How is Ritchie Park Elementary?

[Anonymous]

Purchasing a house that is zoned for that school. I noticed that the school went through a rezoning process last year that changed the demographics of the student body a bit.

[Anonymous]

I think the new zone get "richer" and therefore the test score should looks better.

They used to be overcrowd with classrooms in trailer, that should be addressed in the rezone as well.

[Anonymous]

Spent 4 years with kids there before being rezoned to Rustin. I am so grateful every day for the change. The RPES principal is seriously lacking in communication skills. Teachers are ok (there are a couple of standouts and a couple of truly awful ones), but generally uninspired because the leadership from the principal is lackluster. The PTA couldn't get people to run and serve on the board (meanwhile at Rustin we had contested elections). The school is dirty -- I saw mice running in the APR twice during evening events. However, many parents who stayed there after the boundary fight are incredibly happy to have gotten their way and reduced the numbers of students receiving FARMs down to less than 10%. If you care about diversity, it's not the school for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spent 4 years with kids there before being rezoned to Rustin. I am so grateful every day for the change. The RPES principal is seriously lacking in communication skills. Teachers are ok (there are a couple of standouts and a couple of truly awful ones), but generally uninspired because the leadership from the principal is lackluster. The PTA couldn't get people to run and serve on the board (meanwhile at Rustin we had contested elections). The school is dirty -- I saw mice running in the APR twice during evening events. However, many parents who stayed there after the boundary fight are incredibly happy to have gotten their way and reduced the numbers of students receiving FARMs down to less than 10%. If you care about diversity, it's not the school for you.

I just attended Cultural heritage night at Ritchie Park and it's a very diverse student population. People do have problems with the principal, but my child had several great teachers at the school, particularly in K, 3, and 5.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spent 4 years with kids there before being rezoned to Rustin. I am so grateful every day for the change. The RPES principal is seriously lacking in communication skills. Teachers are ok (there are a couple of standouts and a couple of truly awful ones), but generally uninspired because the leadership from the principal is lackluster. The PTA couldn't get people to run and serve on the board (meanwhile at Rustin we had contested elections). The school is dirty -- I saw mice running in the APR twice during evening events. However, many parents who stayed there after the boundary fight are incredibly happy to have gotten their way and reduced the numbers of students receiving FARMs down to less than 10%. If you care about diversity, it's not the school for you.

Eventually, they all go to JW and RM, which are both very diverse schools, so those people are kind of dumb.

I hear good things about Rustin, but c'mon, it's a brand new school, and everyone is really gung-ho right now. Not saying it will decline, but it's hardly fair to compare a brand new school with a pretty old, established school.

-signed a still RP parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent 4 years with kids there before being rezoned to Rustin. I am so grateful every day for the change. The RPES principal is seriously lacking in communication skills. Teachers are ok (there are a couple of standouts and a couple of truly awful ones), but generally uninspired because the leadership from the principal is lackluster. The PTA couldn't get people to run and serve on the board (meanwhile at Rustin we had contested elections). The school is dirty -- I saw mice running in the APR twice during evening events. However, many parents who stayed there after the boundary fight are incredibly happy to have gotten their way and reduced the numbers of students receiving FARMs down to less than 10%. If you care about diversity, it's not the school for you.

I just attended Cultural heritage night at Ritchie Park and it's a very diverse student population. People do have problems with the principal, but my child had several great teachers at the school, particularly in K, 3, and 5.

My DC had a pretty bad problem with some of the kids at the school, and the Principal returned my call promptly and was very accommodating to us. I think it really depends on the person, like most things. Most of the parents I now who have had issues with the Principal there are also kind of difficult themselves.

FWIW, my DC *loves* RP, and we've been there for several years. Not saying it's a great school, but I don't think it's horrible.

[Anonymous]

Many inbound for RPES go private because the school is lacking. St. Raphael is across the street and a good alternative.

