River City Science Academy

My daughter switched during 2012-2023 year after first nine weeks at Arlington Middle. She had not been successful her first report card and when RCA had an opening ,we enrolled. She was behind other kids but with tutoring and extra help from teacher she has excelled even working a grade level higher. She had changed her study habits and her confidence has improved so much by succeeding. Last report card she made all A's and B's and one C . She talks about college and looks forward to her report card . They have FCAT and SAT studies on Saturday to help prepare kids for tests. I feel blessed that we enrolled her and she can go here until she graduates. I would recommend this school to anyone that is in a similar situation even if changing your child will upset them initially. It was the best decision we ever made and I believe she feels the same. Thank you Tiffany Beattie
—Submitted by a parent

This is my sons first year at RCSA. We came from a private school where he was labeled a trouble maker because he was not challenged and bored to tears! This school has been a blessing for him. He has rose to meet the challenge they present to him. He is not labeled. He has made friends and enjoys going to school everyday. He loves his teachers who see his potential and push him to raise and meet the challenge. This school has been a blessing for my child!
—Submitted by a parent

Academically challenging! As a parent, I'm very pleased with this school. I know that my child is in a safe environment where he will not be bullied. This school is a good option for us parents who have well behaved children that we don't want to subject to the rough environment of the typical public school in Jacksonville. I love the way the school pushes him academically to really bring out his potential. This school has very strict policies and I'm glad to see they enforce them. It is very much like a private school - at public school prices.
—Submitted by a parent

My kids have been in this school for 4 years. The quality of education, the academics, and extracurricular activities are top at the region. They kept all their promises and implemented the programs. They continue to grow; I wish they open other campuses closer to my house.
—Submitted by a parent

It's been an excellent experience with River City Science Academy. I have 2 kids in this school and they both love it. They are giving the best education for our students. I feel like I am part of a big RCSA family. GOOO ROCKETS.........
—Submitted by a parent

What makes River City Science Academy Elementary special is their philosospy of teaching to the whole child. I have heard other schools say the same thing and never actually seen it happen. At RCSA, they focus on teaching our children to really think through, what they call, a " teachable moment." While their Code of Conduct is very strict and can be severe, it is not just at random or without thought. My own child has been suspended (1st grade). I was livid at first, but after I sat down with the principal, the teacher and my child to learn and see all of the steps of communication and reflection - yes a 6 year old wrote a reflection answering "why"- that had been done before the suspension; I was amazed at not only the amount of individual time that was given to my child and myself. I was also amazed at how honest my child was and that there was real learning from the choice they made. My children have been there since the elementary opened 2 years ago. I have watched it grow into a wonderful educational environment where traditional values of respect, responsibility and citizenship are still held ego a high standard, taught and enforced. "C" to "A" in 1 year! Wow
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent of a student that has been at RCSA for three years. I can't ask for better. She gets a very high quality education as well and the atmosphere of a small school. The teachers are very caring and willing to help when the students need it. As for the behavior the school has a no tolerance policy for bad behavior and I love that because it gets the students put of the classroom so the other students can focus and learn. I can't say enough good things about the school and staff. I couldn't be happier with my daughters education. As for the previous comment about the teachers and staff not knowing how to care for their students is totally false sometimes you have to look closer to home because its the students behavior that is out of control not the teachers and staff. I commend them for setting a precedence for all students to follow. I LOVE THIS SCHOOL!!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

Awesome school !!! Great teachers and staff. My kids are happy and they want to go to school everyday without any hesitation, even weekends.
—Submitted by a parent

Great school. Middle school is always a big transition but RCSA helped ease my daughter into the her future by helping her define her goals. She was always a good student, but the encouragement of the teachers help her get past the usual preteen anxieties and focus on her studies. They also provide awesome afterschool clubs which help give every student a chance to feel like they belong. I recommmend this school to any parent whose student is ready to face the challenges of the science and technological future.
—Submitted by a parent

As a parent of a student that has been attending RCSA for the past 4 years, I can't say enough about it. The excellence that comes to the students actually starts with the great administration and their vision. Their foresight into the fact that EVERY student should have the opportunity to go to college if they so choose. The staff reiterates this in the teaching of the subjects not teaching for the tests. The teachers are dedicated to the success of all students with daily tutoring and weekend study sessions. Not to mention FCAT, PSAT and SAT prep for those who are interested, all at NO additional cost. I haven't found another school that has shown this much dedication to it's students anywhere. I will continue to support RCSA even after my son graduates. Because I for one want this school to be available to many more students in the years to come.
—Submitted by a parent

