Is Forest Heights Elementary a good school?

Forest Heights Elementary ranks in the bottom 21.2% of South Carolina elementary schools.

How many students attend Forest Heights Elementary?

In the 2022-23 school year, 441 students attended Forest Heights Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of Forest Heights Elementary?

Students at Forest Heights Elementary are 73% African American, 16% Hispanic, 5% White, 5% Two or more races.

What schools do graduates of Forest Heights Elementary attend?

Students who attend Forest Heights Elementary usually go on to attend: High : Eau Claire High

Forest Heights Elementary

Summary:

Forest Heights Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbia, South Carolina, serving 441 students in grades PK-5 and part of the Richland 01 school district.

Forest Heights Elementary faces significant challenges, with a student population that is 73.47% African American and 100% qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating high levels of economic disadvantage. The school consistently underperforms the district and state averages in English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency, with only 36.8% of 3rd graders proficient in ELA compared to 45.2% in the district and 53.8% statewide. As a result, Forest Heights Elementary has been ranked in the bottom 25% of South Carolina elementary schools for several years, with a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While Forest Heights Elementary spends a relatively high $18,587 per student, this has not translated to improved academic outcomes. Nearby schools, such as A.J. Lewis Greenview Elementary and Sandel Elementary, demonstrate relatively stronger performance, suggesting that a more comprehensive approach to resource allocation and targeted interventions may be necessary to address the unique challenges faced by Forest Heights Elementary.

Detail:

Public PK, KG-5

2500 Blue Ridge Terrace
Columbia, SC 29203

(803) 691-3780

District: Richland 01

SchoolDigger Rank:
503^rd of 638 South Carolina Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $18,587

Students who attend Forest Heights Elementary usually attend:

High:

Eau Claire High

Student/teacher ratio: 13.3

Number of students: 441

Racial breakdown:

African American:

73.5%

Hispanic:

15.9%

White:

5.0%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 100%

See top rated South Carolina elementary schools

Compare Forest Heights Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Forest Heights Elementary ranks worse than 78.8% of elementary schools in South Carolina. It also ranks 16^th among 28 ranked elementary schools in the Richland 01 School District. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 22.29. (See more...)

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Forest Heights Elementary has the largest elementary school student body size in the Richland 01 School District. (See more...)

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Teachers

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Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Forest Heights Elementary is $18,587, which is the 14^th highest among 28 elementary schools in the Richland 01 School District.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Forest Heights Elementary:

SchoolDigger ranks Forest Heights Elementary 503^rd of 638 South Carolina public elementary schools. (See Forest Heights Elementary in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

African American students:

Richland 01:

SchoolDigger ranks Richland 01 53^rd of 75 South Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

Read all reviews and ratings detail for Forest Heights Elementary.

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Your rating for Forest Heights Elementary?

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Rank History for Forest Heights Elementary

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Rank History for all students at Forest Heights Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SC State Percentile
2003	22.58	458^th	542	15.5%
2004	25.58	450^th	550	18.2%
2005	38.77	383^rd	557	31.2%
2006	21.96	480^th	559	14.1%
2007	18.68	503^rd	566	11.1%
2008	9.63	554^th	577	4.0%
2009	23.66	494^th	580	14.8%
2010	17.52	535^th	589	9.2%
2011	13.35	555^th	597	7.0%
2012	10.22	560^th	594	5.7%
2013	25.84	496^th	599	17.2%
2014	32.28	467^th	630	25.9%
2015	15.01	592^nd	638	7.2%
2016	16.12	557^th	619	10.0%
2017	11.35	597^th	639	6.6%
2018	7.68	607^th	624	2.7%
2019	11.00	593^rd	643	7.8%
2021	8.20	596^th	622	4.2%
2022	13.48	549^th	625	12.2%
2023	12.65	579^th	644	10.1%
2024	22.29	503^rd	638	21.2%