[Anonymous]

^know not now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many inbound for RPES go private because the school is lacking. St. Raphael is across the street and a good alternative.

Define "many"? I'd like to see the ratio.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many inbound for RPES go private because the school is lacking. St. Raphael is across the street and a good alternative.

Define "many"? I'd like to see the ratio.

It's fascinating that "many" go private yet the school is still on the cusp of being overcrowded even after a new ES was added to the cluster. Obviously many families DO go to Ritchie Park or the school wouldn't have been overcrowded for so many years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many inbound for RPES go private because the school is lacking. St. Raphael is across the street and a good alternative.

Define "many"? I'd like to see the ratio.

Awww, sorry you can't afford the tuition hon.

[Anonymous]

It's fascinating that "many" go private yet the school is still on the cusp of being overcrowded even after a new ES was added to the cluster. Obviously many families DO go to Ritchie Park or the school wouldn't have been overcrowded for so many years.

The whole cluster was overcrowded, not just Ritchie Park. And many people do choose to go private so as to avoid overcrowded, middling schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It's fascinating that "many" go private yet the school is still on the cusp of being overcrowded even after a new ES was added to the cluster. Obviously many families DO go to Ritchie Park or the school wouldn't have been overcrowded for so many years.

The whole cluster was overcrowded, not just Ritchie Park. And many people do choose to go private so as to avoid overcrowded, middling schools.

Yes, the entire cluster was overcrowded, INCLUDING Ritchie Park. So again, many families were choosing to go to Ritchie Park, not private. It wasn't like all the other schools were overcrowded while Ritchie Park was sitting practically empty.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am going to give it to you honestly. It is a good school, but not a great one. The diversity did not change after the rezoning, except for a little less FARMS. I don’t see the school as any better. What I find lacking is communication from teachers and principal, which has in turned, decreased parent involvement significantly. For being the “richest” of all the RM ES schools we lack involvement and drive. I just feel like there is not a lot of accountability for the staff to do any more than the bare minimum.

And yes many kids in the zone do chose private schools. St Raphael’s, St. E’s, JDS, Bullis, Holton/Landon are pretty popular. We even have neighbors in Gonzaga/Visi which is a haul. It isn’t a knock on the public schools, but I do think the area is close to 270, near many privates, and cheaper than Potomac. So it is a good area to put down roots if you want private. That said, many of those families tend to be the involved families public schools need. It would be nice to have them in RP instead.

But it is no bettter or worse than other local ES as far as the education probably. And each grade is drastically different depending on families and teachers. The neighborhoods are good though. If you live near the school, join the Potomac Woods swim club. You will meet a lot of families and kids. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spent 4 years with kids there before being rezoned to Rustin. I am so grateful every day for the change. The RPES principal is seriously lacking in communication skills. Teachers are ok (there are a couple of standouts and a couple of truly awful ones), but generally uninspired because the leadership from the principal is lackluster. The PTA couldn't get people to run and serve on the board (meanwhile at Rustin we had contested elections). The school is dirty -- I saw mice running in the APR twice during evening events. However, many parents who stayed there after the boundary fight are incredibly happy to have gotten their way and reduced the numbers of students receiving FARMs down to less than 10%. If you care about diversity, it's not the school for you.

Eventually, they all go to JW and RM, which are both very diverse schools, so those people are kind of dumb.

I hear good things about Rustin, but c'mon, it's a brand new school, and everyone is really gung-ho right now. Not saying it will decline, but it's hardly fair to compare a brand new school with a pretty old, established school.

-signed a still RP parent

Completely agree. I’m always hearing about how great Rustin is and I always think, “Don’t these people realize all this enthusiasm will die down in a few years?”
And my child had an issue with another a few years ago and the RP principal was great in handling it. But if you would ask the parents of the other kid involved they probably wouldn’t agree. They’re also the types to make a fuss and complain about everything. It all depends on who you ask. Good luck!