Forest Lake Elementary School

I think that Forest Lake Elementary School is the best keep secret in Columbia! Not only are students challenged academically, elective classess are engaging and fun for my children. Since it is a technology magnet school, it's amazing how technology is weaved into the curriculum. I have no doubt that my children will be well rounded and ready to compete academically with the best of them as we prepare for middle school.
—Submitted by a parent

Faculty and staff are good; teachers are likable and love the kids and are well-schooled on what they need to teach. Facilities are clean and well-kept and there are abundant technology upgrades throughout the campus. The school does face issues though when it comes to community-building (not their fault) because the area they are zoned for draws from a wide variety of ethnic, lifestyle, and economic backgrounds where there are real differences...This is not a bad thing, but does makes it a challenge for the students and their families to relate to one another and to connect.
—Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school! Through moving and such our children have attended three different elementary schools over the years and this school was by far the best. The teachers were wonderfuland the was principal great! I have a child who had a few learning style issues and the teachers for several grades worked together to help make her successful. Both my children were well prepared for middle school when the time came.
—Submitted by a parent

Forest Lake is had our family feeling like we had been there forever after we moved mid year. The teachers are helpful, caring, and welcoming. The curriculm worked with the knowledge our child had and built on it. The leadership I met at the school were informative and helpful. They quicking learned our childs name and made her feel apart from the school the first day. This is a wonderful environment that is passionate about teaching children. We Loved it. If I had one negative it would be that the all 1st grade has a newsletter and it isn't classroom specific. That is really minor as I had great communication with our child's teacher when I needed it.
—Submitted by a parent

Forest Lake Technology Magnet School is a world class school! I am a parent of two FLE students. Academic excellence, technology integration, character education, and quality teaching and learning are just a few of this school's outstanding qualities. The principal and teachers make themselves available and parents are welcomed as partners in their child's education! This is a Nationally Recognized School of Excellence for good reasons!
—Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful school , this is as close you are going to get to private school atmosphere as you are going to get without the price.
—Submitted by a parent

Forest Lake is a closed school. Parents are not welcome inside and I wonder what they're hiding. The principal is inaccessible and it's difficult to schedule meetings with teachers since they require that there be two teachers in order to meet with parents. There seems to be an inordinate amount of fear regarding staff safety and the children are secondary to the school's practices and policies. You can see in their writing samples that the children seem to focus mostly on the punishments given regularly to all students. My child is a straight A student who is not a discipline problem. The teachers seem to be very dedicated, but creativity seems to be discouraged. This is true for students as well as teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

Forest Lake is an excellent school. The teachers are very nice and really show that they care for their students.
—Submitted by a parent

Forest Lake Elementary is a wonderful school. The children are encouraged to do their best. No one is given a negative label. Encouragement, respect, patience, love, Friendship are just a few qualities that are displayed at Forest Lake Elementary. My daughter loves it there and I wouldn't want her attending any other school.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is a gem. Caring, positive, supportive teachers, responsive and involved administration, fantastic programs and opportunities.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is inviting to parents and has a sense of community. The principal is involved with her students and always open to listen to parents. There are high expectations for the students and children are respectful and well behaved! Very impressive overall.
—Submitted by a parent