The mission of Stephen Foster Elementary School is to provide a safe learning environment and effective school-based coordination of programs reflecting input by teachers, students, administrators, parents, and community members to meet the unique needs of a diverse student population in grades kindergarten through grade six. Students leave Stephen Foster as responsible citizens who demonstrate respect for themselves and others in their community.

The facilities at Stephen Foster Elementary School in Lakewood include 21 regular education classrooms, 5 special education classrooms, two preschool classes, one Head Start room, a multipurpose room which also serves as the school cafeteria, a library, and two computer labs. Stephen Foster serves 709 students. The attendance rate at the school was 96.54 percent during the prior school year. Student enrollment includes a variety of ethnic backgrounds: Asian 6 percent, Pacific Islander 1 percent, Filipino 7 percent, Hispanic 40 percent, African American 10 percent, Caucasian 34 percent and multiple 2 percent.

The school has 21 regular education teachers, five special education teachers, and an administrator. Other personnel serving the school include a psychologist, RSP teacher, inclusion specialist, a health assistant, a guidance intern, case manager and a speech and language therapist.

At Stephen Foster, we are proud to have served students and their families for sixty years. Our students are active learners who have attained or exceeded all appropriate grade level district standards and are prepared to reach their full potential and become productive members of society. We support all students in this bold endeavor by differentiating instruction and using a variety of instructional strategies to meet the needs of all learners. Technology permeates the curriculum and is used to diagnose, remediate, and extend learning. Strong support systems promote success for both at-risk and high achieving students. GATE students are provided with extended learning experiences after school with topics as diverse as Moon Study and chess. Learning is further extended for all students through special learning opportunities including Gold Rush Days, Revolutionary War Reenactment, historic wax museum, and an upper grade science fair.

The fine arts have always been important at Stephen Foster. Students annually study and recreate the work of three artists thorough the Meet the Masters program. Music is equally important and begins formally in third grade with flutophones, continues in fourth grade with recorders and culminates in fifth and sixth grade with band and chorus taught by a district teacher. Stephen Foster also boasts a second grade bell choir.

Stephen Foster enjoys strong ties with the local community. Special events bring the community to our school. Events such as a Veterans Day Ceremony, Grandparents Day, Family Reading and Math Nights, Family Movie Nights, and the Stephen Foster Talent Show connect our students to the local community in a meaningful way.

Our students have multiple opportunities to engage in character-building activities such as conflict mediators and serving as Student Council members or officers. Stephen Foster students live by the Character Counts program and strive to exemplify the pillars of character including respect, trustworthiness, fairness, citizenship, responsibility, and fairness.

It is with this energy that the Stephen Foster students exhibit, "Standard of Excellence; Nothing Less" each and everyday!