The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in Science. The lowest is 38% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Forbes School
Forbes School is a neighborhood elementary school in American Fork, part of the Alpine District. It serves grades kindergarten through sixth and has an enrollment that places it among the larger elementary schools in the area for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic population making up the largest minority group, and small shares of students who identify as two or more races, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Black, Asian, or American Indian or Alaska Native. More than a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, giving the school a moderate level of economic diversity.
State testing results from the RISE assessment show that student proficiency rates in math, English language arts, and science cluster in the upper third to lower half of the scale. About two in five students scored proficient or above in math and in English language arts, with a slightly higher share reaching that level in science. Compared to other elementary schools across Utah County, Forbes’s overall proficiency figure sits below the midpoint of the distribution. The data on English learner and special education identification rates was not reported, so a parent who wants to understand the school’s approach to those student groups would need to ask the school directly. Because Forbes only serves elementary grades, the school does not report a graduation rate or college and career readiness metrics.
The school sits at the edge of American Fork’s historic core on 200 East, a short walk from the downtown area and its civic buildings. The city itself mixes small-town landmarks—a walkable Main Street with buildings on the National Register, an annual Steel Days celebration—with the rapid suburban growth that has reshaped much of Utah County since the 1970s. Population has climbed steadily, and the housing market reflects that demand. The typical home value stands well above the national median, and rents have been rising, making this a relatively expensive market for families. Interstate 15 runs through town, and a FrontRunner commuter rail station opened a number of years ago, connecting American Fork to Salt Lake City and Provo. Major employers include the Alpine District headquarters, American Fork Hospital, and a state facility for people with disabilities, along with a mix of high-tech manufacturing and retail.
The school’s most defining context is that its district, Alpine, is now in the middle of a major reorganization. In late 2024, voters approved a plan to split the district—the largest in Utah—into three separate entities starting in the 2027–28 school year. Under that plan, American Fork will belong to a new Central district that also includes Lehi, Alpine, Highland, Cedar Hills, and the Utah County portion of Draper. The new districts will have their own school boards, boundaries, and property tax structures, meaning the governance and funding context for Forbes will change entirely within the next few years. The transition is still being worked out, with board elections and boundary approvals happening in 2025. Families currently zoned for Forbes should expect to see shifting information about what that split means for their school’s budget, leadership, and feeder patterns.
Forbes offers no unusual program labels—it is not a charter, magnet, or Title I school, and the data did not include course access or staffing information. What it provides is a standard elementary curriculum within walking distance of downtown American Fork, in a growing city with expensive housing and a district in the middle of a historic split. A parent considering this school should pay attention to how the district reorganization will affect their child’s path to middle and high school, and should seek out the school directly for details on student support services and instructional approach, since the public data leaves those areas largely unstated.
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