thriving under Ms. Jessica Thor and her team, including Ms. Alissa Westrick, Maria Burel, and Cody Horvath. Sophia comes home excited and curious every day, which is a stark, positive contrast to our previous school experience.The administrative support here is truly unmatched. Ms. Rubidia Saravia Martinez spent an hour personally helping me navigate ParentVue and transportation forms to ensure everything was correct. She helps with everything you need as a parent. Additionally, Mr. Rafael Cruz (Transportation Lead) was incredibly responsive and helpful as we navigated the StopFinder app. Finally, the school’s use of ClassDojo is a total game-changer for parent-teacher communication, keeping us connected to our children's progress daily. We are so grateful to be part of the Sterling Elementary community. Ms. Short, thank you so much for all the wonderful things you and all your great staff and teachers do for our children and community.

Thanks a lot from Kristin.Bashore she is very helpful and nice with people I ragestred my Doaghter she explained everything for me I recommend her higherly .

School is too good .i dont know why rating is low thats so strange.overall this is the best school in virginia

The school is good, feeds well, is well kept, and provides good education to students. This year they have a dean and she is not that friendly. My child does not like her demeanor and feels that she does not talk friendly to kids. Overall Horizon is good just some staff need to be more friendly and better costumer service by the main office staff.

My student doesn’t feel excited about attending this school. The bus schedule keeps changing in the middle of school and I have to drop them off everyday now. Not sure why the schedule is so inconvenient to students. For a public school this is bad planning. Substitute teachers have no understanding of how to take over and make the most of the day. They are there for a paycheck and clock out end of he day.