Riverside Drive Charter Elementary School

Riverside Drive Elem is dedicated to its students academic future. The teachers go above and beyond for each student. The parental support is outstanding. The students are the 'Best and the Brightest.'
—Submitted by a parent

great school with great programs, teachers, kids and parents.
—Submitted by a parent

Great teachers, awesome kids, involved parents :-)
—Submitted by a parent

Riverside Drive is one of the jewels of the Valley. We walk every morning with school mates and love our teachers.
—Submitted by a parent

Fantastic kids and great teachers and our parents are extremely involved. My son loves it and I do as well.
—Submitted by a parent

RD is a great community school dedicated to kids, neighborhood camaraderie and group efforts to achieve
—Submitted by a parent

Our school has a great sense of community! It is filled with so many loving people! The connection between School, Home and Community is amazing! Great kids, Great Teachers, and Staff! Our Parents For Riverside Drive is an amazing group of people, who help provide a good enviorment for kids, with great programs both during school, and afterschool! To top it off a terrific Principal!
—Submitted by a parent

Great neighborhood school with caring teachers and involved parents!
—Submitted by a parent

Riverside Drive has the best students, staff, and parents! It is a great place to be.
—Submitted by a parent

Riverside Drive is a great neighborhood school with terrific teachers, involved parents and awesome kids!
—Submitted by a parent

Today was the last day of school with summer vacation coming . My childs teacher retired after thirty one years of teaching.What a kind, patient, gracious woman this teacher is. A real lady. With the new school year coming I hope my child has the same great experience next semester.I have had children at Riverside going back eighteen years. The main thing I can say about Riverside is that the teachers and parents really try. So many go out of their way to help others. Especially the parents who try to raise money for the school, they are tireless. The tiny lady who is in charge of the playground is a breath of fresh air. With patience and a love for kids she really keeps a eye out for the kids I am so greatful for her. Our new principle is warm and caring, and in control.
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school - My daughter is in 1st grade going into second and we couldn't be happier - The teachers and principal are amazing and so wonderful to all the students. I highly recommend you joining our school if you can.
—Submitted by a parent

My grandchildren have been through a total of ten years at this school. Aside from the change of principals, the one in there now is great. They have enjoyed every aspect of their time there, been involved in extra activities and I would say that this is a public school where children thrive. My daughter has been an involved parent there from day one and I give a lot of credit to the parents who make sure nobody lacks any service they can fund.

I am a parent at Riverside Drive and part of the parent group, PFRD, as well. I personally invite all persons concerned with the welfare of the school to come to the meetings. We need the help and we open our arms to you. I feel we are open, leaning towards the progressive, but please come and help us create the culture you want to see at our school. Be part of the change and it will set you free.
—Submitted by a parent

While Riverside does have some good extra programs they don t make up for what feels like a culture of denial in many areas. Teachers and administration don t do a good job of handling negative behavior by certain children toward others. Some posters say parents just need to get involved but the parent leaders need to create a more open and inviting atmosphere instead of seeming to enjoy the power they can wield over others. It desperately needs a change in culture and attitude from administration, teachers, yard duty and parent leaders from an old school, negative, fear-based atmosphere to a more open, progressive, inclusive experience. Whether you re the former or the latter will determine if you re happy at Riverside or not.
—Submitted by a parent

New Principal and Asst. Principal are outstanding. Best since i came to this school in 2003. Most teachers are excellent as well and parents are lovely, down-to-earth and very engaged in supporting the school.
—Submitted by a parent

I love that my child is getting all the attention that he needs and that all the teachers and staff seem to be friendly and very cooperative with the parents and children needs.
—Submitted by a parent

I am not sure why the other parent is upset about other children being bullies....there are very few children there who display such actions and there are always children at any school...that will use poor judgement as well as take their emotions out on others, but this should in no way be used to rate the school as a whole. I have had issues with my child and other children and their interaction with one another, but it is easily resolved by open communication with the other parents and teachers around.
—Submitted by a parent

Riverside drive is a great school who thinks of themselves as part of the community. Teachers are wonderful- administration has had a huge upgrade this year leaving parents feeling like we have truly hit the jackpot. PFRD (Parents For Riversdie Drive) did an amazing job last year running many fundraisers including a stunning 70 year anniversary, which was beyond beautiful, a computer lab upgrade and helped to fund some programs that not all elementary school have on their campus. It is unfortunate that some parents may have one small situation and base their opinion in a bad way on the entire school, parents, students, administration and education. Riverside's test scores, parent/teacher involvement and happy children show just what type of school it truly is.
—Submitted by a parent

Riverside Drive started bad and has gotten worse. Teachers and bullies pick on students and no one at the school will do anything about it. Academics are substandard and lack of discipline and school safety are obviously a problem for many teachers and yard staff. My child was given no example of good behavior to follow including from teachers who have been the worst offenders in our experience. We are putting our child in another school.
—Submitted by a parent