Horizon Elementary School

Posted: May 5, 2025

The school is good, feeds well, is well kept, and provides good education to students. This year they have a dean and she is not that friendly. My child does not like her demeanor and feels that she does not talk friendly to kids. Overall Horizon is good just some staff need to be more friendly and better costumer service by the main office staff.

Posted: May 5, 2025

Posted: May 5, 2025

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Posted: September 5, 2017

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Posted: September 5, 2017

Caring and compassionate staff. Amazing teachers who are dedicated to their students.

Posted: August 28, 2017

Horizon is a great school. My children were so excited to start the new school year last week. We are happy with their new teachers! We know it will be another wonderful year!

Posted: August 28, 2017

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Posted: August 18, 2017

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Posted: August 18, 2017

Horizon has been a wonderful learning environment for my two children. The staff is approachable and responsive to the needs of children as a whole. We love the Horizon Comet Community! Looking forward to another great year!

Posted: May 15, 2017

This is one of the best schools in our area. I've been involved with Horizon elementary since the past 10 years. Have worked there and also volunteered. What makes the school great is that the staff under the guidance of the Principal Ms. Ewing are so dedicated to provide the best for our children. Our community is very fortunate to have such a fabulous principal.

Posted: May 15, 2017

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Posted: April 21, 2017

wonderful school! Good teachers team, helpful, thoughtful, knowledgeable. They always search for new ways to help kids. Stuff is positive, intusiastic and energetic.

Posted: October 30, 2016

We love Horizon! We've had two children go through the school and have one current student there now. They all have had great experiences. The principal has always been pleasant and helpful. She met with us about a small concern we had with one of our children and she took time to really listen. She even took extra time to personally check in with her and follow up with us. The teachers have been excellent and do creative lessons-not just prepare for tests. Our kids have had fun at Horizon and have certainly prepared academically for middle school.

Posted: July 13, 2016

This school used to be great. Not any more...The administration particularly the principal is AWFUL. My student was bullied all year and no one even called to tell me. When I learned how serious the issue was her response was that she was handling it..it happen 3 more times. Obviously she was NOT. My last encounter her she was smug, rude, and extremely unprofessional. Lots of teachers are leaving because of her. She really has ruined this school.

Posted: January 22, 2016

Overall, very well-behaved kids.
Teachers that are very involved in the child's success.
Excellent well-balanced curriculum.
Better facilities, including labs, promethean boards in classrooms, up-to-date gymnasium
Strong PTA program.
Excellent extra-curricular programs for students.
Excellent CASA program.

Posted: January 22, 2016

Posted: January 22, 2016

Posted: January 22, 2016

The school has several ways of rewarding students for good behavior -- e.g., awarding students points or stickers for good deeds, recognizing student achievements (not just academic, but character/citizenship as well)

Posted: May 13, 2015

Horizon is a great school. I have 2 kids there, and they have excelled at this school. The guidance counselors are awesome, and do so much to make sure your child is happy there. The teachers are very caring, and communicate all the time to the parents. I love the PTA, they have so many activities and ways to participate in the school. I have not had any interaction with the principle, but everything has seemed to be well organized and efficient.

Posted: May 4, 2015

This is our second year here and I have to say it's on eof the best schools that I have ever encountered. Great teachers and staff. My child is so happy. At my child's previous school (a private school) there were so many sad days. Here, my child want's to go to school everyday! Such an improvement! Even the bus driver is amazing and so friendly. My child has learned so much in just one year. We are very, very happy!

Posted: May 3, 2015

School is kind of ok.Both my kids went there for like 3 years. The search program here is a joke. Can't believe they'll say No to a kid who scores 99 percentile in cogat and Nnat, who is a straight A student, reads like 2 grades above her current grade. Not exactly sure how the class room teacher and the Search teacher can't recommend such a kid. Really did not have a clue on what they expected. I just pulled my kid out and went to a neighboring county which welcomed my kid into full time GT with open arms. And that was the best decision I took. The 2 stars I gave was for the strong PTA community in this school.

Posted: March 11, 2015

All three of my children and my nephew have attended Horizon Elementary School over the past 7-8 years. The teachers are consistently willing to work with kids and parents to help students succeed. Guidance counselors are excellent and promote responsible behavior. Support staff is happy, efficient and friendly. The principal and vice principal are also very good, I have seen repeated evidence of caring, concern, and character (one of the messages communicated to students) across the board at Horizon. As my kids attend(ed) Horizon I feel they are in a safe, structured, fun learning environment that helps prepare them for middle school. The school also holds many activities that are great for families including the spring fun fair, bingo & movie nights, fun runs; helps educate our kids on the importance of caring for others (sweats for vets, food drives); encourages physical fitness (after-school running club is one of the best!) and promotes a tangible sense of community that seems pretty rare for this busy area.

