Roosevelt Elementary School

As parents, we care passionately about education and wanted our children to attend an elementary school that would provide them with a solid academic foundation in an environment that values curiosity and kindness. We found this in Roosevelt, NJ. RPS provides our children with a variety of amazing opportunities to learn, and, due to the small size of our town, it also teaches our entire family how our individual actions affect our community. RPS is so much more than a school with a famous mural. We operate more like a family. Where else in NJ does someone have the opportunity to learn and live with the same people for 6 years? Even in a private school, the students return home to separate towns at the end of the day. And where else in central NJ can children still experience the stillness and safety of a rural environment, receive individualized attention from our effective and inspiring teachers, have access to the arts, foreign language, a terrific after school program and unique field trip experiences that teach the children about all the amazing resources that surround them?
—Submitted by a parent

Roosevelt Public school is a unique rural school. The community is very involved in the many aspects of our school. From the shared experiences of the senior citizens to the multi-age play groups noticed throughout the school the camaraderie of the old time community revolving around education can be seen. Classes are small with one class per grade, pre-kindergarten through grade 6 (about 90 students) affording each student an almost individualized educational experience. The staff all wear many hats helping each other to provide the best and most extensive education possible for our students. Teachers know all the students and students know all the teachers. This makes a very close, intensive shared experience for learning. Ideas flow like water and all share in the educational experience. The school offers many outside activities such as an after school art studio and a gymnastics/health-fitness club. Music, band, and Spanish are also offered as well as special services such as speech for those in need. We have a very active PTA that through fundraising provides many fun and educational activities throughout the school year. Our administration is supportive of all our efforts and always tries to positively encourage the best educational experience for our students.
—Submitted by a parent

RPS is a great small school for preK-6th graders. My kids have blossomed there.
—Submitted by a parent

the community is so special which in turn makes the children so special. We are a very small puplic school that has 86 children in total grades pre-K - 6th. I class per grade with fabulous teachers. We are innovative and genuine and the children receive a private school education within a public school. Our school has a very famous mural painted by Ben Shahn and his wife. It is a mural of the Ellis Island immigrants and displays Albert Einstein. We were the first Jersey homesteads and we have a community filled with artists, and musicians. We have art studios and involve the community with our school to pprovide and expose the children to so many great things that they would not have the oppoortunity to explore otherwise. I have worked here for 22 years and would never leave, no matter what. Our principal/CSA is supportive in every way and is filled with compassion and a philosophy that is so positive for all of our children. You would never be able to find any other school to even come close to ours!
—Submitted by a teacher

Roosevelt public school is unique in that it is a small school in the midst of 2 larger towns. Now, when I say small, I do mean it. The school serves K-6 and there are approximately 100 students. At times, this means that some grades team up. This has the benefit of children learning from each other, as well as from the teachers. It also fosters a comraderie amongst the children which is seldom seen elsewhere. The principal knows each and every student by name and more importantly, has a connection with them. When I moved here 2 years ago, I was a little apprehensive about sending my 2 children there. However, I love it, the kids love it, and we have many new friends in the neighborhood. Because of the schools size, they are able to do so many things that other schools can't. For example, my daughter's class went on a field trip last year which allowed her class (9 students) to participate in seining a river to learn about the organisms which inhabit it, something that larger classes could only watch the volunteers do. They also take many trips and focus on experiental learning. One of my favorite programs is 'buddies,' where 6th graders partner with the kindergarteners once a week to work on special projects together. This gives the older kids a sense of pride and responsibility as well as allowing the little ones to glean knowledge, and form a bond with thier older conterparts. The school also has a special studio art class which runs after school for free, and is instructed by a very talented local artist. Foreign language and computer lab are another part of the enriching curriculum. As for special programs, they also offer speech, homework help and a variety of other services for children with varying needs. All told, I couldn't have asked for a better school to send my children to.
—Submitted by a parent

I had my kid study there for a year...and its the best school and best staff you can ever get. Teachers give personal attention and extra effort wherever needed. Best School !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent