Riverside Garden School

I went here like, I don't know, 7 years ago. I still have memories from here, even though I only went 1.5 years. It was a great school. I really liked my kindergarten teacher. I remember a lot about that school. It was great, and I really want to go back there sometime. Well, that's it. Great school.

A wonderful, low pressure environment for kids. No bullying. Good teachers. Cirriculum that focuses on bedrock skills: (math, writing english, science, geography). I am a software engineer, and appreciate that the focus is not on the technological whiz bang stuff, which kids pick up anyway. I would dispute the reviews that call the facilities inadiquate or dingy. One playground is a huge, flat, dirt field: acres in extent. All sorts of plants grow around. The young kids dig, and explore, and make shelters for ladybugs. The older ones use two basketball courts. There are also old fashioned monkeybars, a slide, teatherball, a baseball backstop. Every grade has a day with a professional PE instructor. As for dingy, I find the classrooms clean and wonderful: most classrooms have one wall with nearly floor to ceiling windows. Wonderful natural light. good, old fashioned desks with lots of room for books and materials...
--Submitted by a parent

My son had a mid-year transfer from a local public school. This school, it's principal, staff and kids are warm and welcoming. The class sizes are small and there is a feeling of community and structure. While there may not be some of the bells and whistles of other schools, this school excels in the more tangible elements of early education. My son loved his 2nd grade teacher. The principal is very engaged and works with parents to bring out the best in their kids.
--Submitted by a parent

This school has been a blessing. My daughter entered first grade at this school not knowing how to read and by the end of the year she was reading chapter books. The campus is out of date but appearances can be very deceiving. Although this school does not have up to date equipment it does give the students the foundation they need to succeed in middle school and high school. I am a public high school teacher and all of the students that have attended this school excel academically. Don't be fooled by the appearance of this campus. Just talk to parents whose children are in 6th grade and they will tell you they are ahead about two years.
--Submitted by a parent

I am very disappointed. The playground is not safe. Poor playground supervision. The classrooms are not up to standard for today's educational needs. Too many fundraisers for a private school. My kids are not learning what was promised. Disappointing....!
--Submitted by a parent

My children atended garden School for 4 years,. I moved them to a better school and wish I had done it sooner. Garden is very old fashioned and classrooms are dingy.
--Submitted by a parent

Academics are important at Garden School. However, there aren't any extracurricular activities available to the students.
--Submitted by a parent

On the whole, I'm very happy with the quality of education my boys are receiving at this school. What I like: really great quality teachers who are dedicated & v.good at motivating the kids; curriculum is based on Carden schools, and is challenging. Teachers are creative at including art, music, science & the kids thrive on it & love it. Don't much like: grounds & facilities are mediocre; sometimes Principal is not very responsive to parental concerns; not much parental involvement, and more involevement is not encouraged - in fact has been actively discouraged. If you're interested in Garden School, check it out & talk to parents in the morning - there are always plenty hanging around the parking lot who will be happy to talk to you!
--Submitted by a parent

Top notch! Playground area is small and limited physical activity and resources. Yet, the academic opprtunities are abundant, and the teacher are rigorous but fair. Each grade is about 1.5 to 2.0 years ahead of a normal school and about a year ahead of most gate school. Teachers and administrators are very strict about discipline, and focuses very fairly on equity. Plenty of opportunities to explore learning, diverse, and fits in well with the sorrunding area. School is tucked neatly in a christian setting but is not a religious institution. I highly reccomend The Garden School if you have the opportunity to put some additional time in with your child. Work is constant and rewarding. My three children love it.
--Submitted by Jalani Bakari, a parent

My child attended Garden school for six years and I would say that it was a positive experience overall. They emphasize the basics (math, english, etc.) at a challenging pace, using textbooks one grade level ahead. Spanish is taught in all grades. Being a very small school with one classroom per grade, the kids 'grow up' together and wonderful friendships are developed. The kids wear uniforms and behavior standards are high. On the down side, facilities are few (no library, not much playground equipment, no lunch facilities), little opportunity for parental involvement, and poor communication.
--Submitted by a parent