Rappahannock County Elementary School

Posted: November 10, 2019

I have had the same experience as the previous parent, as my child was in a very high performing Fairfax County school for kindergarten and first grade, before moving to Rappahannock County. She is now in 7th grade at RCES (the county is too small for a middle school!), and is very happy and successful. Her SOL grades are about as high as they can be, and she has a lot of expanded opportunities with the well-run gifted program. Also, the school has an excellent Farm-to-Table program, and has just renovated the courtyard to include experimental areas for plants and insects, as well as a new pottery kiln. They have also just built a new STEM/STEAM lab. The school is looking great! Our new superintendent is a real jewel.

Posted: November 10, 2019

I've watched the school change over the past six years, trying out different policies on homework, and they seem to have got it right. Homework does exist, but it is not a heavy burden.

Posted: November 10, 2019

My child has great SOLs, with even some "perfect" scores. The teachers are absolutely as good as Fairfax County.

Posted: November 10, 2019

Either I am just an awesome parent, or the school must be helping, because my child is very serious about compassion and respect.

Posted: November 10, 2019

It hasn't always been this way, but the leadership any the county level is now excellent.

Posted: November 10, 2019

My child is receiving extra attention and opportunities through the well-run gifted program.

Posted: November 10, 2019

Bullying is a topic my child brings up, and she thinks long and hard about how she treats her classmates, and how they treat each other. I have listened to her describe "hating" a classmate, then reach a point of compassion, and understanding how healthy relationships can have disagreements. I'm very impressed. She's a single child, so I know a lot of this socialization has happened at school.

Posted: June 1, 2017

We relocated from Prince William county and sadly she had slipped through the system. RCES identified her needs and now she is doing wonderfully. I would never take her out of this school. I have kids in both schools and its been a God send.

Posted: June 1, 2017

Classes are extended which allows students to complete most homework during the school day. They also offer resources for those who struggle to complete their work.

Posted: June 1, 2017

The most kind, caring staff I have ever meet. Small classes which makes a huge difference, a positive one.

Posted: June 1, 2017

Posted: June 1, 2017

Posted: June 1, 2017

The educators and counselors take time to learn all the students. They then use their knowledge of those students to encourage them academically and they make sure they child has a game plan once they graduate.

Posted: June 1, 2017

Posted: September 19, 2015

Posted: September 19, 2015

Posted: September 19, 2015

Posted: September 19, 2015

I absolutely love this school. Our twins attend RES (presently in kindergarten), and I am impressed by the personal attention my children are both receiving and the quality of the education. Our kids are learning to read in kindergarten, have music, phys-ed and Spanish classes each week. We get outstanding DAILY written communication from the teachers, and since our children ride the bus to school we have become completely comfortable with the extremely thorough and safe bus rider management system that RES has to make sure our kids get on the correct bus safely at the end of school. RES has many activity programs including a great 4H after school program which our twins have joined even in kindergarten.

Our children actually started working with RES staff even before they started kindergarten. They were attending a pre-school (CCLC) for three years before they started RES this year. The pre-school recommended speech therapy for the twins and speech therapists from RES worked with them weekly from that point on.

Excellent school, small town values and great people. We're extremely lucky to have this gem in our little community.

Posted: October 13, 2011

In response to the latest comment made... the schools PTO is currently working on new playground equipment, it was brought to the schools attention that bullying was occuring in hiding spots that the teachers couldnt see...those structures are being removed and new ones installed. Otherwise all other equipment on the playground is in very good condition. As for the comment on the pregnant 3rd grade teacher? Do you know what grade your child is in? My son is in the 3rd grade with Ms. Gangel, Ms. Way, and Ms. Turpin (sp?) None of these teachers are pregnant! And since when should female teachers not get pregnant...should they plan their pregnancies around the school year? Just such an absurd comment! I have several family members with kids in this school and although none of us are farmers...I find the comment offensive, so what if Rappahannock has alot of farming families, that has no bearing on what type of school this is! I for one am very proud of the school and the steps they have made this year esp to make it even better, starting w/ their Anti bullying program and the use of agendas given to every student to help them stay organized and so that parents are informed everyday!

Posted: September 29, 2011

RCES is an extremely poor school. They cannot pass safe water tests. Now the playground doesn't even stand up to safety codes. Parent/Teacher communication is EXTREMELY poor. Our son is in the third grade, is failing his SOL's, then got stuck with a pregnant teacher who is not even going to be there to teach for the first 2 months of the school year! His entire 3rd grade class is being taught by multiple substitute teachers in the pregnant teacher's absence. So no big surprise when our son came home with poor scores on his first interim report. We are extremely dissatisfied with the education provided by this school. It is a babysitting service for children of farmers, AT BEST. Based on the school's SOL scores, this school rates in the LOWEST 5% of schools in the state of Virginia. If you do not care about your child's education, send them to RCES! We are trying our hardest to get our son out of this school system!!!