Posted: May 21, 2014

I love this school! My old 5th grade teacher loved to challenge us but still be fun. I would highly recommend it. The fourth grade team is amazing. the third grade I feel could be a little bit better though, same for first and second grade. The art teacher Mrs. Quinn is just plain amazing.The music teacher, Mr. Gravtitii very fun. The P.E Teachers, Mrs.Booth and Mr. Funkcousr are okay .

Posted: February 20, 2014

big disapoitment. moved from fairfax public school and we terribly miss the very wise teachers we had. i feel that horizon is not helping my child succeed. the amount of homework is unbelievable for the age. to the point that my child is loosing interest and feeling overwhelmed. the child is in school for almost 6 hours already every day! tons of pressure on the kid, stress. no time for extra school activities yet... really considering changing schools. if you are considering horizon for your kids, go visit and meet the principal/teacher first, ask all of your questions and good luck. we are not having a good experience.

Posted: April 10, 2013

My son really enjoys all this school has to offer. I don't know how many schools there are in the US that focus on children's strengths and challenges, but this is definately one of them! I have seen my son excel not only at school but at home as well with guidance from the amazing staff of Horizon Elementary.

Posted: October 4, 2012

I have two children that go here and it has been good. I have not heard a single complaint or "gossip" about the teachers, principal, other kids or families. I do not engage in that behavior myself so that might explain it.

Posted: October 3, 2012

I know some of the teachers here and they are really great. However, the principle has created such a negative work environment here that it has seriously become a really bad place for both teachers and students. Many teachers left when they discovered she had been hired as the principal. She is rude and spends all her time gossiping about teachers and other students. She consistently shows poor judgment in her dealings with staff and parents.

Posted: August 28, 2012

We love this school! It is our fourth year here. The teachers and staff are great! We had only one glitch with an unexperienced, first-year teacher. But it seems the principal and staff are aware an working with that teacher.

Posted: July 10, 2012

This is hands down one of the worst schools you could possibly send your child to. The staff and faculty are un-interested and just plain rude. The principle is always too busy gossiping to worry with speaking with parents or students. The front office staff is among the worst I have ever seen. We moved just so our child could attend this school because we had so many good rec's about it. After 6 months we pulled our child and sent him to a private school that we are thrilled with. I would not send my dog to Horizon let alone my child. our child will NEVER go to public school again. Thanks Horizon for being the worst school possible.

Posted: April 6, 2011

New this year at Horizon is this ridiculous effort to pin every kids' action as bullying. In my child's class, they pulled a number of kids out on 2 occasions to talk to them about the dangers of bullying because some parent wrote a letter. They did not bother verifying if that parent was exaggerating or if the statements were true or not. The tenure teacher was yelling at one crying boy "Yes, you _were_ a bully!" His friends knew he was not. My child was traumatized by all this false drama even though he was not the one involved and could not concentrate on school work for the whole week because looking at his friends that he knew were innocent, he felt afraid. And this happened twice in one school year! This was the same tenure teacher who at one point was replying to a parent email on the projector in front of the whole class, embarrassing the child whose parent had emailed the teacher. Academically, the school teaches to the test so the test scores remain high. The quality of teaching is at best mediocre. They no longer do switch-match per county directive, so the math curriculum is now below average.

Posted: March 29, 2011

I have had 2 children at Horizon. The staff is amazing! Energetic and skilled working with the kids. I have had staff at the middle schools tell me how prepared the kids are coming from Horizon. My kids loved all of the extra activities that the PTA provides.

Posted: March 27, 2011

Horizon, River Bend and Potomac Falls high School was one of the main reasons I moved to the Sterling area.

Posted: March 25, 2011

We have 2 kids at Horizon for 5 years now and we are very happy overall with the school. Ms. Daniel is an excellent 1st grade teacher - she has high expectations and the kids really perform up to them. The academic growth is unbelievable in 1st grade! My kids have both had some very creative teaching and enthusiastic teachers. Our family loves and attends all of the fun afterschool PTA sponsored events too. Our kids love going to Horizon!

Posted: March 24, 2011

Excellent teachers and very responsive administrative staff. Mrs. Ewing, the Vice Principal is responsive to all academic and social concerns. Ms. Paolo is the best 2nd grade teacher - she offers enhancements to the curriculum that allow her students to excel. Mrs. Hatton is the best 1st grade teacher. Mrs. Lee, the reading specialist is a blessing to the school!

Posted: March 24, 2011

Have had students in 2 other schools in the area. Horizon, by far has been the best experience. Great teachers and extra curricular activities.

Posted: March 24, 2011

Great school - excellent staff and great after school activities. I highly recommend to any family looking for a great elementary school!