Reid Ross Classical High School

We have four students at RRCS and have been all the way from Jr. High to a graduating senior. We like the uniforms, atmosphere and most of the teachers a lot, and think that Tom Hatch is great. My concerns are with the communications between the school and parents and the quality of academic guidance. Unless your children tell you everything and remember every deadline you will miss a lot of opportunities. This is not a large school but the guidance department takes very little interest in seeing that students maximize their time at Ross. This is very sad and I hope it changes - we thought that we were in a much better school until it really mattered and then just received excuses.
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers are not concered at all about student behavior/academic... honestly Luther Nick jerald was better (had more fun at least)

Reid Ross Classical is Cumberland County's best kept secret. The school was named in 2010 a North Carolina School of Distinction and a North Carolina School to watch. What does it mean to be a Classical School? Academics and the Arts embrace Excellence. While Reid Ross may not have sports or ROTC their performing and cultural arts are some the best in Cumberland County and the state. Reid Ross Classical has a very involved PTA and one of the best PTA presidents I have ever worked with. I would without reservation or hesitation recommending any parent to make an appointment and tour the school if you are interested in sending your child to Reid Ross Classical.
—Submitted by a teacher

This school is no different then any average school. My son is on his 4th year in this school and my daughter in her 2nd...There are still the same type of kids with foul language and bully behavior although the school has a no /low tolorance for any of that. Keep in mind this is a public school so you have the same type of teachers that you will have anywhere....I wish that had a wider selection of class choices in the middle school with maybe a language or something or maybe a sport as they have football fields, baseball field and a gymnasium...
—Submitted by a parent

I love this school and so does my child.I mean when I have to go out to meet the teachers or office , they are always so nervous.
—Submitted by a parent

My child has been at Reid Ross since July of 2007. It is a pretty good school so far as academics are concerned. The teachers seem pretty helpful and encouraging. The administration is very hands on and I appreciate that. I have two children starting this July, so I will have a new, and I hope better review to state. I do believe they should offer more extra-curricular activities and the way the economy is going, either an ROTC program or work with another school to provide this opportunity. If they can allow some of the students to tryout and become EE Smith cheerleaders, they should surely provide or be in conjunction with another for an ROTC program.
—Submitted by a parent

reid ross classial appears to be a good school but besides the school not having sports like normal school and is only a school that host music and arts it is just like normal schools its not the school it is the students and where ever you go they still are going to be the same based on there behavior that is what really matters and makes the difference
—Submitted by a student

I am a student at Reid Ross currently, and I would like to say that I do not think any parents should put their children in this school. This school is horrible to their students. The old principal was so much better, and the new one does not know how to run a high school. She never gives the students anything to look forward to. They really do concentrate more on the uniform then they do on our education. The teachers are terrible, and I feel as if I haven't learned anything from the teachers the whole time I've been there. I've had to teach myself everything, due to the fact that the teachers can't teach. I could probably even make a book about everything wrong with that school. They could at least give us sports, then maybe we'd have school spirit and something to look forward to.
—Submitted by a student

This school is a terrible school. I would not recommend it to any other of the parents out there. The school was fine until about a year ago went things started to go downhill. The new principal is terrible, she treats the children like they are in elementary and the staff talks to the children in way that they should leave up to the parents. They concentarte too much on the uniform policy to even notice that the test scores have gone down very much. I would not recommend this school to any other parents
—Submitted by a parent

Reid ross needs sports!
—Submitted by Curtis B., a former student

In the beginnning of the classical school, the principal talked about excellency and being the top-rated school. And how it was going to be a waiting list. Although the principal had good intentions. My children and I have been there since it was classical. The only thing that I have seen the Administration progress on was dress-code and discipline/punishment. Not so much as academics.Academics is more than EOG/EOC test scores. Students will learn better if they were given a positive feedback on their academics and attitude about the school than dress-code and punishment. The awards are not recieved and the students are not recognized on a consistent basis. Overall the school is based upon test scores and false hope of being the top school.Also I would think that if the school had sports that the students will have more school spirit as a team.
—Submitted by Jeanne, a parent

Reid Ross Classical is a fine school,my child loves it. With all good things their is some bad. Though my child loves the school there are somethings she doesn't care for. Like the dress code in the winter it is cold in the schools at times and you can only wear the school jackets. I have purchased a jacket for me child. It comes to my attention that some children can not afford a jacket so what are they to do? I love the learning environment for my child but some of these guidelines are not to my liking. You can only wear a certain solid color sock? Who is going to be looking at your socks. Also I have noticed that some of the prinicpals like to use intimedation on the children. That is just wrong. Over all it is a good school but disipline is not always the key.
—Submitted by Tina, a parent

The academic programs here at Reid Ross are excellent, and I believe it is more to the credit of the teachers rather than our principal. She does distribute the growth tests, however it seems that she acts more as a cheerleader than an actual leader. As the years have gone along, our population has increased, and the discipline in the student body has decreased. Now I'm not saying it has become some terrible eye-sore, but I have been here at Reid Ross since it became classical. There has deffinately been a drop in the discipline in the student body. I've heard students talk back to teachers that would have gotten me beat publically. The disrespect is obscene, and by the time the class of 2006 graduates, the level of intelligent and polite individuals will dramatically decrease.
—Submitted by a student

Classical school concept is a wonderful idea but the greatest idea about the classical school concept in Cumberland County NC is that kids cannot go to school and continue being disciplinary problem students. My child has gone to the classical school for all 4 years of HS. I think the teachers should be more involved with programs such as Forensics, Science Olympiad, Spelling Bees, Drama, Chorus, and others. The school should beat out the other schools in the county but does not. The Orchestra won many honors last year but this played at a function at the school and were awful---where is the pride. The Forensics team showed better the last time I saw them but again where is school pride. Why isn't the excellence in the programs? The EC department is non supportive. There are children who are not retarded that need assistance and should receive assistance.
—Submitted by a parent

Reid Ross is by far the most successful school in Cumberland County, if not the state. I have been attending RRCS since 6th grade, and I am currently in 11th. The small student population and class sizes enable the adminstrators to know every student on a first name basis and for the teachers to give more individual aid in the classroom. The teachers are caring and extremely well qualified, and willing to go out on a limb for any student to help them succeed. We have no achievement gap, and our proficiency is at or greater than 95%. Although we don't have sports, we make up for it in the arts--we have the best Orchestra in the country, and a very talented band, chorus, and art and dance departments. We are a 2004 NC School of Distinction and School to Watch. RRCS is truly a place 'where learning never ends.'
—Submitted by a student

Reid Ross Classical is quite a great school. I enjoy it and it is a place where you can grow education wise. The student teacher ratio is excellent. This is one of the best schools in Cumberland County.
—Submitted by a student

Our boys have been attending Reid Ross for a year and a half, we have been pleased with the educational opportunities there. I like that the school is grades 6-12, the boys did not change schools to move to high school. We are not happy with the fact they do not offer sports programs at Reid Ross but that is a small criticism. The staff is well organized and responsive. We have enjoyed working with them.
—Submitted by a parent