Ridge and Valley Charter School

I have three children enrolled at RVCS, and we have been a part of the school community for six years. I am also a licensed teacher, and consistently see that the school meets or exceeds all standards. There are so many things we love about the school, it becomes hard to tell you in one small blurb on a site- but the negative reviews by folks who clearly either are not part of the school community, or for whom the school wasn’t the right choice compel me to try.

I can only begin to tell you all the ways the school has made my kids better people, how the guides and entire community are caring, competent, and kind. I can tell you that my kids get a phenomenal education utilizing programs like Invesigations Math and the Columbia University Teacher’s College reading and writing workshop models (this is an outstanding program by any educator’s measure). They get to explore what ignites their passion during weekly independent study time. They are truly learning earth literacy, sustainability, about the animals, plants, and ecosystem of our bio region. They care for the school gardens from planning design, to seed, to tending, harvesting, preserving, and back to seed, year after year.

Kids have access to all school guides- not just their own, and one of the best things to me is that the kids are unafraid to speak to adults and to peers. They learn to ask for help when it’s needed. All of this encourages children to be intrinsically motivated to learn, and to be wonderfully articulate.

Very important to me- they children also getting to be kids. They enjoy exploring the outdoors, and experiencing overnights that the students and guides work together to plan down to the detail for months.

You don’t have to take my words for it- RVCS was recently renewed for the third time by the NJ Department of Education- and with zero addional stipulations. In late 2017 they were one of only four charter schools to be chosen to be featured for their innovation in the report “20 Years of New Jersey Charter. Schools: A State of the Sector Report” in an article entitled “Ridge and Valley: A High-Performing School in Blairstown. You can read it here: https://www.leapacademycharter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/NJCSA_StateOfTheSector2017.pdf

This fall, I am delighted to put in the RVCS Kindergarten application for my youngest child. I know they will enjoy nine glorious years there. We only wish it was more!

I love this school! My child has been attending since kindergarten and 7 years later I couldn’t be more thrilled with the education she is receiving. Ridge and Valley Charter School fosters academic excellence, confidence, creativity, team work and leadership skills. My daughter’s PARCC test scores have consistently been above the district and state average but more importantly she loves her school and enjoys going each and every day. Ridge and Valley Charter School’s educational philosophy is refreshing and innovative. In fact, many other public schools are now employing similar techniques that RVCS has been using for years. Kudos to Ridge and Valley for paving the way!

My son went to RVCS from K-6th grades. RVCS laid down a solid foundation not only in academics, but in social, and in critical thinking skills as well. As learning can be project-based and outdoors at RVCS, children are encouraged to take multiple perspectives -- to consider the interconnections of people, and of people and the environment. When my son changed to a regular public school in 7th grade I was concerned about how he would adjust. Our concerns were for naught as he has excelled academically and otherwise.

Students are taught critical thinking skills balanced with a strong social/emotional balance. Students develop a strong sense of self and how to successfully relate to others. I am reading many negative reviews that are quite old. A whole child approach to teaching academics should be assessed by graduate success not standardized tests. It is also important to review all details behind the statistics shared on this page. The size of the population is significantly smaller than those of the districts in the comparison. The best way to make a personal decision regarding this school is to attend open houses and/or visit personally, talk with teachers, students and parents directly.

My child graduated from RVCS and entered all honors classes in high school. She was well prepared academically and socially for the transition and has remained in all honors for her four years. Her education at RVCS gave her a strong foundation academically, but more importantly, it gave her a strong sense of self that has been wonderful in dealing with the less than ideal traditional education setting of high school. My second will graduate soon and will also enter all honors. RVCS education is different. If you are looking for traditional, sit in rows, do worksheets, never go outside education, RVCS is NOT the right choice. If you are looking for an education for your child that results in strong sense of self, good communication skilks, outside in the environment, caring for the earth, the world, each other, then RVCS is a great choice. If you want your child to master the multiple choice test taking ability go to your local school. If you want a child that can think critically, then RVCS. It's not the same. It doesn't look the same. That's what people that are happy with RVCS were looking for and have found.

My daughter is a student at RVCS, as is my cousins daughter. My daughter is able to learn in a way thats best for her hsnds on and direvt experience. Actually learning not trying to memorize things behind a desk. They focus on where things come from, gratitude and creativity. Most things that are lacking this day and age. The teachers are passionate and caring. We look forward to many years here!

