Foothills Elementary School

825 Allegheny Drive

School District

Academy No. 20 in the County of EL Paso An
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

School Map for Academy School District No. 20 in the County of EL Paso An

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 February 25, 2025

I have two Foothills Falcons and I cannot say enough wonderful things about our community-oriented school. Foothills is located on a beautiful campus in a safe neighborhood. We have a lovely Learning Garden; each students plants a seed in the spring and then helps harvest veggies/flowers in the fall. Our caring and involved teachers/admins strive to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all the kids. My kids love their “specials” classes which at Foothills means our engaging: STEAM, PE, Music and Art Programs. Throughout the school year our dedicated Foothills teachers/admins offer a variety of *free* clubs and inter-mural activities. Annually in the fall Foothills hosts a STEAM Night and in the spring it’s Art Night. Our music teacher coordinates grade-specific music programs; our PE teacher hosts multiple outdoor events. I feel Foothills Elementary offers so much more, in addition to the outstanding education I feel both my children receive. Also, our amazing PTO is extremely active and there are many opportunities for involvement.
Submitted by parent on December 03, 2024

This is our last year at Foothills as our son is a fifth grader. Since day one of kindergarten, it’s been such an amazing place. The staff truly cares about our kids. They are a very special group of people, very talented, creative and dedicated. We have felt supported through it all, especially when difficult things happened along the way. Our son loves his school, teachers and classmates. Can’t recommend Foothills enough.
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2024

Foothills Elementary is a great school with a focus on STEAM. Our family loves the excitement the teachers bring everyday, and the involvement from our community.The administration really makes a point to get to know each student (seemed impossible to me when I was told this, but it's true), and create a safe place for learning/ development.In September, the school worked together to raise money to update the STEAM Lab with cool high tech equipment (3D printers, Inventables) and furniture (modular workstations, magnetic storage).
Submitted by parent on April 29, 2024

We love Foothills. The teachers are amazing. They always have an open line of communication and are very helpful. Our son loves his fellow students. I love the stem program and the Spanish emersion classes.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2023

Foothills Elementary is a phenomenal school! I am a past educator and licensed social worker who has worked in schools for over a decade...and I can't say enough good things about this school, the administration, teachers, facilities, curriculum, and their dedication to social and emotional learning. From the moment we first spoke with the front desk, we were impressed with their family-centered approach and dedication to student learning. Our son is also learning Spanish and having wonderful experiences in the STEAM classes. The Principal and Assistant Principal really go above and beyond to support students and families. Overall, this is a welcoming and warm school that will support your student!
Submitted by parent on September 08, 2023

As not only a parent but also as a teacher in the same district, I cannot say enough wonderful things about Foothills Elementary School. From the parent perspective, I'm thrilled with the experience my older son had. Every teacher and staff member that he came into contact knew his name and could find ways to connect with him, even if that staff member never had him as a student. The communication with parents is excellent. The administration is constantly out and about throughout the school, getting to know every student, playing games during recess, and hosting/participating in community events. If you're lucky enough to attend Foothills, you truly become part of the family. I cannot wait for my younger son to start elementary school there.From the teacher perspective, it's incredibly clear how hard the staff works to make sure every single student has the supports they need to succeed. You can see this clearly as a parent, but working in the same district allows me to see the school through a different set of eyes as well as notice some of the subtleties that can often get missed if you don't know what to look for, and I can see the amount of care and effort this staff pours into every student at this school. This staff does not assume anything about their students other than every student is capable of greatness, and they challenge themselves on a regular basis to keep growing as professionals and do whatever they can to positively impact students. This school is doing some really powerful things that all schools should be doing. Trust me--you're missing out if you don't choose Foothills Elementary School.
Submitted by parent on September 02, 2023

As a parent of two children who attended Foothills Elementary School, I would highly recommend this school to other families looking for a positive and supportive elementary education. Over the last five years, my kids have found a sense of belonging to a community of students, staff, and family partners. They have an ownership of their education and have been encouraged and challenged with increased rigor in their academic core curriculum. The school has a sweet community feel as many families walk or bike to school and stay after to play and visit in the adjoining park. Parents can be seen throughout the building volunteering in classrooms, participating in parent organizations, attending school activities, and assisting in the community garden. In our experience at Foothills Elementary, their teachers have been enthusiastic, respectful, friendly, approachable, and supportive to the individual students under their care. They have been open and communicative about class performance, areas of needed improvement or enrichment, and partnered with us to foster a motivational learning experience for my kids. The school strongly supports not only social-emotional well-being for the individual student when needed, but also incorporates social-emotional learning within the classroom. They take time to teach the children about healthy ways to express feelings, empathy toward themselves and others, and taking responsibility for their actions. In our last five years of attending, the Foothills Elementary staff has gone above and beyond to support our children in academics and growing, to initiate a love of learning, and to foster an excitement to move forward and face what's ahead. I would encourage those looking for a delightful community school where students are the top priority look no further than Foothills Elementary.
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2023

