Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy (Middle/High School 141)

Horrible principle and sanitation. It is very bad. Don't go here. Oh yeah, it's also in a terrible area with thugs and gangsters.

Ms. O'Mara, the principal, is into school spirit - and that is where it ends. Bullying is rampant and no one does much about it. There is very little distinction grade wise between a 5 minute homework assignment, your note taking skills, and a test, but I don't know if this is RKA's policy or citywide. My husband and I, both honors students most of our lives, with tons of perfect regents, no one ever scored less than a 5 on several APs SATs scores over 1400 and his were well over 1500 in the old days would have failed Ms. O'Mara's "rigorous" Honors program. When the NYT asked her what she wanted for her school she said a new locker room for her gym. I wished she had hoped for higher SATs.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is unsafe, poorly managed, runs out of money and punishes good teachers while rewarding useless sycophants

I have 2 children in this school, and they have been here since Middle School. This may be an upscale address for NYC, but the school is substandard and going down fast. The source is the principal, who has NO experience as a teacher and is making every mistake on the backs of the kids and their future. This year, the principal cut out the college advisor, giving the job to the guidance counselors. BAD MOVE. The kids were basically on their own to get into college. The good teachers are just waiting out the time until they can retire or transfer to another school with a better principal. The bad teachers suck up to the principal. They won't release the results of the AP exams, because the results are so awful. Check out the Regents exam results - they stink. The school PA is a joke, and just rubber stamps the principal. The higher-achieving kids have a chance, but the rest or the system is working against them. If you can get your kid into ANY other school, do it.
—Submitted by a parent

All though the high school students tend to be disruptive, the middle school students are happy and are offered many options . I highly recomend this school for middle school students entering sixth grade.
—Submitted by a parent

Most of the teachers helped me to get where I am now and the students care about each other or at least try hard.
—Submitted by a parent

Horrible highschool, teachers barely know what they teach and don't care about the students. Lack a feeling of what highschool should be like.
—Submitted by a student

This school is awsome evrybody is nice and i like the teachers they are nice.

I am totally dissatisfied with this school.It lacks much for a highschool. Combined with a middle school the upper class students are at a disadvantage being treated like younger students in the same building being denied the privileges a high schooler should have .
—Submitted by a parent

Not a safe environment for your kids. While our daughter has had a couple of really good individual teachers, the current prinipal is totally out of touch with social issues within the student body. There is a dangerous lack of discipline within the school, and bullying and harrassment is rampant among students. The school's tolerarance of unchecked harrasment and bullying by many students has adverserly affected the academic performance of several students and renders the school a hostile environment. Don't let the Riverdale address fool you about this one.
—Submitted by a parent

this school is only good for kids in honors classes. My child has gottin into many fights in this school. Actually more then any other school she has been in.
—Submitted by a parent

i been going to this school for 3 years now and i define this school as good not great. i feel that the staff is okay for the fact that there are some teachers that just dont make the effort to teach, and there are also some teachers that 'cant teach' because the class is too loud, also teachers that cant control there class at all. therethere is
—Submitted by a student

RKA up to now has been good in terms of academics. This is my child first year at the school. I think the school can explore other academic venues to challenge the academic capacities of honor students. I'm really happy with the after school classes. The teachers are easy to approach on parent & teacher school night. Furthermore I can contact them by E-mail anytime. I think the parent & teacher school night should be more organized ( schedule or made by appointments). The school staff it's really helpful the Dean of the 6 graders is great. She is always willing to solve any situation regarding transportation. The assistant principal is also, really nice. I saw her at one of child's class activities and I liked that. RKA so far so good.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is great. It has great and helpful staff members and teachers. The principal is fair. The grades my daughter brings home are outstanding. The honors and honors society is excellent and the varieties of special classes are fab. They are band, art, computers, vocal, and dance. I love this school.
—Submitted by princess 27, a parent