See the entire list of South Carolina Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Forest Heights Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	9.90	570^th	588	3.1%
2019	14.37	551^st	600	8.2%
2021	9.62	561^st	580	3.3%
2022	19.84	503^rd	600	16.2%
2023	17.96	526^th	608	13.5%
2024	31.92	429^th	599	28.4%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Forest Heights Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	9.83	541^st	570	5.1%
2019	13.51	529^th	588	10.0%
2021	12.07	502^nd	554	9.4%
2022	11.11	524^th	573	8.6%
2023	9.51	547^th	580	5.7%
2024	17.81	489^th	565	13.5%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Forest Heights Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	6.94	561^st	571	1.8%
2019	9.09	559^th	590	5.3%
2021	7.05	541^st	561	3.6%
2022	15.43	499^th	579	13.8%
2023	16.21	500^th	582	14.1%
2024	25.09	430^th	568	24.3%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Forest Heights Elementary

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked Elementary Schools	SC State Percentile
2018	18.91	377^th	412	8.5%
2019	30.76	327^th	421	22.3%
2021	18.66	320^th	350	8.6%
2022	32.67	279^th	393	29.0%
2023	26.18	329^th	394	16.5%
2024	42.93	209^th	369	43.4%

See the entire list of Best South Carolina Elementary Schools for African American Students!

Data source: test scores: South Carolina Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)

100%

Reviews:

by a parent
Monday, March 12, 2012

This school is one of the best schools on this side of town. They have made AYP 2 years in a row, they have USC students coming for their internships, and the staff is very passionate about their children learning. I am glad my child goes here!! Close Quote

Enrollment information for Forest Heights Elementary

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
2002	11	650	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	1	667
2003	11	650	0	5	0	n/a	n/a	1	667
2004	15	611	0	6	0	n/a	n/a	0	632
2005	12	528	0	11	0	n/a	n/a	0	551
2006	11	482	0	9	0	n/a	n/a	1	503
2007	13	461	1	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	480
2008	10	419	4	6	0	n/a	n/a	3	442
2009	6	431	2	9	0	n/a	n/a	3	451
2010	11	427	4	19	1	n/a	n/a	1	463
2011	12	412	3	29	1	1	11	0	469
2012	14	454	0	26	0	1	12	0	507
2013	17	460	0	38	0	1	12	0	528
2014	13	501	0	52	0	1	21	0	588
2015	20	478	0	63	0	0	17	0	578
2016	17	450	0	75	0	0	15	0	557
2017	17	453	0	56	0	0	22	0	548
2018	11	459	1	55	0	0	22	0	548
2019	14	404	2	60	0	0	18	0	498
2020	15	365	2	65	0	0	16	0	463
2021	12	323	0	49	0	0	15	0	399
2022	15	307	1	56	0	0	18	0	397
2023	22	324	4	70	0	0	21	0	441

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Forest Heights Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	667	45.0	14.8	86.6
2003	667	45.0	14.8	86.6
2004	632	44.5	14.2	86.4
2005	551	39.5	13.9	81.9
2006	503	35.5	14.2	84.1
2007	480	51.0	9.4	79.6
2008	442	35.0	12.6	85.9
2009	451	29.0	15.6	84.2
2010	463	31.5	14.7	87.2
2011	469	30.0	15.6	70.1
2012	507	34.5	14.6	91.7
2013	528	37.5	14.0	93.4
2014	588	41.5	14.1	80.1
2015	578	41.0	14.0	81.1
2016	557	41.0	13.5	100
2017	548	43.0	12.7	100
2018	548	41.0	13.3	100
2019	498	40.0	12.4	100
2020	463	38.0	12.1	100
2021	399	38.0	10.5	100
2022	397	38.0	10.4	100
2023	441	33.0	13.3	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Forest Heights Elementary

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
2002	667	45.0	14.8	86.6
2003	667	45.0	14.8	86.6
2004	632	44.5	14.2	86.4
2005	551	39.5	13.9	81.9
2006	503	35.5	14.2	84.1
2007	480	51.0	9.4	79.6
2008	442	35.0	12.6	85.9
2009	451	29.0	15.6	84.2
2010	463	31.5	14.7	87.2
2011	469	30.0	15.6	70.1
2012	507	34.5	14.6	91.7
2013	528	37.5	14.0	93.4
2014	588	41.5	14.1	80.1
2015	578	41.0	14.0	81.1
2016	557	41.0	13.5	100
2017	548	43.0	12.7	100
2018	548	41.0	13.3	100
2019	498	40.0	12.4	100
2020	463	38.0	12.1	100
2021	399	38.0	10.5	100
2022	397	38.0	10.4	100
2023	441	33.0	13.3	100

