Forestdale Elementary School

6530 Elder Avenue

School District

Fairfax County Public Schools
Grade

PK, K-6
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:10
Type

public

School Map for Fairfax 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 December 05, 2024

Our kids moved from one of the best public schools in North London UK to this school and so far our experience has been good. The children have found the school cirriculum easier than the UK but all in all we've found the staff here to be attentive, emotionally supportive of the students, they are engaged and on top of our child's activities and needs during parent-teacher meetings and the socializing activities the school sets up for parents and kids in the evenings have been fantastic.Our child has been fortunate enough to enroll in some of the AAP classes and the teachers here have been especially attentive. Our child is excited to learn and always engaged. She partakes in the school band and in AAP math and is always keen to do her homework and compete with the other students. The students themselves have formed a study group which they do online together - taking part in online math puzzles on their school laptops.The only thing I can criticize is that there don't appear to be any significant after school activities or clubs, perhaps we haven't fully researched but in asking we were told there weren't any.
Submitted by other on June 13, 2023

the place is a total disaster! The teachers are lazy, the curriculum is irrelevant, and don't even get me started on the facilities. It's no wonder the students are struggling so much. I hope they can do something to turn things around soon, but honestly, I wouldn't hold my breath. DO NOT BRING YOUR KIDS HERE I WISH I WOULDVE RATED THIS 0 BUT THERES NO OPTION FOR 0
Submitted by teacher on August 24, 2019

Wonderful! Affirming, encouraging, and empowering, proud of our diverse learners and all the greatness they bring, admiring their achievements every day.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2017

Forestdale is a great school. The teachers and staff have worked so hard in turning the school and test scores around.
Submitted by parent on September 10, 2017

Forestdale is great. The teachers and staff are attentive and caring
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2017

Forestdale is great! Don't let the greatschools score fool you. Our daughter has enjoyed kindergarten thoroughly this year and Ms. Huemmer is a large part of this. The teachers and staff are amazing! They are all so patient, kind and creative. I see her progressing in her reading and letters. I just love the vibe you get when you enter the school and the love you feel from all around. It’s a great family atmosphere. The new principal won principal of the year! Great programs for all kids.
Submitted by parent on February 12, 2016

Why would you emplement a no home work policy??? Can anyone answer that?? Terrible school I wish my daughter was still in her old school.
Submitted by other on January 09, 2016

I have been a teacher for 20+ years and after teaching at 8 other schools I am happy and honored to teach at Forestdale! The teachers and staff are so dedicated! The administration and whole staff has so much experience and they truly care about all of the students! Forestdale is also the cleanest school I've ever seen!
Submitted by other on June 01, 2015

-New principal implemented a "no homework" policy which I found counter- productive, especially for 6th graders as it does NOT prepare them for the vigor studies of middle school. Because of this, it was difficult to find out what my student was learning without having to contact the teacher or look through the scant weekly take-home folder.-Unfriendly front desk staff.-"Quadrants"/trailers should not be used as a homeroom classroom. Should have left it as the resource center like before. For two years, my child was stuck learning in this trailer.
Submitted by parent on May 24, 2015

My daughter is in the enhanced autism program at Forestdale. She has been there since preschool (she is now in second grade) and we could not be happier. We found that Forestdale could offer her all of the same supports that she could get in a private school for learning disabilities. ALL of the special ed teachers are wonderful--real professionals with so much knowledge and experience with special kids. We get daily reports, and the teachers and administration stand by her through good and bad. My daughter is disruptive and has self-injurious behaviors, but the teachers and others at the school love her the way that I do. We could not be happier with the school or with our daughter's progress. I would recommend Forestdale to any parent with a special needs child.
Submitted by parent on November 13, 2014

My daughter has been with the school the last 5 years and the quality has dramaticly dropped. We started to notice a decline when she was in 3rd grade. Her teacher was out on medically leave for the first half of the school year. Instead of getting a steady substitute teacher, the class had a different sub almost every day. The parents were not made aware of it and the school year was a waste. 4th grade was better, but the kids were starting to be mean and a new principal was assigned to the school at the end of the year. Then things took a dramatic nose dive. Many teachers left. The principal implemented a no homework policy for the entire school without discussion. So not only was my daughter not having homework, she wasn't brining anything home or having hardly any test. She had 3 the first quarter and we didn't even get her report card at the parent conference meeting. The teacher was "oh well". We pulled her out and she will be attending another school. When we turned her transfer paperwork in, the front office said " well we should talk to you anymore". I was an extremely active PTA member. The principal didn't say good-bye or thank you for your service.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2013

We love this School. I don't know why the scores are so low. I focus more on my own kids grades and how much they are getting out of the school. So far I have not been disappointed in any of their teachers or the education they are getting. One of my kids is going to another school for AAP program, and I really don't see the difference between the two schools. And yet the score for the other school is much higher. That is why I say that as parents if we all focus on own kids and help them to succeed their is no reason why Forestdale's scores will not go up.
Submitted by parent on July 19, 2013

This is one of the best school in Fairfax country school. Great teacher, and parents
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2013

Please do not overlook this school because of it's number. Fairfax county is a melting pot of diversity and this school is no exception. My children have learned so much here. The teachers are wonderful! As for why their scores are down, my only thought is that it has to be the parents. The staff has so much experience and education behind them and they patiently work everyday to keep the kids involved. I wonder how much work is done outside the school. Kids know so much more than we did as children and they can be hard to keep up with. :) The PTA is also wonderful and have done so much for the school! I've never seen a school that works as closely with parents as Forestdale. They encourage you to take part when you can and I love being able to stop by for lunch or help in the classroom. On a side note, Forestdale has got to be the cleanest school I've ever seen.
Submitted by parent on October 29, 2012

Great school and great teachers! Had nothing but positive experiences! My children love the school and everything about it.