Forest Park Elementary School

Posted Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Overall this is a solid school with a smart student body and great parental involvement. One problem, which may be systemic to the entire Portland Public School District rather than this particular school- there is very little support for students that exceed the standard expectations for learning. Yes, ostensibly there is a talented and gifted program. Is it effective? Not really. Unfortunately, I've watched parents move their children out of this school for a more challenging experience in other schools, private and otherwise. This school is not exempt from the 'teach to the middle' doctrine that seems to pervade the entire school system. If you have a gifted child and are thinking of having them attend Forest Park, you will most likely need to be aggressive about the level of challenge your child receives. I was warned of that in the beginning and that warning has proven to be valid.
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Posted December 23, 2009

We relocated from another state and as anyone who has experienced this will tell you... finding a good school can be one of the biggest challenges. We chose Forest Park based on the numbers but now that we are here I can tell you that it is more than the numbers can convey. It is a true community with caring parents, dedicated teachers and facilities that are clean and well maintained. We feel very lucky to have stumbled upon such a gem.
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Posted July 13, 2009

All three of my kids graduated from this school, and I got to say, it was a terrific school for them. My kids used to go to a school in Beaverton that wasn't really good, but when we came here, they had a better learning expierence. The teachers and administrative staff were very intelligent and well at getting the children under control. In fact, this school may be so fun for the kids, that many parents wanted to be involved. The kids were very nice, and would like to be your friend as long as you are nice to them. My kids loved this school, and I did too. I highly recommend it to everyone.
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Posted May 17, 2009

My son has a peculiar way about him, he is very bright and has a tendency to beat to a different drum. Forest park has been quite a challenge for him. The teachers and the students do not give him much room for expression and independent research. I do not participate in the volunteer groups but what I can say is , thank god that they care so deeply about the school. I am very pleased with the dedication of the pta and the events that they put on. This has been a learning experience for myself and my son about tolerance compassion and patience. We can't wait to give him a more individualized fit in middle school. I hope for my younger kids sake that they fall more into the main stream, as far as childhood activities and interest go.
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