Good Foundation Academy in Riverdale

Category	Rating	Details
Test Scores	9/10	The Test Score Rating examines how students at this school performed on standardized tests compared with other schools in the state. The Test Rating was created using 2025 Readiness Improvement Success Empowerment data from Utah State Board of Education, and using 2025 Utah Aspire Plus data from Utah State Board of Education.
Student Growth	7/10	The Student Progress Rating measures whether students at this school are making academic progress over time based on student growth data provided by the Department of Education. Specifically, this rating looks at how much progress individual students have made on state assessments during the past year or more, how this performance aligns with expected progress based on a student growth model established by the state Department of Education, and how this school's growth data compares to other schools in the state. The Growth Rating was created using 2025 Student growth data from Utah State Board of Education.

Posted: March 25, 2021

Good Foundations Academy is an amazing, caring school. The teachers care about their students, the SPED program is top notch. They take time to teach the students character building. The science projects were great, and my children loved the history classes. My children has excelled thanks to Good Foundations Academy. We love GFA!

Posted: March 25, 2021

We have loved our experience at GFA and am grateful for the staff and teacher. Our kids have flourished greatly the school.

Posted: March 25, 2021

Posted: March 2, 2020

It was good until the new principal came. There is way to much homework, and the teachers yell at you if you don't do it. Their are fire drills about every 2 weeks, which is not a big deal, but you can't talk during them! I think that is just crazy. Over all, the school was fine except for the 5 hrs. of homework.

Posted: November 21, 2017

I have considered taking my child out of this school because there was so much homework. I want my kids to have a childhood because they have time to play. Some years have been bad. Overall, there is a LOT more homework than is needed.

Posted: November 21, 2017

This year there is a new feeling of being patronized and being carefully watched if I come to visit, like I may be up to no good. The principal is trying to run the school and forgetting the people. He may try to be tactful, but can seem quite rude anyway.

Posted: November 21, 2017

I am mad about the amount of homework. I'm frustrated we have to volunteer 30 hours a year. I hate that the school has long hours, starts early, and short recesses. There's no school nurse, and no school bus. The lunch price is high. What I like is the class sizes and the curriculum. English, math, and the arts have a great curriculum. I don't think there are any meetings where parents can have a say in how things are done. That really bugs me. But we stay at this school because there are lower ratings for the other ones nearby.

Posted: October 13, 2017

Previous yrs were great. This new yr has been a joke!! The new staff is ruining the reputation of this once amazing school. The changes are so ridiculous. Nothing worse then being talked to be the vice principle like you are a child! So glad this is my child's last yr and that is if we make that long!!! Kids are getting in trouble for whispering beneath their breath, skipping a stair, talking to a friend in the hall or at lockers. I was always told talk outside of class and inside voices. Every year I take off my daughters birthday and take treats to her school and have lunch with her. She loves to have her little brother come as well. I stayed with my kids the entire time, we were outside. My daughter and her 5 of her friends stay with my son the entire time as well. I was told not to come back with my son and that the monitors are going to be watching for me!! She acted like I was committing a crime or my kids were out of control and not being watched.

Posted: August 26, 2017

Excellent. My son has ADHD and they were very active in his devolpment and help was readily available.

Posted: October 11, 2016

Our children have been attending GFA for nearly five plus years. When they first started, there was a greater emphasis on character building and integrating the foundations of the school into the curriculum. Overtime (especially since the first headmaster left), I feel the character building focus has all but diminished. Also, I feel the amount of homework that our children have collectively is a bit outrageous. They are at the school for seven hours and then they are supposed to come home and do 2 or more hours of homework? I hope the school works to resolve some of these issues.

Posted: October 11, 2016

The School staff is great and takes care of students very well. The teachers are great and taking care about my kid with all needs. I am happy for sending my kid to GFA.

