Carolina Forest Elementary School

Before we moved to jacksonville I had used the community ratings to decide on where we where going to move. I was very overwhelmed because my children where in pensacola christian academy. I have to say everything was fine great school great teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

I have searched schools and thought CFE was perfect for my kids. I think they are too concerned with gossip and making sure kids are at school. Being that I am in school for my Ph.d I kow schools. There should be more programs funded through the school because they are always asking for money for something but no programs are ran by the school itself. Then they are more strict and negative than they are supportive and wanting to motivate the kids. I hope things get better here because so far they are not that great and I went out on the ledge for this school ith my kids.
—Submitted by a parent

Our family just recently moved into the area. Our daughter is currently attending CFE. We heard really good things about CFE from other parents in the neighborhood, but our experience thus far has been anything but. There is too much emphasis on appearance and the negative aspects of a child's personality and not enough rewards for good behavior. Also there is not enough encouragement for the children to do better just rigid control over behavior. I think there should be more focus on academics. Very disappointed. I had high hopes for this school.
—Submitted by a parent

We were really excited when we moved and put our children in CFE, however soon after we started noticing disturbing trends. While we were pleased with the structure, sometimes the expectations were too high. Some of the teachers reminded me of "tiger moms." Upliting a child is crucial at this point along with discipline. Some of the reasons for punishments were absurd.
—Submitted by a parent

Being a military family, my children have gone to seven different schools. I like CFE the best for various reasons: the agendas in which students learn responsbility as well as inform the parents daily of assignments; the STAR binders which also teach student responsbility and they are very organized; the telephone notification option in which the school calls the number you list to inform parents of upcoming important dates, weather make-up days, non-school days, etc.; the website that allows parents to look up weekly assignments for their childs class; and I also like how they have 5th graders start changing classrooms during the day to help transition their move to middle school. Overall, I think this is a great school and I m glad my children are attending CFE.
—Submitted by a parent

Our child attended 1st through 3rd grade. The teachers were nice and very involved. Average student per teacher were 20 to 23 (this also includes a teacher assistant in the class as well). Our child enjoyed all of the teachers/students and loved the playground and the library. The only thing our child did not enjoy was the barbecue sandwiches during lunch. The only bad thing about this school is when it came to picking up your child; the traffic was awful but the camaraderie of the students were great. We were glad our child experienced a wonderful school.
—Submitted by a parent

i love this school becase they have a good teacher my son learn alot from here.
—Submitted by a parent

My son is in kindergarten this year. His teacher was quick to realize that the classwork was too easy for him and arrainged (with my approval) for him to go to first grade for reading and math. He is being challenged and getting smarter and smarter every day! The teachers I've had to deal with are doing a great job and care about the students. So far, this isn't just a 'cookie-cutter' school. The only minor complaint that I have is that the school programs (volunteering) and relaying information to parents is not organized well at all.
—Submitted by a parent

The school building is nice and clean always! The teacher's at school - I feel are very stressed and it effects the way our children are treated. They are always getting punished for something. Why not reward good behavior??? The others may follow later. If one child gets in troulble then the entire class gets silent lunch or they may have to walk extra laps. I feels prisons get treated better than our children. I've watched children with clipboards write sentences at lunch. Isn't lunch important for the children? Physical Education is required for the children and they aren't allowed to write sentences when they are supposed to be exercising. Why isn't lunch time important? This maybe the only hot balanced meal the child receives all day. I'm sure if they don't eat they want feel like making the grade. Does anyone have any suggestions? I've asked for lunch free x-homework?
—Submitted by a parent

I'm not sure of many of the academic programs as my son was there for 5th grade and my middle daughter was there for 1st in 2004-2005. (This was there first year CFE was open.) They both excelled very nicely. Principal was at MOST if NOT ALL assemblies, volunteer breakfasts and so forth. My middle daughter was there for 2nd grade and youngest was there for K in 2005-2006. Parent involvement: I was ther a LOT, volunteering for the Book Fair, in my girls' classrooms this pass year AND worked the Duolog Reading Program. They also have a DO NOT Bully policy, of course, I don't know if it was necessarily used, as my middle daughter was bullied on the bus, that's when I decided to drive the girls to school.
—Submitted by G, a parent