Stephen Foster Elementary School
5223 E. Bigelow Street
Lakewood, CA 90712
562-804-6518

Stephen Foster Elementary School staff, students, parents, and community collaborate in order to cultivate excellence inside and outside of the classroom. We focus on today, but also look toward the future. We envision students confidently moving on to higher education and eventually into the global community where they will be empowered to reach their full potential. We foster the "whole child", supporting academic, physical, social, and emotional growth. We encourage students to be self-motivated, independent thinkers. We equip them with the "tools" they'll need to be lifelong learners. We inspire students to expand their horizons, and we provide a safe, encouraging environment that helps to bring out the best in everyone. We respect and take pride in our school, our community, and ourselves.

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 six. Students leave Stephen Foster as responsible citizens who demonstrate respect for themselves and others in their community, as well as active learners who have attained or exceeded all appropriate grade level district standards, and are prepared for successful continuing educational experiences.

The facilities at Stephen Foster Elementary School in Lakewood include 32 regular education classrooms, a multipurpose room (which also serves as the school cafeteria), a library, and a computer lab. The district operates three preschool classes as well as one before and after care class on the Stephen Foster campus. Three classes for students with multiple handicaps are also housed on the campus.

Stephen Foster serves 750 students. The attendance rate at the school was 96.21 percent during the prior school year. Student enrollment includes a variety of ethnic backgrounds: Asian five percent, Pacific Islander one percent, Filipino six percent, Hispanic 39 percent, African American eleven percent, and Caucasian 37 percent.

The school has 32 regular education teachers, six special education teachers, an assistant principal, and an administrator. Other personnel serving the school include a psychologist, two health assistants, a guidance intern, and a speech and language teacher.

Staff development activities are essential for maintaining a quality education program for students; the emphasis of the staff development program has been in the areas of language arts, fine arts, mathematics, social studies and technology. One hundred percent of the teachers at our school participate in staff development activities.