Cedar Forest Elementary School

Posted: May 1, 2024

Posted: May 1, 2024

Posted: May 1, 2024

Posted: May 1, 2024

Posted: May 1, 2024

Posted: May 1, 2024

Posted: May 1, 2024

Posted: May 1, 2024

Cedar Forest is a great school with great school spirit! My daughter has been going here since we moved from Prince William County when she was in 1st grade. She lives her school and has always had great teachers every year. She has made a lot of friends very easily in each class. Bullying or bad learned behavior has NEVER been an issue. They hold a lot of events after school for families to join and even hold encouraging and fun days around test time such as SOLs. The principal is very involved and even takes time out to visit the classroom and play games with the kids and even get pies in the face for games :) I couldn’t have picked a better school in the Spotsylvania county.

Posted: October 20, 2023

Posted: October 20, 2023

Posted: October 20, 2023

Posted: October 20, 2023

Posted: October 20, 2023

Posted: October 20, 2023

Posted: October 20, 2023

Posted: October 20, 2023

Posted: October 20, 2023

If you have an IEP I would think twice abou this school and Spotsylvania County

Posted: November 13, 2019

Posted: November 13, 2019

Posted: November 13, 2019

Posted: November 13, 2019

Posted: November 13, 2019

We love this school! Teachers are great and they have a lot of extra curricular activities for students and their families

Posted: November 13, 2019

Posted: November 13, 2019

Posted: March 27, 2019

Posted: March 27, 2019

Posted: March 27, 2019

My son is in the special education preschool program at Cedar and it has been absolutely amazing for him. He also gets speech once a week with the speech therapist. The ECSE teachers at Cedar Forest are perfect and they really care. I couldn't have asked for better. As far as the older special needs children in the school, the ones who are very special needs, I have seen 2 instances in the school involving an aide and student where I don't feel a parent would have been happy to see, mainly just the staff member talking down to them/losing their patience. I understand it is a trying job, however, when working with special needs, you have to have the absolute utmost patience otherwise need to work in a different position.

Posted: March 27, 2019

Never had an issue with bullying. The school seems to be great with this and with preventing it.

Posted: March 27, 2019

This is our first year at Cedar, and we have truly had nothing but a good experience. The school is beautiful. I was blown away by the art room and the cafeteria when we first saw it. *We transferred from another local school that looked nothing like Cedar Forest.) I don't personally love the red/yellow/green stoplight approach they use in regards to discipline; not sure if all the teachers use it or just our teacher, but personally I don't feel elementary aged children should have to have their daily behavior progress on display for the other students to see. However, I definitely understand it can be hard to figure out how to discipline a classroom of many kids, to figure out a different way. I just wish they would figure out a new approach to that. For the most part, I have seen nothing but great teachers and staff. And I have volunteered and eat lunch in the school with my child often, so I have seen a bit so far. They also try to do many events. They did the cutest reading/milk and cookie event during the holidays where you went class to class and a different teacher was reading in each one. I definitely recommend the school if you had any hesitations, and this is coming from a parent who requested transfer from another area school due to many concerns.

Posted: March 27, 2019

First grade has a no homework policy. Instead they send home a monthly chart with cool things the kids can choose to do when they get home (things like read a book outside, build a fort, write a family member a letter) and it's all by choice. I LOVE that they do this. Finally a school that recognizes the studies that have been done on how ineffective homework really is (and they have actually said this.) I could not be happier with this approach they are using. Such a stress relief for families.

Posted: March 27, 2019

Posted: June 11, 2018

There’s really only so much you can do with the funding you’re given, but I think CFES does the most with what they have.

Posted: June 11, 2018

There will always be bullying that teachers don’t see, but CFES does an amazing job at instilling values to keep kids from bullying or from becoming a target.

Posted: June 11, 2018

Between Bully Busters, Running Club, Chorus, and the morning news program (Wolves on Air), my daughter was busy during her 5th grade year. She loved every moment of her extra curricular activities and she’s a much stronger and more confident person because of it. These programs definitely develop character.

Posted: June 11, 2018

We’re losing our amazing principal this year, but I know the next one will be just as wonderful! This school is set up for success!

Posted: June 11, 2018

Minimal homework, but a good review of what they’ve done in class. Most of the time it’s math practice, but sometimes they’ll have test preparation. This homework is in the form of “squares” that break up a LOT of work over the course of a week, giving them between 4 and 10 questions each evening. 15 minutes of homework is nothing compared to what we had AND my kids are doing really well!

Posted: June 11, 2018

I’ve seen my children make strides in their education that I didn’t think was possible. The teachers challenge and engage the kids and they make learning fun!

Posted: June 11, 2018

This is one of the best elementary schools in the county! If you live in the district and send your kiddos somewhere else, you’re missing out on a wonderful opportunity!

Posted: May 15, 2018

Posted: May 15, 2018

Posted: May 15, 2018

Posted: May 15, 2018

Posted: May 15, 2018

Posted: May 15, 2018

Posted: May 15, 2018

This has to be the worst school in the state for preparing students. I challenge and expand my child’s education needs in the home, so that my child can thrive, but the other children don’t receive the same at home and certainly not within the school. It’s clear why this school is under performing, the teachers and administrators don’t care to challenge or support the students. I must further mention that the bullying and subsequent disciplining and correcting is a joke. I’m embarrassed to send my child here and am planning to home school.

Posted: August 24, 2017

Posted: August 24, 2017

Posted: August 24, 2017

Posted: August 24, 2017

Posted: August 24, 2017

We have been so impressed with Cedar Forest. The teachers are dedicated, with many giving extra time to sponsor extracurricular activities including the Bully Busters Club, Wolves on Air, Destination Imagination, Running Club, and more. The school's leadership is positive and hands-on, and the PTO is active and organized. My son has always been excited to go to school, and he can't wait to start fifth grade. We'll miss the great CFES learning environment when he moves on to middle school!

Posted: August 24, 2017

Posted: August 24, 2017

Posted: February 22, 2015

I love that this school is still progressing. New programs and activities promote community while developing my child's own sense of personal challenges. I have three children through Ceder Forest and each unique in there interests and learning style but each has been academically encouraged and challenged. Two have participated in the SCOPE program and LOVE to learn!! I believe the administration has each child's best interest at heart. It is more than a school, more than a community, it's like extended family.

Posted: September 23, 2013

Cedar Forest is a well ran elementry school. The staff is commited to providing the best education possible in a public school setting and they do. We have two children that attend Cedar Forest. Both our challanged on a daily basis and have learned so much. It's amazing to see the kids PALS scores. The communication with the teachers and Mr. Strawn is excellant. For example I emailed Mr. Strawn over a hoilday weekend (thinking he would address it within the next few school days). I received a reply on the holiday that he would address it as soon as school began, and he did. The school also has a 'Bulley Free" program and a Brain Gym which are two get programs. We are very happy that our children attend Cedar Forest.