We are so happy and relieved to have found RCSA! I would give it 10 stars if I could. My children are now in 10th and 8th grades and we are thrilled with our move from private schools to RCSA three years ago. Faculty are dedicated to student success, especially the Administration who welcome parent feedback and are involved at all levels. Advanced placement and honors courses are offered to challenge and prepare my children for college. Tutoring is offered every week in most subjects. SAT prep is available every weekend - unbelievably all this extra help is available at no charge to the students! My children have really enjoyed the after school clubs such as Science olympiad where the students compete with other schools in Florida on various science topics. The campus is new and is designed for small class sizes along with the latest smart board technology. My children wear uniforms, just like private school but they are not nearly as expensive. It is such a relief to have found a school where we can remain from middle school until they graduate and we do not need to use college savings or drive across town to provide them a great education. Keep up the great work!
—Submitted by a parent

I have been attending rcsa since the 6th grade. I'm now entering the 9th grade and will continue attending to the school for high school. River city science academy is not just a school it's a place where you have family and friends and people who care for you. The staff treats you like your their own family. It's a very warm school , and since I have been attending the I have taken all advance classes and I have been a straight a student. RCSA is a school that has a small atmosphere so when you don't understand something in class the teacher actually takes the time to review it because there isn't a large body of students in class. If your considering a k-12 school where your child can get the best that's offered RCSA is the place . (:

The parent says the student has been attending the school since the school first opened which was 5 ( five ) years ago. It took five years for you to realize that grades and overall attitude have gone down? I think the comment is irrational. The school recently offered the new AP program and appealing Dual Enrollment opportunity to my boy. I am very happy with RCSA. Go Rockets!
—Submitted by a parent

My daughter has been attending this school since it first opened and at first I loved the school especially the small setting appealed to me! They did a home visit with us to see how we lived as a family which I thought was neat. The problem I don't think is 100% of the faculty's fault but I truely believe they have a lot of troubled teens that are being transferred from other public schools to RCSA plus they don't break out the middle school kids vs. the high school which is a formula for trouble. They also are NOT the most organized. I feel my daughter's grades and overall attitude have went downhill since attending this school and she will not be attending next year. I would suggest staying far far away from this school!!
—Submitted by a parent

As a teacher at RCSA for 3 years now, I really love the atmosphere we have created. The staff feels like a family and coming to work is great because we as teachers are given alot of freedom to try new things and administration has our back and supports us in the classroom. New things are always being created at RCSA to make it better. The middle school athletics is growing by leaps and bounds and the high school athletics added a girls basketball team this year. The boys basketball team in high school has been doing phenomenally well for it's 3rd year, 11 wins and 1 loss. The after school tutoring, the clubs, and other activities really make RCSA the place to be. I rate it a 4 out of 5 just because it is missing some things here and there that would make it truly amazing.
—Submitted by a teacher

I really appreciate the way my child is pushed academically. His capabilities have far exceeded my expectations, thanks to this school!
—Submitted by a parent

i kinda disagree with the other reviews of teachers and students. iv been at rcsa (river city science academy) since the second year it opened and am now going into my second year of its high school. and frankly i'm disappointed. sure the small setting is great for middle school and you get to connect further with your friends but when you enter high school things change. suddenly you hear your friends at other "real" high school talking about their special elective classes, attending high school dances and football games. and as a student at rcsa i can strongly confirm i'm not the only person that feels this way when i say, we feel left out of our high school experience. if you want your child to perform academically mediocre then by all means this school is great for average not advanced or AP classes.(there is only 1) and when people say you have teachers that "care" it just means teachers that have to move grades with you and honestly you don't want that. especially when you don't like your teachers. if you want your kid to make long lasting friends and standout on there collage application. take it from a kid that is going through it. this is not the place to go. dont do it

I've been a student at RCSA since it's first year open in 2007. Coming from Southside Middle I really thought this school would feel like jail. My mom transferred me when she figured out SMS was doing no good for me and I was close to being expelled. My first year I made difficult for myself. As the next year came, I began building friendships and connections with the teachers and students here. After my 3rd year I realized the school is like my second family. RCSA is an excellent school and really made me think twice about what I was becoming and who i wanted to be. Through school programs and activities, I've gotten to visit places I would've never dreamed of seeing and to meet people who have truly changed my life. The curriculum is really well built and conforms to each students' speed and method of learning. I can honestly say RCSA is the best thing that has happened to me.

My daughter attended duval county public schools from kindergarten thru sixth grade. In the fifth grade, she was bullied so badly, that she would go to bed at night, begging me to let her stay home from school. She'd cry so hard, she'd literally make herself sick. The teacher and principal did nothing about it. Her once above average grades fell drastically, but the principal suggested that maybe the work had become too hard. We made it through the fifth grade daunted, and her first year of the sixth grade was filled with students that were so unruly, the teachers would throw up their hands and and give up on the lessons for the day. Very upsetting to a child who just wants to learn. The next year we enrolled her in River City Science Academy. In that first year, her grades were back to above average. She loved going to school, joined clubs, made new friends and has a confidence in herself that I was afraid I'd never see. Any success I see in my daughter, I owe partially to the charter school that has done so much for so many kids.
—Submitted by a parent

RSCA is more than just a school. The staff actually cares about your child well being. The staff works hard to understand each and every student. Everyone that goes to this school is treated as a individual and not a number!!!!
—Submitted by a parent