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Forest Heights Elementary

Year	Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from Federal Funds	Total Expenditures from Federal Funds	Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$569 (4.5%)	$606 (4.8%)	$1,175 (9.3%)	$9,695 (76.6%)	$1,781 (14.1%)	$11,476 (90.7%)	$12,651
2020	$831 (5.8%)	$818 (5.7%)	$1,649 (11.5%)	$10,649 (74.6%)	$1,983 (13.9%)	$12,632 (88.5%)	$14,281
2021	$1,336 (8.8%)	$576 (3.8%)	$1,911 (12.6%)	$11,251 (74.1%)	$2,015 (13.3%)	$13,265 (87.4%)	$15,177
2022	$1,810 (9.6%)	$807 (4.3%)	$2,617 (14.0%)	$13,764 (73.4%)	$2,376 (12.7%)	$16,140 (86.0%)	$18,757
2023	$2,176 (11.7%)	$1,847 (9.9%)	$4,024 (21.6%)	$12,200 (65.6%)	$2,364 (12.7%)	$14,563 (78.4%)	$18,587

Data source: South Carolina Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Forest Heights Elementary

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 593^rd of 643 Elementary schools	Ranks 579^th of 644 Elementary schools	2.3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Forest Heights Elementary)	23	32.4	9.4%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Richland 01)	41.4	45	3.6%
3rd Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)	49.7	53.5	3.8%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Forest Heights Elementary)	27	38.5	11.5%
3rd Grade Mathematics (Richland 01)	45.5	43.6	1.9%
3rd Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)	57.7	53.6	4.1%
4th Grade Science (Forest Heights Elementary)	23.2	14.1	9.1%
4th Grade Science (Richland 01)	43	33	10%
4th Grade Science (South Carolina)	52	46.6	5.4%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Forest Heights Elementary)	15.9	36.7	20.8%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Richland 01)	44.4	46.9	2.5%
4th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)	51.3	57.2	5.9%
4th Grade Mathematics (Forest Heights Elementary)	10.1	19.8	9.7%
4th Grade Mathematics (Richland 01)	35.7	32.9	2.8%
4th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)	50.5	47	3.5%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Forest Heights Elementary)	28.2	25.4	2.8%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Richland 01)	35.3	44.2	8.9%
5th Grade English Language Arts (South Carolina)	41	55.2	14.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Forest Heights Elementary)	16.5	19.7	3.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (Richland 01)	33.4	31.2	2.2%
5th Grade Mathematics (South Carolina)	45.4	44.6	0.8%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	498	441	11.4%
African American	404	324	19.8%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	2	4	100%
Hispanic	60	70	16.7%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	14	22	57.1%
Two or More Races	18	21	16.7%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	100%	100%

