Tell me about Rock View ES in Kensington

[Anonymous]

I know that Rock View ES is not as highly rated as Oakland Terrace, but the houses zoned for Rock View are more in our price range. Are students and parents happy with Rock View ES? Does the 3 school rating tell the whole story?

[Anonymous]

My DD attended RV for k-2 and we loved it.

[Anonymous]

Both schools are zoned to Newport Mill then Einstein.

[Anonymous]

We live in the neighborhood surrounding Rock View but my dd was in middle school when we moved in so don’t have first hand knowledge. DD earned most of her SSL hours volunteering at the school, seems like a nice facility and they host a lot of activity nights (stem, international, arts, movies, etc). Really surprised the school is rated a 3.

Newport Mill and Einstein have been great.

[Anonymous]

I have 2 kids at Rock View and will have another there in the fall. I don't know about the 3 rating, but there is a learning center there, so that may affect student test scores and skew the results. The school ratings are such BS anyway.

We have been mostly very happy. I am not wild about one of my kids' teachers this year, but honestly they're not awful and it just shows how great every other teacher has been. I really wanted my second kid to have the same K teacher my first one did, because we loved her so much. It didn't happen, but then we loved the other K teacher too, so we don't care who the 3rd kid gets. My kids have done well and love going to school. Virtual was a challenge, but in person has been awesome.

The PTA is small compared to what I've seen from people I know in other wealthier schools, but they do a lot and there is a lot of space for getting involved (it's not cliquish). I am not very outgoing, but I always feel welcomed when I volunteer for stuff. The principal and AP are very approachable and we like them, The AP has been there a while, and I'm afraid she's going to be leaving soon because they seem to only stick around for a few years before moving up to principal. She's very good--can be stern when needed, but also fun (and one of my kids has needed the "stern" side, lol).

They have a lot of events and it's a good center for the community. Kids play on the playgrounds after school, etc. I will say we've had some unpleasant experiences with some of the office/health room staff this year, with regards to kids being "sick" at school. Literally my kid coughed and I was called to come pick them up, and then lectured when I said I wouldn't be there for an hour because I was on a work site. Multiple times we had to pick up a kid at school because they were "sick" and then told we should take the other one out too. My kids missed so much school this year because of that, and it happened to a lot of other parents too. And no, they weren't actually sick or contagious, we would never send them if they were sick. But I'm glad I guess that they were very careful about covid and trying to keep kids safe. Could do without the rudeness though.

But we have been very happy with the school and love the community. You get Newport Mill for MS, which seems to have a good rep among my neighbors, and then the DCC with Einstein as the home school. We have no plans to move.

[Anonymous]

if you just go by the Great schools rating, you'll end up in a homogenous upper middle class neighborhood. if that's what you want, then by all means.

[Anonymous]

Another happy RV parent here. I have two kids there and have loved it - teachers have ranged from good to amazing so far. It’s a great community and my kids have been challenged but also get to make friends from all walks of life, which was important to me.

We even turned down a CES spot to stay there next year, so you know we like it!