Black Forest Hills Elementary School

25233 East Glasgow Drive

School District

Cherry Creek 5
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:18
Type

public

School Map for Cherry Creek 5 School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on December 29, 2021

All of my three kids went to this school and this is definitely the best school so far.
Submitted by parent on November 12, 2018

It is a great school. Seeing what they learn everyday I am confident to rate this school 10/10.
Submitted by parent on August 20, 2017

The staff is unorganized. Poor communication from teachers. Very disappointed.
Submitted by parent on August 05, 2017

So glad to have our daughter attending this school. Best teaching staff I've experienced.
Submitted by parent on July 23, 2017

Past negative reviews focused on the ineffective principal. Since the new principal took over, this school is phenomenal! My children love it and they're excelling. Tallyn's Reach is a wonderful community and we have a terrific school too!
Submitted by parent on April 09, 2017

We have been extremely impressed with the education path given at BFHE. Our child is testing an entire year ahead in reading, writing and math. The fact that the teachers individualize each child's learning path and don't hold back the ones that are excelling, is doing everyone a service. This way, the children that need a little extra help can get what they need and the kids that are ahead are not getting bored and acting out. There is use of iPads (educational apps only) but lets face it, technology is very much a part of our children's future. If they don't get ahead with these skills now, they will be behind when they get to college. Our child receives homework and due dates for assignments, so I feel that we are well prepared to move up and onto middle school when the time comes.
Submitted by parent on February 10, 2016

I am surprised that BFHE isn't rated at least a 9, but then again there were those folks that had issues with the previous principal that are no longer at the school, but still tend to show up on these types of forums.We have been at BFHE since it opened and we came over from the other elementary school in the neighborhood. BFHE is a great school that has scored top notch test scores since opening including the highest test scores for all 4th grade classes in the entire school district in 2014/15.If people are concerned about the education their kids are getting, maybe they should look at what the district or even the government is mandating students "learn". My only gripe about BFHE is that they need to allow the students that are ahead of their classmates academically move onto harder subjects and items. There is no reason that students that want to be challenged cannot be, but it seems BFHE is being confined by the district.
Submitted by parent on October 12, 2015

Over reliance on techonology and not enough emphasis on a whole education and writing skills.
Submitted by teacher on August 06, 2015

School provides a interactive education for students through a IPad. I am currently a 7th grader and my experience at this school was very good. They create opportunities by creating clubs at a early level such as debate club and running club.
Submitted by parent on April 01, 2015

BFH has been a revelation for our son. They welcomed him with open arms and are working WITH us to help him. His IEP is being followed and the communication has been great. The new principal, so far, has been awesome. Kudos to Black Forest Hills.
Submitted by parent on November 23, 2014

I severely discounted criticisms of the former principal -- because nothing negative happened to my family (quite the opposite) and you had to consider the sources. But seeing how the new principal operates is enlightening. My 3rd grader said she's seen the new guy multiple times already in her classroom-- and NEVER saw the former principal.
Submitted by parent on July 08, 2014

Funny how many of the negative comments are so skeptical to believe there could be ANYONE who likes this school. The negative comments are appalling, honestly. This is going on the 3rd year that we have been with BFHE. I have a 16 and 13 year old as well as an 7 and 5 year old. I have experience with other schools and I must say, I LOVE the staff. Not once have I been made to feel unwelcome or that my interest in my child was unheard. The teachers call regularly to give me progress reports. My kindergartener was READING alone and my 1st grader was reading at a 3rd grade level!! My children have done nothing but excel and they simply adore their teachers, office staff, and the principal. When my older children went to elementary school, I wish they would have been able to go to this school. Others are correct in saying that they are preparing children for their futures... A future of technology. I applaud BFHE and would tell everyone I know to take their children there. Keep in mind: there will be negativity anywhere you go. Especially in an "uppity" area like this. You cannot please everyone. That's why there's SOC: go elsewhere and allow my children to learn. This school!
Submitted by parent on June 13, 2014

This is the best school I have ever come in contact with! I have a large family and have been in several schools because of age range and moving twice but Black Forest Hills has the best staff and principal I have seen anywhere. The principal, who is unfortunately leaving for a director position, is the most "put together" school leader out there. The staff is very open with communication and work their tails off to accommodate children with special needs or low abilities. They use a lot of technology which I was hesitant about at first but after seeing the end product and realizing that they are helping prepare the kids for jobs that do not even exist yet I jumped on board. We were going to move again because of my our jobs but we decided to stay until our last two go to middle school so they can finish up at BFH. We just can't say enough positive things about this school!
Submitted by parent on May 05, 2014