The Foothills community is like a family to us. Our daughter enjoys school and the staff has made her feel special and loved. We have also been extremely happy with the educational experience our daughter has received. Her teachers have been knowledgeable and we very much value their expertise. The principal and assistant principal are approachable, helpful and deeply care about their students and families. We love Foothills!
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2023

Foothills is a great elementary school. We moved to the Colorado Springs area from the northern VA area, and we were in one of the best school districts in the nation. We were a little worried about the transition to Foothills, but we have more beyond delighted with the school and resources they have provided for our two children. We have one child that has special needs, and we were worried if we would receive the same support as we received from our prior school in VA. I believe the support and resources are equal, if not better than what we were expecting. Furthermore, I can't say about about the teaching staff at Foothills. They are wonderful, many of them have been with the school for several years. The education they are providing to our children is excellent. They are invested in their growth, care deeply about them as individuals, and do many activities on their own time because they genuinely want to do it. I am happy with the education they are providing to my children, and I would recommend this school to others. I think there is room for growth (as with anything). I would like to see higher engagement with the families in terms of how things are communicating with them, how funding to provided to the school is being utilized, where fundraising dollars are specifically going to, and what future needs or additional investments are needed. I think this would help the families want to make further investment in the school in terms of donations and time.
Submitted by parent on August 30, 2023

Foothills Elementary is an excellent school and the students receive a private school quality education at their public neighborhood school. The Spanish immersion program is the highlight. I had three kids attend Foothills and with continued secondary education in Spanish, my kids are becoming bilingual. There are so many activities at the school that many public schools do not have. There is a learning garden, before and after school clubs and music programs, and the STEAM program is also fantastic. The teachers are qualified, caring, and willing to communicate with parents. The parents are involved and are welcome in the school. The classrooms are always such a positive environment maintaining both discipline and kindness.The PTO goes above and beyond for the teachers, fundraising, and school activities. The administration is always available to talk with parents, which is quite unique. The Staff keeps an open mind and is willing to treat everyone as individuals. They also take the time to get to know the students and families. It is a very family friendly school with a supportive community. I highly recommend Foothills Elementary School.
Submitted by parent on August 28, 2023

We are so happy with Foothills. Our kids are excited to go to school everyday and we’ve been very impressed with all the teachers. We especially love the extracurricular activities!
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2023

As a parent with both a son in 3rd grade and a daughter in kindergarten, and who volunteers regularly at the school, I can honestly say that Foothills has exceeded my expectations. Both the teachers and the administrators at the school are friendly, professional, and easily accessible. The collaboration between the school and the community is also strong, as evidenced by their annual STEAM night and the fact that they are able to run a cross country program/team with 150+ participants purely through volunteers. While the building itself could use a renovation, the classroom teachers and art teacher do a great job making it feel welcoming and student focused. This school is the gem of Rockrimmon, which is a gem of a neighborhood in Colorado Springs. It anchors our community.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2023

We have been very happy with our children's experience at Foothills Elementary. Every teacher they have had has been caring, communicative, and supportive of their whole person. They have been cognizant of their academic abilities, and have differentiated as needed. Foothills has hosted a variety of community events designed to allow parents an opportunity to participate in the culture and community that they have built. One of the unique highlights was their annual STEAM night, where they partner with teachers, parents, and community members to allow students to experience a variety of STEM experiences such as virtual reality, cave simulations, and science experiments. This school has an active community garden that the students use for real world lessons. They also have each grade level perform a short musical program, where parents can see all the skills their students have been working on. Our children have also experienced a variety of field trips that have clear ties to community building and academic standards. Having come from a previous D20 school where much of this was missing, we couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2023

