The Roeper School - Lower Campus

It is impossible for me to say how much Roeper has meant to me in only 1200 characters, but I'll try. I have gone to Roeper from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade and it has been wonderful. In my mind there is one thing that distinguishes Roeper: the students are happy here. Whether it is the teachers, the admissions policies, the extra-curricular activities, the administration, I really have no idea. All I know is that I'm sitting here on Christmas break bored and waiting to go back to school. I am academically challenged (I have been moved up in multiple different classes) and engaged in the community (I do more activities than I can count). I credit Roeper with making me the person I am today.

Moving my children to Roeper in 6th and 3rd grade, respectively, was truly life changing. For the first time my children are in classrooms with MANY other children with whom they connect - socially, emotionally and academically, & have teachers who really get what interests and motivates them. Passions are not put on hold while "academics" are taught. Rather, academics are taught through interplay with the children's passions. The philosophy and curriculum fully support the students in ways I've never witnessed in other schools. Communication about the philosophy is an ongoing endeavor, which is what makes the school so unique. Many schools ask parents and students what they think and feel, but then do a superb job of manipulating the answers received to fit preconceived ideas, expectations & consequences that would be, or already are, in place, regardless of what those answers might be. Roeper, on the other hand, not only asks the questions, it listens to, and responds to the answers within it's strong and broad framework of how those answers support equality and respect for all. Is it PERFECT? No. But, it's as close to it as any school I've had experience with.
--Submitted by a parent

Dear Parents of Gifted Children: Do the research and make your own informed decision before enrolling your child at Roeper. As a former Roeper family and one of many who have taken our children out of Roeper, take this into consideration: class sizes have increased several students above prior year levels, teachers are being hired with no experience teaching gifted children, admission requirements/scores are being lowered to allow children with lower WSC scores into the school to fill up classrooms and generate more revenue, and the new management of the lower school has no understanding of George and Annemarie's vision of what Roeper is about, nor does it understand the gifted child. Does this sound like a place you want your gifted child to attend? Funny how the "positive" reviews and comments are coming from Roeper staff members and not current or former Roeper families. As a former Roeper family, our children will not be back! It's sad how far this school has fallen from what it used to be, but it shows no signs of recovering. Their ARE other education options out there for gifted children. Don't get hung up on Roeper as a "gifted school" because it isn't anymore.
--Submitted by a parent

Sad State for a great school. Once upon a time this was the best school for gifted kids. Now with each older staff member that retires, a new inexperienced teacher is put in place with little or no gifted background and no training as to the true meaning behind the philosophies. Add this to leadership that doesn't know or care about giftedness and what you have is a school loosing its wonderful ideals and identity. I have seen its ups and downs over the years and they are at the lowest point I remember. The worst part is that its the kids who suffer from poor newer teachers and poor management. It is no longer a school that strives to be a place for gifted kids but a school that strives to fill seats and raise tuition. Its a shame to see George and Annemarie's vision fade away. Don't waste your money until they figure out who the New Roeper is going to be.
--Submitted by a parent

As someone who has been with The Roeper School for years, I can confidently state that we have never wavered and will never waver in our commitment to educational excellence for the gifted children in our care. I can attest to the school's gifted IQ levels, which have maintained or increased since the economic downturn in 2001. This is something we take seriously and work diligently to monitor and ensure. At Roeper, we hold our admissions standards stringently. As an organization that has long embraced diversity, Roeper certainly welcomes and appreciates diversity of thought, even in the form of dissenting opinions. In fact, our school was founded on, and maintains to this day, a passion for independent voices that challenge convention. While we acknowledge that our school is not for everyone, we are affirmed by the positive feedback we receive from students, parents, alumni and faculty on a regular basis. I warmly welcome anyone who is interested to learn more about The Roeper School to contact me, or better yet, to set up a personal visit. Lori Zinser Director of Admissions The Roeper School
--Submitted by a teacher

Plain and simple: Roeper does not have adequately trained staff to work with the gifted. Any educator who works with gifted kids must be familiar with internal processes/conflicts of the gifted mind and what drives the gifted person forward to replace current ways of thinking. If the gifted child is not nurtured and understood at Roeper the child who has the most to offer society will be the least likely to get their emotional and educational needs met. High IQ + Emotional Immaturity =a gifted child in which Roeper is unable to handle.
--Submitted by a parent

Had I gone to Roeper, I feel I would have graduated with a better sense of who I was and what I wanted to be. Roeper helps students discover and build upon their passions and embraces diversity of all kinds more than any other academic establishment in which I have worked. It is absolutely true that children in all grades - preschool through 12th grade - are actually happy to be here. It may not be the right fit for everyone, and like any business, dissatisfied customers are inevitable, but for the vast majority of the student body, staff/faculty, and community at large, this place is home.
--Submitted by a teacher

I <3 Roeper, it is a great school. I go there. me and all of my friends love it to :)

Roeper is an amazing place. The teachers and administration are wonderful. My kids love school and can't wait to go each day. It is so refreshing to be around a school with such caring and thoughtfulness for the kids. I am lucky to have found such a wonderful place for my kids.
--Submitted by a parent

Like many parents I didn't know how "lost" my sons were until we found Roeper. They were largely misunderstood at their previous school and chastized for their sense-of humor and excess of questions. The teachers in the Lower School are saint-like. Their patience and support for our kids and our family has been astouding to say the least. I have always found the support staff and administration to be helpful as well- it is a family school where the community supports one-another. While giftedness has a broad range of definitions (not just IQ), we as parents feel like our boys are in challenged and interested in learning for their own sake for the first time ever. Our kids love coming to school- they know themselves and have circles of friends now. We couldn't be happier!
--Submitted by a parent