Horizon Elementary School

New this year at Horizon is this ridiculous effort to pin every kids' action as bullying. In my child's class, they pulled a number of kids out on 2 occasions to talk to them about the dangers of bullying because some parent wrote a letter. They did not bother verifying if that parent was exaggerating or if the statements were true or not. The tenure teacher was yelling at one crying boy "Yes, you _were_ a bully!" His friends knew he was not. My child was traumatized by all this false drama even though he was not the one involved and could not concentrate on school work for the whole week because looking at his friends that he knew were innocent, he felt afraid. And this happened twice in one school year! This was the same tenure teacher who at one point was replying to a parent email on the projector in front of the whole class, embarrassing the child whose parent had emailed the teacher. Academically, the school teaches to the test so the test scores remain high. The quality of teaching is at best mediocre. They no longer do switch-match per county directive, so the math curriculum is now below average.
--Submitted by a parent

I have had 2 children at Horizon. The staff is amazing! Energetic and skilled working with the kids. I have had staff at the middle schools tell me how prepared the kids are coming from Horizon. My kids loved all of the extra activities that the PTA provides.
--Submitted by a parent

Horizon, River Bend and Potomac Falls high School was one of the main reasons I moved to the Sterling area.
--Submitted by a parent

We have 2 kids at Horizon for 5 years now and we are very happy overall with the school. Ms. Daniel is an excellent 1st grade teacher - she has high expectations and the kids really perform up to them. The academic growth is unbelievable in 1st grade! My kids have both had some very creative teaching and enthusiastic teachers. Our family loves and attends all of the fun afterschool PTA sponsored events too. Our kids love going to Horizon!
--Submitted by a parent

Excellent teachers and very responsive administrative staff. Mrs. Ewing, the Vice Principal is responsive to all academic and social concerns. Ms. Paolo is the best 2nd grade teacher - she offers enhancements to the curriculum that allow her students to excel. Mrs. Hatton is the best 1st grade teacher. Mrs. Lee, the reading specialist is a blessing to the school!
--Submitted by a parent

Have had students in 2 other schools in the area. Horizon, by far has been the best experience. Great teachers and extra curricular activities.
--Submitted by a parent

Great school - excellent staff and great after school activities. I highly recommend to any family looking for a great elementary school!
--Submitted by a parent

The staff ,the teachers and the principal are awesome.The afterschool enrichment program is fantastic.My son is in 5 th grade and he has the best teacher ever Mr.OBrien
--Submitted by a parent

I find the principal to be detached and indifferent. One day last year my child was sent home on the wrong bus even though we specified which bus for him to take home in writing that day. When picking him up from the office I spoke with the teacher about it, I didn't get an apology from her and wasn't contacted by the principal; something you think would concern him or would want to talk to the parents about. This year, first day of school, again my child was sent on the wrong bus. We stated on their transportation form where he should go. I received a call from his 7 yr old sister who was waiting on the right bus that her bother was missing. I would have preferredthe school call me, which they didn't, not my daughter and an apology for this 2nd mishap! We got neither!
--Submitted by a parent

This is our second year at Horizon & we feel blessed to have such an excellant staff & program right in our neighborhood. Our son has special needs & everyone seems to bend over backwards to educate him & make him feel great about the environment he is in.
--Submitted by a parent