River Farm Cooperative

[Anonymous]

Threads mentioning this school are pretty old. Can anyone share any recent experiences?

[Anonymous]

Our family is about to enter our 4th year there. Hopefully the fact that we keep returning speaks for how happy we are with it. Our kids love the fantastic teachers, small classes, hands on learning, and all the outside time and field trips. There are still a few openings in grades 4-8.

[Anonymous]

We are entering our second year and have loved our experience. Feel free to email me at molly at Fannon dot org

[Anonymous]

We have been here several years and couldn't be happier with our kids' educational experience. The teaching staff is excellent and passionate, and the small classes mean that the teachers really get to know your individual child. Students do an end-of-year standardized test on which the majority of kids (including ours) perform above grade level. Anecdotally, I know that kids who have graduated or moved have gone on to do very well in both private schools and competitive public schools (one mom told me that her kids are now "way ahead" in the Bethesda middle school they moved to). As a co-op model, it's a different kind of school (set up like a cooperative preschool structure), so know that parents will be required to do a lot of hours on their mandatory family jobs and as chaperones.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, PPs! This all sounds great, but I’m a bit confused by the “hybrid” concept and if I’d need to register as a homeschooler and actually homeschool my child, as well. I am not cut out for homeschooling!

[Anonymous]

Hi. Both my husband and I work full time, and i travel 30% of my time internationally, so "co-op" didn't sound like it would work for us either. But it's totally manageable and actually lovely, to see your kids in school. Basically amounts to 1-2 afternoons per month, depending on how you split it in your household, so not at all bad.

Before we started at RFC, my very bright and curious daughter went had a terrible kindergarten year of worksheets, sitting at desk, and a sterile playground, and ending the year with almost no confidence in herself and her ability to learn. She would actually say she was bad at math.

One year into RFC and she is not only a confident and joyous reader, but she scored at almost a 4th grade level for math - AFTER ONE YEAR. She now thinks math is fun, like a game, and does it for FUN. She spends time outside, loves her teachers and kids, and we've found a group of parents to love as well.

The school is full of thoughtful, caring families who just want something more for our kids and are willing to try what science says actually works. It's a great community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, PPs! This all sounds great, but I’m a bit confused by the “hybrid” concept and if I’d need to register as a homeschooler and actually homeschool my child, as well. I am not cut out for homeschooling!

RFC will officially be a private school this year. The need for our parents to register as homeschoolers and make sure they're compliant with their jurisdiction is no more.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate that current parents are posting. I’m definitely intrigued for my middle schooler, but this will be the first year that the school has older kids? Is the curriculum developed? Or is it a total work in progress?

[RiverFarmCoopSchool]

Anonymous wrote:I appreciate that current parents are posting. I’m definitely intrigued for my middle schooler, but this will be the first year that the school has older kids? Is the curriculum developed? Or is it a total work in progress?

My name is Raime Masket and I am the current President of the board at the school. I appreciate your question and am happy to answer it. There is a highly developed curriculum and plan of study for the middle school, which our instructional team has been working on for the better part of a year. The team includes the founders of the school as well as our veteran teachers.

Features which we feel will make for a fantastic program:
-A comprehensive plan of study including Math; Science; History, Culture, and Current Events; ELA; Nature, Movement, and Specials
-Long-term field units (visiting the same site with experts once per week, for 4-5 weeks)
-Multiple field trips (we plan to metro downtown at least once per month)
-Overnight trips
-Daily outdoor lunch and recess for nearly an hour
-Classes held outside whenever possible

That said, as well planned as it is, it is a work in progress and we view that as a good thing. When things aren't working in public school, it can take ages to address the issues and change course. As a small school with a clear organizational structure, we are able to tweak things and make changes as needed. This is one of the many reasons that our students are so happy!

If anyone would like to email me at maskets at riverfarmcooperative dot com, I can see to getting your questions answered in more detail.

[Anonymous]

Wow, for such a small school it gets a lot of responses at DCUM. Seems like the River Farm families notify one another or something when there is a post? Or it is cheap marketing...

[RiverFarmCoopSchool]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, for such a small school it gets a lot of responses at DCUM. Seems like the River Farm families notify one another or something when there is a post? Or it is cheap marketing...

The leadership team is in very frequent contact with one another and we do monitor our internet presence like any strong organization does. We are proud of our community and of course we care about our reputation. We are always happy to answer questions like the one in the OP.

[Anonymous]

I get very tired of reading the annual, obviously manufactured River Farm Cooperative post.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get very tired of reading the annual, obviously manufactured River Farm Cooperative post.

This. +1

[Anonymous]

I want to know more about the middle school program ?

[Anonymous]

It is a really neat little school, and Raime -- the president who posted previously in this thread -- is a great advocate and a super-engaged parent. I liked him a great deal. We seriously considered it for my 7th grader (coming from a Montessori school) but decided that it was time for her to spread her wings at a larger school. I think there were only 2-3 other middle schoolers. Just due to our specific circumstances, it didn't look like the right time for us, though it might have fit earlier. I loved how the kids were outside so much and also so engaged one-on-one with one another and with their teachers. You could see lots of learning going on indoors and outdoors. I came VERY close to choosing it for my child, and if she'd been younger I probably would have. I think this school will definitely be one to watch, especially as they get more middle school experience under their belt.