Posted: October 9, 2016

My daughter has been at the school since it started and will be the first graduating six grade class to go from k-6. We are so grateful and pleased with the skills the school has taught her. The core knowledge curriculum is amazing! Are younger daughter is thriving as well. The school pushes the children and they are better for it. The teachers and staff are dedicated and caring. We love GFA!

Posted: October 9, 2016

The teachers and staff work hard to make sure all of the students needs are met and considered in their lesson planning.

Posted: October 9, 2016

The school has new administration who are trying new ideas and they are great ideas, but like every new change they take time to get used too. Amazing leadership! Dedicated and caring and willing to get to know each student on a personal level.

Posted: October 9, 2016

I see students from other schools where these skills are not emphasized and i am so grateful they are integrated into the curriculum at GFA.

Posted: October 9, 2016

We have loved all of the teachers at GFA! They are amazing and work hard to make sure that the students are learning.

Posted: October 9, 2016

The kids are required to do homework! This allows the parents to see what the students are learning and get involved at home with their schoolwork as well.

Posted: October 9, 2016

We have a student with an IEP plan and we notified them 2 weeks before school started. He didn't get his plan until 3 months after it started. They were unsuccessful in helping him get organized to turn in missing assignments. He gave up and just quit trying to turn them in on time.

Posted: October 8, 2016

Unlike other schools, they try to treat the cause of the bullying rather than just expelling kids to pass the problem on to another school. Bullying prevention is taught to most of the grade levels.

Posted: October 8, 2016

The best special education teachers and aides, ever! They deserve a special award for all they do!

Posted: October 8, 2016

Some people liked the previous director more, but they are both great leaders. I like how visible Mr. Petersen is. The kids love him and love getting high-5's from him.

Posted: October 8, 2016

The seven character foundation stones are emphasized every morning. I know they are working on helping the older grades put the character into action, so it looks a bit different than in previous years. I'm excited to see the older kids show the younger ones what it means to be a person of character.

Posted: October 8, 2016

You may not be able to see it, but every teacher at this school works hard! If you think a teacher isn't, just come in and watch them teach a lesson.

Posted: October 8, 2016

Last year, I felt the school did a great job making homework more consistent throughout the grades. Read every night, review some math, and practice spelling!

Posted: October 8, 2016

GFA has dedicated teachers and staff. I have seen my children grow as they have attended school here. The special education teams are amazing and truly the best. I appreciate that the administration listens to the community and considers suggestions. Also, you won't find the Core Knowledge Curriculum in many charter schools. The History being taught is incredible. Ancient Egypt in 1st grade! Ancient Rome in 3rd! I learned a lot reading my kids' History books! Also, the school musical is fabulous. They even have after-school activities that are free and led by teachers. This year, my son is learning how to do computer coding. We have loved every single teacher our kids have had!

Posted: October 8, 2016

The first little while he (our son) had some bullying issues (kids bullying him) we were very angry, we called Mr. Peterson and from that day forward there was no longer any issues.

Posted: October 8, 2016

While our son was in public school system he couldn't read, do math, etc. He was falling behind, when we changed him over to GFA we have no words to describe how amazed we are at how he can now read, spell, and do math equations, there resource team is amazing and very affective!

Posted: October 8, 2016

Mr. Peterson is an amazing guy and if you call him or email him with an issue that may arise he takes care of it right away and effectively.

Posted: October 8, 2016

GFA doesn't tolerate bullying and other issues that always happen on a daily bases at public schools, they have programs that come from the Bible (Not the book of Mormon) and I no that has been a blessing to out family, our family have grown closer to God then anyone could ever imagine.

Posted: October 8, 2016

Our son's morals and knowledge has sky rocketed Beyond what we ever could have hoped for.

Posted: October 8, 2016

Perfect amount of homework, all he has to do is read to us for 20 minutes a night and a math page and spelling, I believe that this program the have at GFA is true, and works wonders.

