Riverwatch Middle School

I have 2 children who have attended Riverwatch Middle School. Our experience has been fantastic. I truly appreciate the teachers willingness to help my students both before and after school. The school leadership is helpful and responsive. Excellent school!
--Submitted by a parent

I have twins that attend 8th grade at Riverwatch and have been there all 3 years. They struggled their first two years there because they're boys and didn't do the homework, but this year they are helping each other and seem to be excelling in their grades. The teachers are supportive and offer before and after school tutoring for kids that need that little extra support. We've met all the teachers this year and they do expect a lot from the kids for 8th grade but this is only preparing them for highschool. Riverwatch is a great school that truly cares about the students.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm neither thrilled nor displeased with Riverwatch. The school's not horrible but with all the banners proclaiming every standardized test, I have to wonder if some of the teachers and the admins aren't overemphasizing testing a little too much. My advice to the school would be to focus on developing an in depth understanding of the core content areas(reading,writing, math, science) and emphasizing critical thinking rather than superficial and rote memorization.
--Submitted by a parent

Riverwatch is a good school if you have a gifted child. The teachers and administration only care about the CRCT scores. They teach to the gifted child and expect the others to rise to the occasion. The average and special education students are forgotten and feel 'stupid'.
--Submitted by a parent

This is my first year at Riverwatch and I hate it. I am a good student and am well behaved but all of my teachers are mean and provide no support.
--Submitted by a student

This is my 2nd year at Riverwatch, and I love it. The teachers really do teach you. They help you when you need it, but they don't hold your hand through everything. We students need to start taking responsibility, and Riverwatch has helped me though some of that. Yes, there are times when we have lots of homework, but there are abosulutely NOT tests everyday. Homework is for our own good. I do not thing any student, even if they're low on the food chain, is miserable at riverwatch. No student is miserable. This is an excellent school.
--Submitted by a student

I'm a junior at South Forsyth High School and I attended Riverwatch for two years. There were never tests everyday and the teachers do care about the students. Although they may be tough, it helps in high school. Just because they don't let the students sleep and goof off in class does not mean that they are just there for their pay check. Riverwatch is teaching them responsibility because teachers aren't going to hold their hand all through high school. I enjoyed my years at Riverwatch. Parents need to stop making excuses for their kids' grades and behavior and start holding them accountable for their own actions instead of blaming the teachers.
--Submitted by a student

This is my 3rd year at Riverwatch Middle school and I have to disagree with some of these reviews. Riverwatch is an amazing school with excellent teachers. I have not had one teacher that didn't care about the students and 'were only there for the paycheck'. Alot of the teachers stay after school and early before school to tutor some students who need extra help with lessons that the teacher taught that the student did not understand. I love going to Riverwatch and if you are lucky enough to ever go to Riverwatch you should be loving every minute of it. I really don't understand why some parents are commenting bad on here when they don't go to Riverwatch. Just because the teachers at Riverwatch don't let students goof off in class doesn't mean that they don't care about the students. Go Riverwatch Golden Panthers!
--Submitted by a student

My daughter is a new student at Riverwatch Middle School. She came from Shakerag in Fulton last year. We found Riverwatch is a great school with high standard. Forsyth County supports school system financially. Parents are caring about their kids. It would be nice if we had a larger variety of sports, instead of cheer leading, basketball, golf, and football. Maybe some softball would be nice? Maybe softball for feeder teams for high school like in Fulton county ? Golf for girls, may some cooking classes, or chess clubs. Also I would suggest for Riverwatch teachers and parents to set tup some field trips for 6th graders. The parents will participate and the kids will enjoy and learning at the same time. For example, trip to science museum, or art museum.
--Submitted by a parent

The new principal does not communicate with parents as well. As far as teachers. Most are communicating but there are some who love to pile on the work. My daughter is happy there, and is learning, but I am not as pleased as I was last year.
--Submitted by a parent