Falling Branch Elementary School

735 Falling Branch Road

School District

Montgomery County Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
Type

public

School Map for Montgomery County Public Schools

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 June 09, 2022

We have three children and all have gone to FBE their entire elementary school experience, including the pandemic and the academic aftermath of that period. I have great faith in and thanks for FBE. I can’t say the same for all of the Christiansburg school system. I am glad my children have the opportunity to experience this fine school, its staff, and leadership. I have had some disagreements at times with MCPS academic policy and have been open with the teachers that my home values sometimes support more wholistic learning goals than some of the more prescriptive SOL-based education. The FBE teachers have always been very understanding and we’ve been able to maintain constructive partnerships that I believe my children have benefited from. We’ve never had an extraordinary bullying experience that wasn’t appropriately resolved and there have been a couple of small instances where our own children have made poor decisions and the school has been quite supportive and helpful in correcting the behavior and helping the child understand why a particular rule exists. I do not have experience with the special education resources of the school so I have rated them in the middle of the road. I have, however, seen counselors pull my children in to help strengthen their friends when going through a particularly tough time (always after asking for our consent). I believe those experiences have had positive effects on both my children and their friends. It has been comforting to know that such tactics and resources are available should our children ever need them. The school leadership goes out of its way to develop relationships with the children and even regularly encourages them on into middle and high school. The children genuinely like their principal and vice principal. This is a wonderful elementary school.
Submitted by teacher on May 13, 2022

I have taught in many schools and FBE has the best school climate of any of them. The teachers work together and they like working at FBE. In fact, it was very difficult for me to get hired at FBE because there were very few openings each year.
Submitted by parent on April 22, 2022

This school is absolutely wonderful! The entire faculty and staff are so kind and caring. I have two kids with special needs and I cannot begin to tell you how dedicated and hard working the sped staff is! We love this school so much that we moved just so we could make sure our children went there. The Principals are excellent leaders and the facilities are clean and beautiful.
Submitted by parent on November 02, 2018

Before my children attended Falling Branch I home-schooled them. When we moved here I was hesitant to put them in public school, but decided to give it a try. I have not regretted it. I have had 3 children in Falling Branch and have experience with all grade levels. I have had the opportunity to get to know and develop friendships with several of the teachers and office staff. I believe that everyone at this school truly cares for the students and wants what's best for them. The only reason I didn't give it 5 starts is because I feel like my standards are fairly high and to earn 5 starts it must be pretty much perfect. While I have had a few very small issues with the school they have been taken care of quickly and effectively. Overall this is a wonderful school and great place to live.
Submitted by parent on October 05, 2013

As a teacher from another state and school district I find Falling Branch to be very behind the game. I was in a fourth grade class helping the teacher with a math lesson and I offered that the assignment would be more easily done by dividing rather than counting by threes up to the number 36 and both the teacher and the students agreed that they had not yet learned simple division. Did I say it was fourth grade?? Then my first grader has been counting circles for a month where she was adding and subtracting up to 20 before enrolling and ready/eager to learn more about money and telling time. Look at Great Schools for Northern Virginia and you'll see a large difference in the ratings. MCPS is broken and someone needs to fix it!