Forest Grove Elementary School

1065 Congress Avenue

School District

Pacific Grove Unified
Grade

K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

School Map for Pacific Grove Unified 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 07, 2020

Avoid this school at all costs. My children have been students here since kindergarten. The school has missed the mark with regards to covid. I have friends whose kids go to Robert Down Elementary and they are with their teachers for 4-6 hours per day. The teachers have it set up so the parents have minimal work to do. Not at Forest Grove, at Forest Grove my children spend 45 minutes per day with the teacher. Maybe two days a week they have another 15-20 minute meeting with the teacher. The rest is through online sites, with prerecorded lectures. I spend my time juggling between getting my work done, and helping them complete their work. The websites the students need to use are constantly changing. The daily meeting times are constantly changing. The teachers are unwilling to even grade the children's work. Huge disappointment. If you are moving to the area, I recommend you check out Carmel schools or Robert Down. Do not do this to your children.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2019

We love how dedicated the teachers and staff are to the students. The parent involvement is amazing. We were worried, when we found out we were moving to California, about our children's education and we couldn't be happier to be part of the Forest Grove community.
Submitted by parent on April 22, 2019

Excellent school with an amazing staff that cares about their students.
Submitted by parent on December 11, 2018

I couldn't love FG more. The teachers, staff, and administrators are all top notch. I am so pleased my children get to attend such an amazing school.
Submitted by parent on October 30, 2018

We love it! Excited to be a part of this community and have our kids attend this school.
Submitted by parent on September 03, 2018

Not great but not bad. It’s an average elementary school that could use some work on being exclusive to all students, fixing the achievement gap, and replacing some teachers who just are mediocre.
Submitted by parent on June 03, 2017

I was very excited for my son to be in Forest Grove when he entered kindergarten. The first couple years went fine. Around the middle of first grade my ex and I went through a long divorce and custody battle. This obviously had negative affects on my son. His grades reflected this fact. he started falling behind. The school was notified of the situation. I feel that they did little to nothing to help or support him. At a parent/teacher conference in October 2016, I basically had the teacher throw her hands in the air, along with the reading specialist and say what's wrong with your child. Meanwhile I hadn't been notified once earlier in the school year that there in fact was a problem. Now at the end of the year, my son's reading hasn't improved since November, even though he is seeing their reading 'expert'. And it is clear that the principal is done with me as a parent expressing concerns and asking questions. I am very disappointed in Forest Grove.
Submitted by parent on March 15, 2017

I think this is a great school overall. The teachers and Aids are very good and that is what makes this a great school.
Submitted by parent on November 18, 2015

The teachers are trying hard and they must be excellent teachers, they are the reason this school is rated as high as it is. Other things in this school seem to be run in a hap-hazard way. The receptionists are rude to parents, I have learned not to ask them a question, I look around for any other adult to ask my question, or sit in the office hoping someone else will walk by. When I have volunteered for PTA events, if we discover that something is needed, they try to trick a new parent into going into the office. If that doesn't work, people start listing the number of times they have had to interact with the front office people, flat out stating that it isn't their turn! Finally someone will break down and go. When I enrolled my child, I came on the first possible day of registration with all of my forms. My child was not assigned a teacher until the morning school started. The receptionist had me check back in daily to get the assignment. I couldn't call, I had to go in and the old principal didn't plan to go over teacher assignments until the morning that school started. That Principal retired and they have a new principal starting next year. I am hopeful for next year!
Submitted by parent on August 25, 2014

Overall I have been happy with the education my kids have gotten at Forest Grove. The teachers are what makes this school the success it is. The majority of the teachers really care about the students and it is apparent. On the other hand, the administration is very unorganized and does not provide the teachers with what they need to truly make them shine. Communication is horrible and last minute if it happens. You will be horrified by the registration process. The school could be so much more successful with better organization and effective planning by the administration. They really need to go and visit other schools out of the area and see how other schools function, get out of the bubble for a bit. Technology is extremely poor here and it gets worse every year; they need to catch up quickly or the students will continue to fall behind on both a state and national level.
Submitted by parent on August 02, 2013

I really like Forest Grove and my children love it. For the most part I feel the school really tries to help students. My only complaint is the way they assign instructional aides. The district has a contract with an outside organization and I don't think the organization always puts the needs of the children first. I like that my children have physical education everyday. They go to the computer lab at least once a week (full time computer teacher). They also have music on a weekly basis. I love that this school has so many of the things other schools are eliminating because of budgets. Overall, I'm very happy with the education my children receive from Forest Grove. It is a good school in a great small town.