This school uses IPAD too much and the principal likes just "technology' rather than kids need to learn. Bad academic plan, bullying in classroom, poor teaching skills....etc. Teachers usually spend lots of time for training. Not enough paper books in the library, too much IPAD use, NO hand writing. Rude staffs & principal.
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2014

We feel fortunate to be part of the BFHE community. Our child is happy to go to school each day and adores her teachers. The ability grouping multiple times a year helps teachers teach & kiddos learn at the right levels. Teachers are equipped, learn as they go w/ Common Core, & are provided loads of training. The principal is helpful & very supportive of her teachers. She is not afraid to address issues that arise within a community that has very high expectations. All schools have strengths & goals. In my opinion BFHE teachers & staff members are strong communicators & great with technology. They're willing to try anything & do so with grace. I do feel they need to focus on strengthening their writing curriculum. The scores & daily practice indicate that more training & focus could/should be a goal. The teachers and support staff should also consider paying closer attention to advanced and gifted learners. Ability grouping is not the only accommodation necessary to meet individual needs. This is a very new school that s off to a great start and I have no reservations recommending it to families! This is the beginning of a long journey for a school that has limitless potential.
Submitted by parent on April 22, 2014

BFH has been a great experience to date for our family. This is not our first CCSD school and, by way of comparison, BFH has its avt together-- an engaged principal who is a leader among teachers, students and parents; a diverse approach to learning and teaching across subject areas; real-world application of technology that is integrated throughout the day. I love that the exposure to technology has allowed students and teachers to face the good and the bad which is realistic in today's world. I would much rather be having conversations with my 5th grader now about social media and technology than ignoring the realities of what my child can, will or has been exposed to. The principal does not sugar-coat that this is a learning environment and the teachers and staff at the school are learning too. I love the class sizes, the opportuties for extra activities at the school (running club, drama, choir), the ability-grouped classes and the constant communication. Keep it up BFH!
Submitted by parent on April 14, 2014

This is our first year at this school. First off, let me say I think the extreme negative reviews on this site should be discounted somewhat. The neighborhoods feeding into this school are great neighborhoods, however, there are a number of parents in this area that have elitist attitudes, are very hard to please, have unrealistic expectations for their kids as well as this school - and therefore have a tendency to unfairly rate this school with one star just because they have something they are unhappy about. This doesn't apply to all parents, but definitely some. As a parent that chose to move to this area and this school from a truly bad school, we have the perspective to say with high confidence this is definitely not a bad school by any means. Is this school perfect? No. This is a very good school, considering it's only in it's second year. We have been very happy with the support we've received from the teachers, as well as from the principal in adapting the curriculum to challenge our daughter. I feel this school is on the right track and in the coming years will work out it's few shortcomings and be among the best schools in the area. Keep up the good work BFHE!
Submitted by parent on March 14, 2014

There is a pinterest social media network at bfh which has involved both teachers and students. The admin was notified that some of the links from user's sites were accessing material that was unsafe for children. Although the admin appeared not to notify all the children's families, teachers were notified and given the opportunity to clean up any indiscretions, eliminate student followers and /or shut down their sites. Basically, having been responsible for the issuance of the ipads and for drawing many of these students into the network, it appears the school bailed out on the kids, leaving them in an unsafe situation without notifying parents. Most student users are still in the network and some of them are following or are followed by strangers who post unsafe material. Even if your child only follows other children, those children may be following strangers and so the material is accessible by all students in the bfh network. Please check your child s account closely as some followers link out to highly inappropriate material which is not safe for children.
Submitted by parent on March 04, 2014

After relocating to CO for work our primary home search was solely based on quality schools for our 6th, 5th, and 3rd grade kiddos. We built our home solely on the reputation of BFHE and WOW! We are super happy with our decision! The principal and staff welcomed our diverse family, has helped our third and fifth graders identify their strengths and weaknesses and develop a team based plan to move forward. As parents we share the responsibility to enrich, improve and sustain in cooperation with BFHE. The communication stream goes both ways, it is open and honest, expectations are set to be met and the teachers, staff and principal work with us forming an alliance with the ultimate goal of confident, informed, technology forward thinkers and users. Our kiddos are not in the gifted and talent programs, but BFHE treats each of them dignity and respect. Our kids learning has only soared since we started at BFHE this year. THANK YOU TEAM BFHE !!!!!
Submitted by parent on February 27, 2014

This is our 2nd year in this school and could not be happier. Our twins are now 2nd graders and love going to school and be challenged. We've never felt unwelcome and teachers keep us parents well informed of our kids progress. We love Common Core, maybe because the way it's taught, our kids find it easy, so they love it. We don't cry over home work like some have mentioned here. Not all children adapt Common Core easily, it requires a different way of thinking. We're happy here and don't see any reason to drive to a different school, instead get to walk from our house.