Rio Norte Junior High School

This school was an extreme disappointment. I wish I knew more about it before our son started in the school so that we could have found him an alternative option. He has always been a straight A student, especially excelling in math. In the 8th grade in Rio he actually failed math despite spending literally hours on homework every night. His teacher advised against any of the students getting tutors and yet when my son approached her for assistance she announced to the class that she only had a few minutes to provide assistance because she had to "tutor some idiot at 3:00." She constantly screamed at the students and almost the entire class went to summer school. My son went to a private summer school (due to date difficulties) and completed the Algebra class with a 97% grade. He just completed his first year of high school with a 98% final grade.He knows math, this teacher is horrible. Of course I complained and received no response. He had another teacher that just left him to sit and do nothing throughout the class as he was "too busy to assign work to individual students." The responses I got (if any) were bizarre to say the least. Do your child a favor, find another school.
—Submitted by a parent

This is the worst Jr High!! The teachers do NOT care about the students. They do not offer help or any postive feedback. They all seem to hate the job and the kids. The bulling problen is out of control and no one cares. Do not send your kids here. I wish you could give no stars
—Submitted by a parent

Rio Norte has been a great experience for our family. Wonderful teachers and staff. My son has enjoyed his time at the school.
—Submitted by a parent

Best school ever. The principal is very concerned about the students. He is everywhere around the school. The teachers and PTA are awesome!!! The learning level is surely outstanding. My daughter has learned a lot while at Rio Norte. She will miss it a great deal.
—Submitted by a parent

Not a very good school. I attended Rio Norte for both 7th and 8th grade. 7th grade was a wonderful year, but when I got to 8th grade, everything fell apart. The office staff were unbelievably unhelpful. I was told by a particular Algebra teacher that "good students never raise their hand". I was also told by an English teacher that my poetry had "too much emotion" to it and I was given an F. I went from a straight A student in 7th grade to a C student in 8th grade. I Look, if you are looking for a "normal", run of the mill school, and if you want your children to recieve nothing more than a "normal" education, I suppose Rio Norte would be the school for your children. Also, if you have any children with learning disabilities, you will go through absolute hell at this school.

Shocked by the lack of assistance by the staff. My son was a straight A student and upon his first year at Rio, went to all C's and one D. The response from the staff, "we are here to educate and grade, nothing more". We have pulled our son out to attend Catholic School. Ida who is the person that terminates the students attendance said we were breaking the law by putting our child in another school without removing him from Rio. The asst principle, Mrs. Dos said that was not true. The school is unorganized and shows the lack of effort to assist our students AND seems to only concentrate on budget cuts. Dont put your children in such a low morale school that will only allow your student to NOT read, write or show proper math skills. I am very disappointed with such a good neighborhood allowing this to take place.
—Submitted by a parent

I don't understand all the great scores of this school unless other public schools in California are really bad. Class offerings and tests are good, but that's only half the story. My kid, who is a straight A, endures teachers who don't seem able to control the classroom, administrators who would rather eat snack foods in the office rather than help control those students, extremely poor quality food for lunch, and not nearly enough time for students to eat their lunches. There is lots of room for improvement.
—Submitted by a parent

My two older children attended Rio Norte. As far as education goes, it was okay, but the block schedule caused some confusion. My biggest problem with Rio Norte is that in 2008, during the Presidential campaign, many students wore clothing supporting one particular candidate, and a few of the teachers spoke openly about their progressive political leanings. Kids of this age don't need to hear teachers talk about how bad or good a politician is.
—Submitted by a parent

i am in 7th grade at rio as of now. before i graduated from 6th grade, of course, i was nervous. on my first day, i was welcomed and had an amazing experience with the staff! i absolutely love it! the office people are just great too! rio really knows how to help a student when they are having trouble. i hope you get a chance to see what i mean for yourslef(:

It's a great school that thinks outside of the box!
—Submitted by a student

i went there its was a great junior high expierince. i switch there in 8th grade from la mesa jr. high. the teachers at rio norte reeally know how to help students excell. i loved it!
—Submitted by a student

Rio Norte is an school that excels at all levels. As parents, we are thrilled that our seventh grade daughter attends this wonderful school, and are excited about the prospects of our two younger children going there in the future. Rio Norte has a progressive block schedule, wherein students attend three classes per day for a longer period of time. The periods are scattered throughout the week, so over a given rotation, each class meets during blocks A, B, and C. Thus, every child attends Mediaeval History (7th grade) in the early morning, in the late morning, and in the afternoon. Ingenious! In addition, students are placed into teams, so the same pool of students shares the same cadre of teachers. This encourages personalization and essentially builds small schools within a larger campus, a great attribute for all schools. Finally, and most importantly, the teachers are dedicated, industrious, and caring!
—Submitted by a parent

After going to a private school for all of my elementary years, I was apprehensive about coming to Rio Norte and entering the public school system. But after the first few days there I knew I would enjoy both of my years there immensely. I am so ecstatic about being able to go here for the past two years and as a student, I feel ready for the pressure of high school. I am surely going to miss Rio Norte. It has been a great place for me.
—Submitted by a student

Since the elementary schools that feed into this school are all academically superb, the students come in highly motivated, scholastically-driven, and with a well-developed skill set. Thus, it is incumbent upon such a school to deliver what parents are accustomed to: an excellent, standards-based, rigorous education analogous to what the accelerated college preparatory schools offer. Rio Norte delivers! We consider ourselves blessed, indeed, to have our daughter attend this exceptional school. The campus itself is beautiful and well-maintained. The teachers are demanding yet reasonable. The staff is caring and nurturing, yet teachers hold students accountable for their own learning. The counseling staff is receptive and responsive. Thank you, Rio Norte!
—Submitted by a parent

This school is really great for my daughter. The environment is comfortable and the campus is very clean. There is also a system called the block schedule where students only have three periods a day (i.e. periods 1,2,3 on one day and periods 4,5,6 on the other day). This gives the students a chance to have more time in the classes do they can understand the courses better. Also, there are many electives such as home economics(cooking), band(beginnung or advanced), drama,and more. There's also PTSA, where parents can get involved with the school's activities or just volunteer and help out. This school has done a great deal for my daughter and she is in 7th grade. The teachers are nice, funny, and they teach very well. P.S. the food tastes great too.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is absolutely great. My son was the first class to graduate and my daughter now attends. Like any school, there are a few teachers who do not respond to parents questions or concerns, however the majority of the staff is outstanding, including the principal.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school, and I've been to a lot of school! Great student body, my parents were very impressed my 1st year there and I'm going back for 8th grade!
—Submitted by Machella, a student

This is an awesome school with a great principal and great teachers.
—Submitted by a parent