Forest Hills Local School District

Not to be confused with Forest Hills School District.

Forest Hills Local School District
Location
Anderson Township Cincinnati metropolitan area
United States
District information
TypePublic
MottoENGAGE • EMPOWER • EXCEL
SuperintendentLarry Hook
Schools
  • Anderson High School
  • Ayer Elementary School
  • Maddux Elementary School
  • Mercer Elementary School
  • Nagel Middle School
  • Sherwood Elementary School
  • Summit Elementary School
  • Turpin High School
  • Wilson Elementary School
Students and staff
Studentsapprox. 1,200
Staff1,008
Other information
Websitewww.foresthills.edu

Forest Hills Local School District is a public school district serving the southeasternmost area of Hamilton County, Ohio outside the city of Cincinnati. The district specifically serves approximately 7,600 students from Anderson Township and the village of Newtown.[1] There are 1,008 staff members working for the district.[2]

The district has been rated excellent or excellent with distinction for the 12 consecutive years based on the State Report Card. It consists of nine schools:[3][4][5][6][7]

School Principal Year built Grades Enrollment Staff
Anderson High School Kyle Fender 1961 9–12 1,199 168
Ayer Elementary School Heather Hoelle 1973 K–6 628 67
Maddux Elementary School Joy O’Brien 1966 K–6 617 49
Mercer Elementary School Jodi Davidson 1973 K–6 728 112
Nagel Middle School Tiffany Brennan 1999 7–8 1,876 116
Sherwood Elementary School Dan Hamilton 1970 K–6 568 52
Summit Elementary School Michele Sulfsted 1968 K–6 532 60
Turpin High School Andy Jados[8] 1976 9–12 1,100 112
Wilson Elementary School Erin Storer 1959 (rebuilt 2017)[9] K–6 639 56
Total 7,987 792 (not including the 216 administrative staff)

The student progression from elementary to middle to high school in Forest Hills is noteworthy. There are six neighborhood elementary schools, all of which feed Nagel Middle School. Nagel students are then again divided based on their home addresses between the two high schools. Anderson High School gets all students from Ayer, Maddux and Summit Elementaries. Turpin gets all students from Wilson and Mercer Elementaries. Sherwood Elementary students are split between Anderson and Turpin, depending on street address; students on a few designated "swing" streets may choose either high school.[10]

The Forest Hills school board has been the subject of public criticism and a lawsuit following its June 2022 resolution banning "anti-racism" teachings in schools. Board member Sara Jonas was quoted as saying the measure was brought forth "just to make sure that both sides are always being taught to the students".[11] The board received further criticism in September 2023 after superintendent Larry Hook had a student mural promoting equality painted over.[12] In December 2023, the lawsuit against the board ended in a settlement, the details of which were not disclosed,[13] though the board said the settlement cost would be covered by its liability insurance.[14] The board rescinded the resolution later that month.[14]

  1. ^ "About". Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  2. ^ "Forest Hills School District". www.foresthills.edu. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  3. ^ "Facilities".
  4. ^ "Turpin Profile 2015-2016" (PDF). Forest Hills. SchoolPointe. Archived from the original on November 23, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  5. ^ "Anderson High School Digital Profile 2015-2016". Forest Hills. SchoolPointe. Retrieved April 18, 2016.[dead link]
  6. ^ "Nagel Nation Members". Schoology. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  7. ^ "Forest Hills" (PDF). Forest Hills. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  8. ^ "Turpin High School - About - Principal's Message | Forest Hills Schools". www.foresthills.edu. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "Wilson hosts Farewell Open House on April 22". Forest Hills School District. April 17, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  10. ^ https://www.foresthills.edu/content/documents/school-of-attendance-1.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  11. ^ Mitchell, Madeline (June 29, 2022). "Forest Hills parents, students, teachers sue district over resolution that 'promotes racism'". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  12. ^ Carreon, Zack (September 20, 2023). "Forest Hills superintendent stands by decision to paint over student-created diversity mural". WVXU. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  13. ^ Carreon, Zack (December 7, 2023). "Forest Hills School Board reaches settlement in 'Culture of Kindness' lawsuit". WVXU. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  14. ^ a b O'Keefe, PJ (December 21, 2023). "Forest Hills rescinds 'Culture of Kindness' resolution that banned assignments considering race, sexuality". WCPO 9 Cincinnati. Retrieved July 23, 2024.