Schools Near Forest Heights Elementary

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SC READY English Language Arts (2024)			SC READY Mathematics (2024)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2023)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SC READY English Language Arts 3rd Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 4th Grade	SC READY English Language Arts 5th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 3rd Grade	SC READY Mathematics 4th Grade	SC READY Mathematics 5th Grade	Per Pupil Expenditures: Total	Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Non-Personnel Spending from Federal Funds	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Personnel Spending from State and Local Funds	Non-Personnel from State and Local Funds	Sub-total Spending from State and Local Funds
Forest Heights Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2500 Blue Ridge Terrace	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 691-3780	441	33	13.3	100.0%	22 (5.0%)	324 (73.5%)	70 (15.9%)	4 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (4.8%)	22.3	503^rd of 638 public elementary schools	21.2%		12.6	579^th of 644 public elementary schools	10.1%	76	36.8	32.8	40.6	44.3	26.3	32.8	$18,587	$2,176	$1,847	$4,024	$12,200	$2,364	$14,563
Carolina School for Inquiry	Public, Charter	PK, KG-6	7405-A Fairfield Road	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	Yes	No	No	Yes	(803) 691-1250	96	6	16.0	100.0%	10 (10.4%)	80 (83.3%)	2 (2.1%)	3 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (1.0%)								(n/a)							$18,985	$833	$939	$1,773	$13,053	$4,160	$17,213
J. P. Thomas Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	6001 Weston Avenue	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 735-3430	323	30	10.7	100.0%	8 (2.5%)	277 (85.8%)	10 (3.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (8.7%)	20.9	515^th of 638 public elementary schools	19.3%		13.8	569^th of 644 public elementary schools	11.6%	54	38.1	39.5	23.1	62.8	21.0	15.1	$19,840	$2,633	$1,738	$4,371	$12,952	$2,518	$15,470
Arden Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1300 Ashley Street	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 735-3400	234	20	11.7	100.0%	1 (0.4%)	167 (71.4%)	54 (23.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (5.1%)	18.4	539^th of 638 public elementary schools	15.5%		18.9	537^th of 644 public elementary schools	16.6%	2	33.4	37.5	26.5	39.4	31.3	32.4	$21,462	$2,394	$2,113	$4,507	$14,299	$2,656	$16,955
A. J. Lewis Greenview Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	726 Easter Street	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 735-3417	375	28	13.6	100.0%	4 (1.1%)	336 (89.6%)	20 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.0%)	17.3	541^st of 638 public elementary schools	15.2%		12.9	575^th of 644 public elementary schools	10.7%	34	48.7	28.6	34.7	41.0	10.2	23.9	$18,461	$2,387	$1,743	$4,130	$11,993	$2,339	$14,331
Hyatt Park Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4200 Main Street	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 735-3421	393	31	12.6	100.0%	1 (0.3%)	374 (95.2%)	6 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.1%)	6.3	624^th of 638 public elementary schools	2.2%		3.9	642^nd of 644 public elementary schools	0.3%	18	22.0	28.9	31.9	7.3	13.3	19.2	$19,410	$2,064	$1,669	$3,733	$13,273	$2,403	$15,676
Burton Pack Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	111 Garden Drive	Columbia	29204	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 691-5550	388	23	16.8	100.0%	2 (0.5%)	348 (89.7%)	20 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (4.6%)	4.4	634^th of 638 public elementary schools	0.6%		6.4	630^th of 644 public elementary schools	2.2%	4	11.9	23.3	30.5	19.0	9.4	13.0	$18,335	$1,669	$1,728	$3,397	$12,708	$2,230	$14,938
Edward E. Taylor Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	200 McRae Street	Columbia	29203	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 343-2974	225	17	13.2	100.0%	5 (2.2%)	197 (87.6%)	12 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (4.9%)	9.8	606^th of 638 public elementary schools	5.0%		21.7	517^th of 644 public elementary schools	19.7%	89	15.7	38.8	30.0	25.0	32.3	10.0	$21,479	$2,315	$1,979	$4,294	$14,593	$2,592	$17,185
Pine Grove Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	111 Huffstetler Drive	Columbia	29210	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 214-2380	541	40	13.5	100.0%	27 (5.0%)	430 (79.5%)	34 (6.3%)	14 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	36 (6.7%)	11.8	579^th of 638 public elementary schools	9.2%		12.4	580^th of 644 public elementary schools	9.9%	1	38.5	34.1	27.9	25.6	29.5	11.6	$16,230	$1,443	$1,593	$3,035	$11,317	$1,878	$13,194
Sandel Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2700 Seminole Road	Columbia	29210	Richland County	Richland 01	No	No	No	Yes	(803) 731-8906	477	35	13.6	100.0%	14 (2.9%)	413 (86.6%)	19 (4.0%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.5%)	22.7	500^th of 638 public elementary schools	21.6%		16.6	552^nd of 644 public elementary schools	14.3%	52	33.3	41.4	36.9	34.9	38.5	34.2	$16,555	$1,073	$1,702	$2,775	$11,632	$2,148	$13,780

Forest Heights Elementary

Forest Heights Elementary:

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Richland 01:

Average Parent Rating:

What do you think?

Rank History for Forest Heights Elementary

Rank History for all students at Forest Heights Elementary

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Forest Heights Elementary

Rank History for Female students at Forest Heights Elementary

Rank History for Male students at Forest Heights Elementary

Rank History for African American students at Forest Heights Elementary

Review counts

Enrollment information for Forest Heights Elementary

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Forest Heights Elementary

Student/Teacher Ratio Forest Heights Elementary

Per Pupil Expenditures for Forest Heights Elementary

Impact of COVID-19 on Forest Heights Elementary

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Forest Heights Elementary

Frequently Asked Questions about Forest Heights Elementary

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