Posted: October 8, 2016

Our son has learning disabilities, we has him in public schools and they would always put "how amazing he is doing and improving" when in reality they were lieing, we decided to make the transition from public to charter school and we choose GFA because of all the amazing things we had read about them, with the resource team and teachers he has now, has changed his and our lifes! He literally is reading on his own loves going to school, everything the public school system was lacking he is now succeeding Beyond what we had ever thought could be true and possibly! All though they lack in school "size" there isn't any other school I'd/we'd send our son to. The one on one he gets from the teachers and aids are outstanding! There morals and beliefs they have are outstanding! I wish my wife an I had a chance to go to a school like GFA when we were that age.

Posted: October 8, 2016

The amount of homework my son brings home is never too much. He usually only has math and spelling plus his 20 minutes of reading. He is done with it in less than an hour and has the rest of the night free to play and relax.

Posted: October 8, 2016

My son gets bullied quite a bit. He is very socially awkward and he is a Jehovah's Witness which makes him different than most of the kids. He gets teased a lot but unless something physical happens things are not taken care of.

Posted: October 8, 2016

The teachers my son has had have all done everything to make sure my son is growing and learning. They work with the students personally not as a group.

Posted: October 8, 2016

The teachers are so helpful. My son has adhd and problems with social skills. His teachers have always done everything in their power to make sure my son is growing and learning. The Dean of students has made sure any concern or problem I had has been dealt with. My son is learning so much more here than he was in regular public school.

Posted: October 7, 2016

My daughter is in Kindergarten and her teacher is great. There is a lot of homework, but it is optional at this point. The homework is good for both my daughter and I (her Bapa) because we are both growing in this "Garten". My daughter comes home every day excited to show what she has learned and appears to be emulating her teacher as she teaches her 3 year old brother her lessons of the day.

Posted: October 7, 2016

Our daughter graduated 6th grade last year and our son attends second grade. Best school around, great teachers, great community. Mr. Peterson is the most hands on, helpful principal I've ever seen. My children have thrived while attending this school.

Posted: October 7, 2016

I cannot say enough good things about this school. Not only do they have smaller class sizes than any other school around, but they also truly care for each individual student. I have seen staff in all positions do everything they can - including working into 7 or 8 o'clock at night - to ensure that every student has what he or she needs. I know they are still figuring out what works best for the school as a whole in regards to aides and supportive staff, but this is a good thing, in my opinion. Instead of just sticking to what they have always done, they are brave enough to try something new that they think will serve the students and staff better. We are so proud to be GFA Guardians!

Posted: October 7, 2016

I have never seen a school with more resources for students with special learning needs, and I used to be in Special Education.

Posted: October 7, 2016

I think there could be some improvement in this area. To me, it seems that the previous headmaster really cared for the students and believed in the foundations the school represents.

Posted: October 7, 2016

This is kinda what the school is based on and I think the some of the staff simple goes through the motions in regard to character building.

Posted: October 7, 2016

Overall we have had great teachers who our kids have enjoyed and learned a lot from. This year, it seems there has been a little bit of a let down.

Posted: October 7, 2016

I feel there needs to be major improvement in regards to the amount of homework that is sent home.

Posted: May 27, 2016

I love the schools character building lessons. I love that they wear uniforms. There are good and not so good teachers. Some of the teachers don't have their teaching credentials. Also, they are always switching teachers/administration around. I don't see how that would be good on students to have teachers trying out a new grade each year, trying to develop new lesson plans. There are very few teachers that stick to the same grade every year. Homework/ projects is insane! Having 2 hours of homework most nights is not good for kids. My kids wake up, go to school, come home, do homework, eat dinner and then maybe have 30 minutes of free time before they go to bed. If they can't learn it at school in the 7 hours at school, something must be wrong. I understand an hour of homework, but 2 hours? Especially for a 1st or 2nd graders? Yes their scores are high, but you have to weigh it out with your child's sanity.

