River Farm Cooperative, Alexandria

[Anonymous]

Yikes. I'm sorry to see these posts about River Farm Cooperative, especially if there were difficulties for your children.

We are at RFC now and are having a wonderful experience. There have been many changes but I think that's to be expected with a small parent-led school.

Our year -- even during these crazy covid times! -- has been pretty stellar. Of course, we're new. But I already feel like it is a scholastic group of dear friends. And I'm looking forward to helping grow it as our kiddo goes into 4th grade next year, and beyond into 6th. The outdoor time is incredible! And our son loves the long recess (of course!). I do a Parent Passion Project frequently, and I'm one of the "core" co-op parents. There are some strong leaders among parents and staff, and the kids are so much fun.

I'm sorry all the negative posts I've read are all anonymous. But RFC is constantly giving tours. I recommend anyone who is interested stop by to get a feel for it themselves. It's impossible to judge a school solely by online posts.

[Anonymous]

Hm. I don't usually use this forum so maybe everything's "anonymous?" I can't see a way to identify on this thread (and my phone is tiny!). If interested in a tour just ask for Stephanie! I'm a parent in the Upper Elementary!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. I'm sorry to see these posts about River Farm Cooperative, especially if there were difficulties for your children.

We are at RFC now and are having a wonderful experience. There have been many changes but I think that's to be expected with a small parent-led school.

Our year -- even during these crazy covid times! -- has been pretty stellar. Of course, we're new. But I already feel like it is a scholastic group of dear friends. And I'm looking forward to helping grow it as our kiddo goes into 4th grade next year, and beyond into 6th. The outdoor time is incredible! And our son loves the long recess (of course!). I do a Parent Passion Project frequently, and I'm one of the "core" co-op parents. There are some strong leaders among parents and staff, and the kids are so much fun.

I'm sorry all the negative posts I've read are all anonymous. But RFC is constantly giving tours. I recommend anyone who is interested stop by to get a feel for it themselves. It's impossible to judge a school solely by online posts.

You call your DC “kiddo”? Horrid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. I'm sorry to see these posts about River Farm Cooperative, especially if there were difficulties for your children.

We are at RFC now and are having a wonderful experience. There have been many changes but I think that's to be expected with a small parent-led school.

Our year -- even during these crazy covid times! -- has been pretty stellar. Of course, we're new. But I already feel like it is a scholastic group of dear friends. And I'm looking forward to helping grow it as our kiddo goes into 4th grade next year, and beyond into 6th. The outdoor time is incredible! And our son loves the long recess (of course!). I do a Parent Passion Project frequently, and I'm one of the "core" co-op parents. There are some strong leaders among parents and staff, and the kids are so much fun.

I'm sorry all the negative posts I've read are all anonymous. But RFC is constantly giving tours. I recommend anyone who is interested stop by to get a feel for it themselves. It's impossible to judge a school solely by online posts.

You call your DC “kiddo”? Horrid.

You put the question mark after the quotation mark? Ew.

-Not Stephanie

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. I'm sorry to see these posts about River Farm Cooperative, especially if there were difficulties for your children.

We are at RFC now and are having a wonderful experience. There have been many changes but I think that's to be expected with a small parent-led school.

Our year -- even during these crazy covid times! -- has been pretty stellar. Of course, we're new. But I already feel like it is a scholastic group of dear friends. And I'm looking forward to helping grow it as our kiddo goes into 4th grade next year, and beyond into 6th. The outdoor time is incredible! And our son loves the long recess (of course!). I do a Parent Passion Project frequently, and I'm one of the "core" co-op parents. There are some strong leaders among parents and staff, and the kids are so much fun.

I'm sorry all the negative posts I've read are all anonymous. But RFC is constantly giving tours. I recommend anyone who is interested stop by to get a feel for it themselves. It's impossible to judge a school solely by online posts.

You call your DC “kiddo”? Horrid.

You put the question mark after the quotation mark? Ew.

-Not Stephanie

The question mark after the quotation mark is technically correct when quoting something that's not itself a question.

Mocking someone for saying "kiddo" is worse than saying "kiddo," IMHO. (Note my correct comma placement.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. I'm sorry to see these posts about River Farm Cooperative, especially if there were difficulties for your children.

We are at RFC now and are having a wonderful experience. There have been many changes but I think that's to be expected with a small parent-led school.

Our year -- even during these crazy covid times! -- has been pretty stellar. Of course, we're new. But I already feel like it is a scholastic group of dear friends. And I'm looking forward to helping grow it as our kiddo goes into 4th grade next year, and beyond into 6th. The outdoor time is incredible! And our son loves the long recess (of course!). I do a Parent Passion Project frequently, and I'm one of the "core" co-op parents. There are some strong leaders among parents and staff, and the kids are so much fun.

