Mission Statement
Lake Forest Elementary School, with the strong support and involvement of our parents and community, is committed to providing all our students with the academic, social and technological tools they need to excel both now and in their future endeavors.
Our staff is dedicated to providing a standards-based program, which emphasizes achievement, both academic and social, at the highest levels of excellence to meet the unique needs of all students.
We will provide our students with a broad range of educational experiences, study skills and organizational tools needed to become adaptable, flexible thinkers, who are proud of themselves and their accomplishments, who take responsibility for their actions, and who are ready to contribute to our school and community.
Description
Lake Forest Elementary School was founded in 1990 as a starter school with six classrooms. The campus sits among native oaks, atop a knoll overlooking views of the surrounding hills and attractive neighborhoods. In 2003-2004, Lake Forest Elementary School changed to a traditional calendar after being on a multi-track year round calendar for nine years. Currently, Lake Forest Elementary is a K-5 school serving approximately 443 students with 17 classrooms of 23-30 students each.
Student successes at Lake Forest have resulted in state and national recognition. In 2012, our school's Academic Performance Index (API) score was 937, an improvement of 17 points from the previous school year. This acheivement was the highest score in Rescue Union School District history, ranked in the top 10 for all elementary schools in the Sacramento region and was the highest recorded in El Dorado Hills. In 2004 and 2014, our school was chosen for the California Distinguished School Award as one of the top achieving elementary schools in the state. As an added honor, our selection qualified Lake Forest to become one of 35 California schools invited by the State Board of Education to participate in the No Child Left Behind National Blue Ribbon Award Program. After an extensive application process, Lake Forest was named a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School in the fall of 2005, one of only 193 public or private elementary schools in the nation.
Lake Forest Elementary School prides itself on its positive school climate and its commitment to ensuring success for all students. All teachers are credentialed and have high expectations for every student. The curriculum is challenging and encompasses varied teaching and learning approaches. The core educational program provided to Lake Forest students is based on the California State Curriculum. We are currently in transition from these standards to the California Common Core Standards, which will be fully implemented next year in math and reading.
Rescue Union School District strictly adheres to state Frameworks and Content Standards in reading/language arts, math, science, and social studies. The core curriculum is enhanced through special learning activities such as our Science Prep Class, an hour and a half weekly program dedicated solely to Science instruction for 4th and 5th grade students; outdoor education; life lab garden science; drama, art and health, dramatic and musical productions by guest artists and student performers; and participation in events such as Nature Bowl, Festival of Oral Interpretation, and Spelling Bees. Field trips include Coloma, Sutter’s Fort, Gold Bug Mine, Apple Hill, Discovery Museum, Sacramento Zoo, Challenger Space Camp, Indian Grinding Rock, and various theater productions. Additionally, learning opportunities are brought to the campus through the support of the fundraising efforts of our Parent Teacher Council. Activities include environmental education through the American River Conservancy, the NEST program, beginning jazz and square dancing, classroom music instruction, visual and performing arts assemblies, Crocker Art Museum Art Ark, living history presentations such as Pioneer Day and America Days, guest speakers in areas of health and fitness, visiting authors, and other curriculum-based presentations within the classroom setting.
A high value is placed on the family, and parental involvement is welcomed and encouraged. Many parents volunteer in classrooms on a regular basis and others support the school in a variety of ways. The Lake Forest School Site Council (SSC) and Parent Teacher Council (PTC) are two organizations that encourage family input and involvement. The SSC is comprised of school staff and parents who work to develop a Single Plan for Student Achievement to enhance the educational program. The PTC organizes parent and community volunteers, plans family-oriented socials, and facilitates school fundraisers to support and enhance the instructional programs.