My child attended the regular school in town, constant nagging and excessive amounts of homework and no room to be a kid. When he was finally picked for a spot at Ridge and Valley his life completely changed. No more tears or “sick” days, a true place to grow independently and within the school community! Our daughter is now in her second year and we plan to send our son in kindergarten in a few yrs! This school is not for everyone perhaps but it’s definitely for us! What a great experience we are having!!

Excellent school, couldn’t be more happy with this choice school for our son. He is learning so much! Highly recommended!!

As a parent of two, I couldn’t be more satisfied with the education and experiences my children are receiving. They love it and are thriving.

Fantastic school. My 3 children have transitioned well to high school after spending all their elementary and middle school years here. They are all at the highest level academically in high school. They have never been bullied at Ridge and Valley Charter school, made many lifelong friends. The teachers are caring, and work with the children fostering their interests, and encouraging their love of learning.

The school is very behind in its teaching. Several students were pulled out of school and place into their local public school. Many of these students needed some extra help to have them caught up to the rest of their class. The school is on probation for low test scores. This past year many students, parents and guides were stress during the NJ Ask test. There was a big push for doing better and to be more like local surrounding schools. Another issue is bullying. Many children do what the school has in place for bullying, but yet the bullying still continues. Several parents removed their children because of this.

Two months ago, this school (RVCS) was placed on probation for academic reasons by the New Jersey Department of Educations. I had a child at this school and was very disappointed in the progress my child made throughout the year. If there was any correlation between the wonderful reviews you read from supporters of the school and overall academic performance, this would be one of the top schools in the State. Unfortunately, the academics at the school are a fuzzy environmental theme with these circles where they give praise for plants and animals. Until the buckle down on academics they will not improve. The Schooldigger.com website rating, in my opinion, is far closer to the actual school's academic performance than the glowing parent reviews. All of us will have our own experience, but I, and many of my neighbors, are not happy with this school.

This school has provided my children with the unusual opportunity to think, not memorize. They have learned how to problem solve in real world situations. All are thriving and performing above average in all academic areas. Our oldest who has graduated is in the top percent of class and has won many academic awards and scholarships. This school has taught them to be responsible and life long learners. We are forever grateful. They are well adjusted, joyful, responsible and successful students. Well done RVCS!

This school's approach has not met the educational needs of my child, and clearly many other children based on this (schooldigger.com) web site, and several other websites that now report on school testing information. Things many parents find good about the school: 1) small class size (105 students currently in the school), 2) somewhat selective, 3) fairly homogeneous group of children with little diversity (other area schools have high percentages of minorities), 4) no A,B,C... grading system in order to protect the psyche of children and parents, 5) no set structure, such as english will be five times a week at this time, and math will meet at this times on these days... 5) lot's of "classroom leading" or teaching done by parents, 6) very enthusiastic teachers 7) a lot of parent involvement from a core group of parents. Unfortunately, because of the lack of structure, lack of expectations, and a lack of concern regarding the core content areas, our children are not able to perform well on the NJ Ask and the GEPA testing, as can be seen on the results of this website. In addition to spending more time on core content areas and ensuring mastery within those areas, the school needs provide more realistic feedback so parents do not think their children are doing great, and then watch them get clobbered on the end of year testing.

I find the classes well presented, the teachers dedicated and involved, the kids enthusiastic, and my own two kids are thriving. I'm an Ivy Leaguer myself, and my brother graduated from the University of Chicago - so I'm from a family that takes education very seriously, and would not jeopardize my kids' opportunities by skimping on their K-8 experience. RVCS is good and getting better. As for complaints about scores, remember that the scoring system is designed for schools much larger than RVCS (which is about 110 kids total). When you have 12 or 13 kids in any one grade, a few who are struggling in a subject makes the whole grade look like it's struggling. Get closer to the school than just the arm's-length view provided by NJ ASK. NJ ASK matters, but it's not the last word on whether the school is doing it's job.

One of the best things I've ever done was to place my children at Ridge and Valley.
Not only are they learning, they are happy while they are learning!
They look forward to going to school every day. It is truly a community of caring and dedicated people that love to teach and love children.

Hands on experiential learning, time in the outdoors, wonderful support services if needed. My children really seem to thrive in this environment. School develops critical thinking, lifelong learners and community.

Offers a tuition-free public elementary alternative to conventional local schools in a caring community of shared responsibility.