Research Barnes Elementary School public Schools in Forest Grove, Oregon

“I am impressed on how every staff member cares for each child.”

“We have been at Barnes for 5 years. Here's my take on the good, the bad, and the thought-provoking. GOOD: all-day kindergarten for all kids (last year they had classes of 15-18 in K, 20-23 in 3rd); amazing teachers who are passionate about what they do; big building project with 10 new classrooms; music, PE, art, and library for all students; good computer lab; BIG improvements in behavior and atmosphere; Two-way-immersion program K-5; homework/afterschool programs. BAD: average kid stays at Barnes 2 years (they get them reading at level, and they move on); more transient community means less continuity in school culture/; little parent involvement; no Head Start/afterschool care. THOUGHTS: Lots of 'white flight' in this area--would love to see stats on kids who went here long-term, not just state test scores--could change school rep and recruitment! Hope this helps!”

“This is a school that has done an amazing (for the better) turnaround as far as behavior and climate in the past 4 years. It is a really diverse school, with many, many immigrant children from all over the world attending there. Its boundaries lie within the commercial district; therefore, most families live in apartments and don't stay in the area very long. This hurts Barnes, as it doesn't get to show long-term results on state tests. However, the teachers are phenomenal, dedicated, very skilled! The kids get specials, and my child has all-day kindergarten (which costs $600 at the school down the road). They have a well-known Spanish immersion language option for students. It is not a perfect school (very little parent involvement), but it is doing good work, and my oldest had no problems getting into the Arts/Communication Magnet school upon leaving Barnes.”

“I am so happy with the Barnes staff. Everyone cares so much about these kids it is wounderful. My son will be in 1st. grade next year. He has epilepsy that was diagnosed this year. Every staff member is very involved in making his day to day life better. They have went above and beyond my expectations. I am very proud that my son attends this school. I feel that all the childeren are treated with respect and disaplined in the same way.Parent involvement is highly incouraged and I have found that the bilangual program is great for my son.”

“The children are held up to very different standards as far as disciplinary expectations. There is no such thing as a special education classroom at Barnes. The kids with the problems are right along side the normal children.I could not wait until I could move and get my son out of that school. There comes a point when you have to wonder whether you are guilty of exposing your children to bad influences resulting from low socio-economic families. You have to decide to either remove them from that situation or keep on disciplining them for the actions in which are not up to your own standards. I refuse to allow my second year old to keep getting disciplined in the harshest degree for the same things all the other children are getting away with right in front of his eyes. It's frustrating.”