Posted: December 29, 2014

My family is truly blessed that my son was accepted into this school. His teacher is incredible, her name is Mrs. Eastburn. She is definitely a gifted teacher and the children love to listen and learn from her. She has developed a special relationship with each of her students you can see it. She truly cares about them and there well being. They have small class size plus a teachers aid. The office staff is friendly and very helpful. The PTO is outstanding always putting the children first. I couldn't ask for a better school.

Posted: August 21, 2013

GFA is a charter school that teaches the core knowledge curriculum and Singapore math. They have outstanding teachers and require a high level of parent involvement. Children at GFA are challenged academically and taught self control, respect, and responsibility at every grade level. The Kindergarten (Mrs. Swanson) and second grade teachers are absolutely incredible. The teachers take a personal interest in each of the children and truly want them to succeed to the best of their abilities. I would highly recommend this school.

Posted: August 9, 2013

I visited this school at the end of the 2012 school year to look for a kindergarten for my daughter. She is my only daughter, and I was very nervous about where she would attend school. I received a tour from the Dean, and she was extremely helpful to calm my nerves. She knew every child that we passed by name. The students came up to her and gave her hugs, and they were all sad because school was ending. She is what really made me want to say yes to the lottery drawing. I am so happy I did. Since then the people I have had contact with have been amazing. My daughter met a teacher who said he had a daughter starting kindergarten, and maybe they might get into the same class. She has been talking about her for two days. They are very informative and keep me up-to-date with emails from PTO and the office. I could not ask for my daughter to have a better school...and she has not even started yet!

Posted: August 9, 2013

I have never been in such a positive environment. The vision that GFA presents drew me as an applicant for a teaching position but sold me as a parent. I have been working at GFA for a year now and my daughter will be in kindergarten this year. She is so excited about being able to do music and PE! I wouldn't want her at any other school!

Posted: August 8, 2013

Good Foundations Academy integrates Core Knowledge, Singapore Math, and Character Education in a skillfully woven curricular program. Teachers receive ongoing training in all major curriculum components and support each other in a spirit of collegial partnership. It is GFA s goal to provide a superior educational experience for our students. Our teaching model is based on the work of E.D. Hirsch, Jr., the founder of the Core Knowledge Foundation.

Posted: August 8, 2013

We love GFA! My son has a chance to excel academically while building strong foundations for good character at the same time. We feel so blessed and thankful to be a part of the GFA family.

Posted: August 8, 2013

We love GFA because there are a variety of free, after school activities, where there is an engaged teacher. The character based curriculum is emphasized, enforced, and rewarded. My kids love their teachers and the high level of critical thinking classroom exercises that that keeps them talking all the way home from school.

Posted: August 8, 2013

The administrators at GFA are not friendly and don't care about the students. There was always last minute notice on events and I had a hard time getting ahold of people in the office when I had an issue. My kids loved their teachers, but their homework load was insane. When I tried to talk to the school they told me that the curriculum is advanced so there's more homework. 3-4 hours per night of homework for smart children was too much for us. We switched schools and are very happy.

Posted: August 8, 2013

Superior, stimulating curriculum. Students are more engaged in their learning at GFA than any other school I've seen. This is partly because the Core Knowledge subjects build on themselves year after year, but mostly due to the amazing quality of teachers and staff GFA employs. They are continually learning and honing their skill, and they genuinely care about their charges, making sure each student is learning to the best of their ability.

Posted: August 8, 2013

GFA is a 5 star school without a doubt! This charter school has a character development focus which is invaluable for growing kids. The GFA board of directors are dedicated & visionary. From the excellent Head Master to the quality teachers - all are held to a higher standard, including the students! My Jr. High age son is entering the 9th grade in a community school and in his Honors Language Arts class he is reading the same classic literature he read in his Language Arts class in the 6th grade at GFA. This speaks volumes in itself but also is reflective of the overall high quality, challenging and rigorous education Good Foundations Academy provides.

Good Foundation Academy

Riverdale, UT 84405

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Good Foundation Academy

Riverdale, UT 84405

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