I'm sorry all the negative posts I've read are all anonymous. But RFC is constantly giving tours. I recommend anyone who is interested stop by to get a feel for it themselves. It's impossible to judge a school solely by online posts.

This sounds like a pretty classic post from someone who has been at RFC for less than a year. The honeymoon phase in this place is pretty intense. When you realize what a mess the parents are and that your kids aren't learning anything, your tune will probably change. This is why people don't stick around more than a year or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. I'm sorry to see these posts about River Farm Cooperative, especially if there were difficulties for your children.

We are at RFC now and are having a wonderful experience. There have been many changes but I think that's to be expected with a small parent-led school.

Our year -- even during these crazy covid times! -- has been pretty stellar. Of course, we're new. But I already feel like it is a scholastic group of dear friends. And I'm looking forward to helping grow it as our kiddo goes into 4th grade next year, and beyond into 6th. The outdoor time is incredible! And our son loves the long recess (of course!). I do a Parent Passion Project frequently, and I'm one of the "core" co-op parents. There are some strong leaders among parents and staff, and the kids are so much fun.

I'm sorry all the negative posts I've read are all anonymous. But RFC is constantly giving tours. I recommend anyone who is interested stop by to get a feel for it themselves. It's impossible to judge a school solely by online posts.

This sounds like a pretty classic post from someone who has been at RFC for less than a year. The honeymoon phase in this place is pretty intense. When you realize what a mess the parents are and that your kids aren't learning anything, your tune will probably change. This is why people don't stick around more than a year or two.

Agree with this 100%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yikes. I'm sorry to see these posts about River Farm Cooperative, especially if there were difficulties for your children.

We are at RFC now and are having a wonderful experience. There have been many changes but I think that's to be expected with a small parent-led school.

Our year -- even during these crazy covid times! -- has been pretty stellar. Of course, we're new. But I already feel like it is a scholastic group of dear friends. And I'm looking forward to helping grow it as our kiddo goes into 4th grade next year, and beyond into 6th. The outdoor time is incredible! And our son loves the long recess (of course!). I do a Parent Passion Project frequently, and I'm one of the "core" co-op parents. There are some strong leaders among parents and staff, and the kids are so much fun.

I'm sorry all the negative posts I've read are all anonymous. But RFC is constantly giving tours. I recommend anyone who is interested stop by to get a feel for it themselves. It's impossible to judge a school solely by online posts.

This sounds like a pretty classic post from someone who has been at RFC for less than a year. The honeymoon phase in this place is pretty intense. When you realize what a mess the parents are and that your kids aren't learning anything, your tune will probably change. This is why people don't stick around more than a year or two.

Agree with this 100%.

Same for us.

[Anonymous]

It is for families too cheap to suck it up and pay for an actual school with outdoor learning and progressive pedagogy. Look at Burgundy Farm and figure out how to pay $37k a year if you really want it.

[Anonymous]

Reviving this thread to see if anyone has any updated information they could share in about this school.

Yes, I’m a new susceptible parent very intrigued by their vision. And yes, I am considering it over burgundy farm given the price tag.

It’s been about a year since the last post. Have they changed? Is the drama just amongst the parents or does it affect the kid’s experience as well.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to see if anyone has any updated information they could share in about this school.

Yes, I’m a new susceptible parent very intrigued by their vision. And yes, I am considering it over burgundy farm given the price tag.

It’s been about a year since the last post. Have they changed? Is the drama just amongst the parents or does it affect the kid’s experience as well.

Thanks!

Burgundy is an amazing school. River Farm Coop? Not really a comparable product.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reviving this thread to see if anyone has any updated information they could share in about this school.

Yes, I’m a new susceptible parent very intrigued by their vision. And yes, I am considering it over burgundy farm given the price tag.

It’s been about a year since the last post. Have they changed? Is the drama just amongst the parents or does it affect the kid’s experience as well.

Thanks!

If you read past threads, they are not financially solvent among other major red flags including leadership and parents—which matters a lot because it’s a cooperative school. They tried to have a middle school, but the teacher lasted a year.

[Anonymous]

This is belated and presumably the OP has already made a decision, but our kid started kindergarten at river farm last year (2019) and has thrived. We are very happy with the teachers, the school leadership, and the community. I read this chat before we started and was willing to risk it because I wanted the outdoor time for COVID prevention, but our kid just loves river farm and so so we. So while it seems things were a mess for a while, I suggest checking out the school itself rather than relying on a chat.

[Anonymous]

Also apparently can’t do years in January. Our kiddo started at RFFS in 2021 and is now in first grade for the 22-23 academic year. Not sure how 2019 came out - I’ll blame typing in a hurry at the doctors office.

[Anonymous]

I was thinking of sending my 4.5 year old here and was wondering/hoping for any recent reviews of people and their experience in the last couple of years?