Foothills has been a game changer for our child and family. Our son transferred to Foothills from another school in D20 mid-year last year while struggling with emotional, behavioral, and mental health challenges. At the time he dreaded school and was practically traumatized to be in the school setting without the support he needed. Since transferring to Foothills he has received patient, caring, expert support and encouragement and he’s flourishing. Every teacher and staff member seems to go out of their way to say how happy they are to have him there, he’s excited to be at school, and is right on track academically. The teachers in the Affective Needs program in particular have been amazing in guiding us through his progress and keeping us updated on a daily basis. The communication from the school to parents is frequent and helpful, the vibe is welcoming of a diverse community, and the beautiful community garden is the icing on the cake. I encourage any parent who has the opportunity to enroll their child(ren) at Foothills ES to do so!
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2023

We have had the privilege of having two children attend Foothills elementary. Our daughter was the first. Our daughter is a very typical learner and requires very little intervention or additional help from teachers and staff. With that said, she always felt safe, supported and came home happy from Foothills. With our daughter now well into middle school it is obvious that Foothills was great at building a sound educational foundation. Our second child is a very nontypical learner. He requires a tremendous amount of help and support. The staff goes out of their way to help and bring many different solutions and support to our son. Foothills treats our kids like family and consistently put our kids' development and success at the forefront of their focus. Foothills is full of fun and learning opportunities that will create great adults and students. I cannot imagine any school doing a better job than Foothills in the support of both typical and non-typical students. Their Principals, Teachers and Assistant all show that their students are their top priority.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2023

I am thrilled to share my positive experience with Foothills. From the moment my children enrolled, it has been a truly supportive and nurturing environment. The teachers have gone above and beyond, providing a loving and supportive atmosphere that has greatly impacted my children's learning journey. They have created a safe space where my children feel valued and encouraged to explore their potential.What stands out is the exceptional involvement of the vice principal and principal in the students' lives. They make a genuine effort to know each child by name and establish a personal connection. Their accessibility and willingness to listen and address parents' concerns have been remarkable. I have always found them approachable, making it easy to discuss any issues or share feedback.The dedication and commitment of the staff at Foothills have made a lasting impression on my family. My children have developed a deep fondness and respect for their teachers, which is a testament to the positive impact these educators have had on their lives.I wholeheartedly recommend Foothills to any parent seeking a school that prioritizes both academic excellence and emotional well-being. The caring and supportive environment, along with the strong leadership, make it an ideal place for children to learn, grow, and thrive.
Submitted by other on August 27, 2023

I went to Foothills from Kindergarten through 5th grade. I really like the teachers because I feel like they are all nice and caring. My favorite specials were STEAM and PE. Planting in the garden is really fun.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2023

We have been a Foothills family for the last 6 years and three of our four children currently attend, with our 4th starting next year. The community at Foothills is amazing and it is definitely our "home." The teachers are engaged and care about all students. Parents have a number of opportunities to be involved and be a part of the school community. There are numerous extra curricular activities to appeal to a variety of student interest. Students are encouraged to maintain their "high five behavior," which teaches them how to become good citizens and treat others with respect. There is an inclusive environment where all are welcome. The specials teachers are amazing and enrich learning beyond what we were expecting when we started at the school. Mrs Cassano, the vice principal, is one of the shining stars of the school who facilitates communication and establishes the welcoming culture of the school.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2023

Foothills has been a school that has welcomed our family and made us a part of their family. Teachers and support staff, even though my kids may not be their students, have learned their names and their personalities and enable them to be themselves! I never have a doubt if my kids will be pushed to learn and think outside of the box.
Submitted by parent on April 06, 2023

We were warned about this school prior to our child's attendance and urged to send our child to either a private school or enroll in the school of choice program and look elsewhere within District 20. However, we wanted to give it a chance, since most of the other schools are quite distant from our neighborhood (Peregrine) and we felt sending our child to a school close to our home would allow us to become more involved. To be candid, some of the stories seemed a bit extreme and we were hesitant to believe them in their entirety. One of the worst was a child with an allergic reaction to bee stings going untreated. Another story involved numerous children almost being hit by cars in front of the school as a result of inattentive teachers. Lastly, we were warned that there was a new principal that was more concerned with her popularity among certain cliques of teachers and parents than dealing with her professional responsibilities.Unfortunately, we should have listened to our neighbors and friends with children that had attended Foothills. To date, we've observed similar or worse with regard to safety, and the assessment of the principal was painfully accurate. If you have the option, look elsewhere. We didn't, and we were stuck until the end of the year until we could transfer into different school that had a more professional principal and dedicated staff. Lastly, I'm sure there are many people who will disagree with this review and may post an experience very different from ours. I'm sure some folks have good experiences. I just caution parents to do some research. For example, look ate the Neighborhood Digest app and see some of the stories about the treatment of special needs students. Best of luck.