Ridgewood Elementary School

My son attended Ridgewood Elementary in K and 1st grade. I am so happy his school experience began here. There is a strong teaching staff at Ridgewood and Mr. Stockwell is an excellent leader with a strong orientation toward the kids and a clear instructional vision that has translated into good teaching even with weak teachers. Ridgewood has a great culture that is very supportive of all the kids. I have found this to be the most important factor in my kid loving school. He is a squirmy boy with a lot going on in his head. It is the relentlessly positive school culture that has made the difference for him. I realize not everyone feels this strongly about it, but my son knows the PYP habits/attitudes like the back of his hand and he talks about them all the time. He loves school so much because he has had hot chocolate with the principal, all his teachers (bless them) write back to him when he sends emails (all the time), and he truly understands how to function as a student. He has found a way to be very successful and to feel very proud of that. I don't think you could ask for anything more in a school!
—Submitted by a parent

Ridgewood has high parent involvement which gives the school a feel of a family. I love the security I feel knowing my kids are at Ridgewood.
—Submitted by a parent

A terrific school that works at teaching kindness and good citizenship along with academic subjects.
—Submitted by a parent

Excellent parent participation and new leadership has returned this school to its bellwether status.

My son is in 3rd grade and has attended Ridgewood since Kindergarten. I love the teachers and the new Principal. I was contiplating moving my son after 1st grade because the former Principal and I did not agree on many issues. I'm glad I kept my son at Ridgewood. The new Principal is great and I apprecaite his interaction with parents and students alike.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school. I always have contact and feedback from my sons teachers an principal. If my kids didn't get to go here we would move out of district..
—Submitted by a parent

My son stared here last year in Kindergarten. At first we were a bit dissappointed that the Spanish immersion program was dropped, but there is now a focus on becoming an international baccalaureate elementary school which is more inclusive of all the students. All students now attend Spanish class but usually only one time a week, which is really not enough. The new principal is great! Really liked his involvement with the parent teacher cooperative. He is a very visible presence in the school and seems well-regarded by the staff. His style is approachable and he is working hard to bring the focus back to outstanding academics. The kindergarten teachers are superb, the only drawback is that kindy is only a 1/2 day. Lots of great parental involvement and volunteer programs run by parents which is a plus you don't find in other neighborhood schools.
—Submitted by a parent

The academics are mediocre. And after nearly a year of Spanish for all, most kids cannot understand or speak basic phrases. Parents are involved, but greater focus on core academics rather than the extras is needed. Ridgewood seems to be resting on its laurels. The new principal has energy and good intentions, but one wonders how much change he can affect.
—Submitted by a parent

Ridgewood is continuing to change with the times. My first Ridgewood alumn just graduated from Jesuit, and I'm thrilled to be sending 3 more through Ridgewood right now. I love the parental involvment, the large percentage of stay at home moms, and the Spanish program, which has been expanded to all students this year. They are currently looking into becoming one of the first elementary schools in Oregon to have an International Bachalaureate program, and I hope they do. Our new principal comes with high marks from another elementary school in the district, and I am excited to see what new ideas he brings to the table. Homes in this area are at a premium, and the Ridgewood plays a large role.
—Submitted by a parent

Ridgewood is truly a community oriented school. There is huge parental involvement and support for all types of families. The teachers just love their kids, enjoy what they do and that translates to a terrific learning environment. The music and PE programs and teachers are top notch. The partial spanish immersion program is innovative and engaging with kids learning poems, songs and fun ways to absorb the language.
—Submitted by a parent

Spanish Immersion program seemed great, but we didn't get in on the lottery. Academics seem to take a backseat to self esteem and a kind/conflict free atmosphere. Overall a decent school with some fun extracurricular activities like science fair and an all school carnival.
—Submitted by a parent

My third child will soon graduate from Ridgewood. All three children have been a part of the Spanish Immersion Program since it started a few years ago. I have been extremely happy with the progress off all three children while in this program. I believe this program gives students additional challenges which enable them to learn much more than the basic curriculum. I highly recommend it to parents who want to encourage their children at an early age to go above and beyond.
—Submitted by a parent

I am sending my second wave of children through Ridgewood. What makes it an excellent school is the parental involvement. There is a large percentage of stay at home moms who volunteer their time to make the classes and extra curricular activities excellent. The teachers feel supported, and therefore they go the extra mile to make the educational experience positive for all. The school has been trhough many principals over the last several years, but the teachers and parents remain as the staple and spirit of Ridgewood!
—Submitted by a parent

Communication between teachers and parents is excellent, and I think this is a key to student success. My son's teacher sends an e-mail each day detailing the assignments that are due the following day, and reminders of long-term assignments, etc. Also, the culture of the school is wonderful. My son started at this school in the middle of his 4th grade year, and the other children in his class went out of their way to make him feel welcome.