Ramapo High School

Great school...gets a bad rap: 21 AP courses, and large 'master' teacher component, both most in Rockland....host of extracurriclar events. Student graduates to major ivy league players like Yale, Harvard, Stanford - they're top 10% is the country's 3%. Scholarship winners include Ron Brown, Gates and full scholarships to schools like Univ. of Chicago. A large minority population (which is why it gets bad rap!), but still diverse. The music and drama teams are awesome. It's the LaQuardia of Rockland!
--Submitted by a parent

Like any school, RHS has its flaws, but I have come across teachers here that I will keep in touch with after my graduation in June. At the beginning of my senior year, I was wishing I had enough room in my schedule to take some more of the many electives, APs and PAs that are offered- I didn't have enough time in four years to do them all. The teachers are all dedicated and are there because they want to be. They are enthusiastic, motivated, and in addition to the knowledge they have acquired, they a lot of experience to contribute to our own experiences, making their classes interesting as well as challenging. As long as your child is headed in the right direction, he or she will succeed at Ramapo HS and in college.
--Submitted by a student

With over 75% of the teaching staff holding multiple masters degrees, 15 years or longer as educators, the only student gifted & special needs program in the county, the most comprehensive tools and text materials, in class and after class curriculms; with more students winning state and national awards than any other district in the county has made a difference for me as a student and now my children.
--Submitted by a parent

Ramapo High School is a first class school with dedicated, hard working teachers and administrators. Jean Fields is an excellent, caring prinicple with the right combination of sympathy and an iron hand. The students thrive in the environment that is generated and supported by students, faculty and parents. My older son graduated in 2004 and attended Ohio State University. He was accepted into OSU's Honors & Scholars program and entered with 33 AP credits! My younger son is in now 10th grade - all honors and one AP class. He is thriving and will begin the college search process in the fall.
--Submitted by a parent

East Ramapo is always on the cutting edge of new programs. We have great programs for our advanced students as well as the students that require extra help. We do not discriminate. The schools in this district reflect the real world. My kids have friends from all races and religions. Truly investigate the graduation rates, etc. before making a decision.
--Submitted by a parent

This school offers a lot of opportunities for students. The staff is mostly highly qualified. The opportunities for students is abundant. The district as a whole does try to implement the latest is educational advancements and tends to be on the cutting edge. One of the drawbacks is that there are more students in the pirvate sector than in the public and theis has impacted the perception of the distract negatively. This is unfortunate since the district is strong and has a lot of wonderful programs to offer the students.
--Submitted by a parent

Ramapo's a good school, though it has a bad reputation. Like many other schools, the central focus is sports, but many students are really bright.
--Submitted by a parent

Ramapo is a great school with a bad reputation. Fortunately, the school is getting better, especially under the leadership of the former principal Joe Farmer, and the new principal Ms. Jean Fields. The academic programs are quite strong at the advanced level, and there are many music, art, and extracirricular activities. Parents aren't as involved as they should be, however, and as a result, the district's budget fails every year.
--Submitted by a student

My siblings and I all went to Ramapo. As I used to live on the border between the East Ramapo CSD and the Clarkstown School District, many of my friends wondered why I (or rather, my parents) chose Ramapo. The answer is simple- the lesson you learn from Ramapo is more than academic. True, the average classes maybe weren't academic as those of other Rockland schools, but I got a taste of diversity- I made friends with people of many, many different races, and of many religions and, perhaps most importantly, many different socioeconomic statuses. The key here is that I got a taste of what the real world is really like, and I don't regret it at all. Higher level classes are the same at other schools (My ap bio class had around a 50% 5 rate, for example). Extracirriculars are plentiful and parents are becoming more involved.
--Submitted by a former student

Reasonably good academically, but lately lacks funding for special programs or such. Historically a great marching band.
--Submitted by a parent