Rome Free Academy

I'm a sophomore in the school right now and over all the schools great. But the constant heating/air conditioning problem doesn't help the students at all. Sometimes the teachers don't seem like they want to be there and some are actually late to homeroom (When they get on to the students about being late isn't fair).
--Submitted by a student

I am a current student in this school and love it. There is so much more freedom than all of my other former schools. Opposite of what everyone else said the security staff is really nice and give you respect when you give them respect. GO CLASS OF 2012
--Submitted by a student

Once thriving with a positive atmosphere, the new RFA fails to meet many basic standards that i believe should be a priority in our education system. The school has poor insulation, with each class the temperature rises and falls dramatically. There are excellent teachers, but for the most part, they really don't seem like they should be teaching at all, or even want to be there. The entire security staff does not care about the atmosphere, making this high school seem more like a prison. Bathrooms have been locked and remain locked due to the few students that go in for a smoke, and it seems like every year more and more rules are instituted just to keep everyone locked and confined in this negative environment. It needs an experienced principal that truly cares about the students and their well being.
--Submitted by a student

I know I'm a freshman and that I've only been in RFA for a few months, but I feel very safe in the school. I feel the teachers like being there and that they like interacting with the students. There is a very big variety of extracurricular activities in our school. There is about 50 different clubs and sports activities. However there is not very much parent involvement in RFA. The only place where I see parents is at the sports games. Like I said before, I feel very safe in RFA. It's nothing like proctor. When I went to proctor I felt like I was going to get jumped. I don't feel that way in RFA. So to the people making the ''NYS School Watch List,'' Wise up and take RFA off the list.
--Submitted by a student

I'm a June graduate of Rome Free Academy, and I can't begin to say how much I disagree with these other posts. RFA was a great public school for one its size and has excellent resources and amazing facilities. The teachers at RFA do in fact do a very good job at teaching and really enjoy their jobs. Extracurricular activities, especially art and music, are in great abundance and there are numerous sports teams. The new building itself is beautiful and there exist few comparable schools. In short, people may always be able to find faults, however this school does not have nearly as many as have been portrayed. Rome is lucky to have such a fine institution and it should not be so quickly and easily discredited.
--Submitted by a former student

I thought that it was a ok school to attend. They had many of the above on the list music sports and the arts. I found no parent envolvement in this school
--Submitted by a former student

The teachers don't want to be there. The administration picks it's favorites and sticks with them. I left RFA for RCH in October of this year, I'm a junior. No one cares who you are in that school and there is no discipline factor, whatsoever. It's a beautiful school but there are more ignorant people in one building than I've ever encountered in my life.
--Submitted by a former student

My children advise me that there's more drug choices INSIDE this school than outside in the streets. Maybe some drug sniffing dogs wouldn't hurt. They have gossipy teachers that add to the drama. Sports are limited to the elite as they do not provide additional teams for the remaining students who wish to participate but are not 'chosen'. Too many 'lost' children in this school. Could use more role models willing to go beyond their basic job. We pay for security that's just too scared or unable to help due to our sue happy world, probably. Bias in favor of the elite. Help.
--Submitted by a parent

From the outside the 'new' HS appears beautiful but what goes on inside is far from beautiful. Security is untrained in regard to communication skills and they lack a true concern for our children. The size and positioning of classes and offices divides instead of bringing together students and staff, making it an unfriendly atmosphere. I must say that there are some wonderful teachers who truely care about the children they teach and I applaud their efforts. Discipline is handled according to where you live and who your parents are which has created discord among students. The violence is also a big concern of mine since I have 2 children who will be entering HS soon, one just graduated.
--Submitted by a parent

I was a student these past two years in RFA an I must say, it is extremely lacking in character. At the 'Old RFA' there was a sense of, well, history. You could walk down the halls and see murals painted back when my Mom used to attend. There was an open campus where students could sit outside and relax and enjoy the summer sun. The new school doesn't have any of that. You can't even walk outside to get air without getting yelled at by security. If I had a choice, I would trade the new computers and non leaking roof for the interesting and friendliness of the 'Old RFA'
--Submitted by a former student