Reviews of Ravenscroft School (Kindergarten)

Peggy Robbins

Ravenscroft has been one of our best decisions as parents so far. It has been a safe haven for my children to grow, learn, lead, question, and flourish. Ravenscroft focuses on teaching the whole child, while maintaining a challenging curriculum. The small class sizes, paired with dedicated teachers, really allow for my children to set personal goals and work toward being the best versions of themselves. Ravenscroft continues to evolve in order to equip our children to lead in an ever changing society. The leadership team & faculty values parent feedback, transparency, and innovativeness to progress as an entire learning community. We feel fortunate to be part of this learning community that values acceptance, inclusiveness, empathy, diversity, and growth mindedness, especially in today's society. We are grateful to part of such a progressive community of educators and would make this decision over and over again for our children and ourselves.

Melissa Edwards

My son has great teachers who truly care. He is getting a great education!!!

Julia Meyer

Most of the teachers here are amazing and they care so much and they are the single reason why this place didn't get one star. The people here are horrible and snotty. I spent only 4 years here for high school. I wish I could have just had the great experience with the teachers without the administration and other students.

Ally Sonntag

I have two children in Ravenscroft Lower School and one more will be starting PreK in the fall. The academic program and resources at Ravenscroft are unparalleled in the Raleigh area, and the auxiliary programming in the arts, technology, and athletics allows the school to reach a wide variety of student interests. However, the most exciting thing about Ravenscroft School is the community-wide commitment to character and leadership education interwoven into the academic program and general culture of the school. Specifically, the Character Tree and Lead From Here initiative ensure that children at Ravenscroft not only exceed academic standards but know how to apply their knowledge in real world situations, using creative thinking, cooperative experiences, empathy, and dynamic self-empowerment. Lead From Here has created a common language and guidelines for the school, faculty and staff, parents, and students to discuss and implement the essential qualities necessary for our children to succeed in a complex and unknown future: Leading Self, Leading With Others, and Changing Our World. In this structure, each child's own leadership talent and potential is developed and honored, and each family is a partner in educational growth with the school. It is a fundamental change in the conversation about educating our children and it is an exciting time to be a part of this vibrant community.

S PTX

The educators are the ultimate in student development

Juli Marty

From the first phone call to the admissions office to our son's now daily experiences with the staff and teachers, Ravenscroft has been warm, inviting and full of extraordinary care for our whole family. Their focus on the whole child is noticeable at every interaction and their investment in the Lead from Here shows their commitment to development in ways beyond the grade. Our son is thriving, loves going to school and is happy being a part of a family, the Ravenscroft family. We are blessed to have found a home that caters to all types of families and accepts the diversity necessary to really make learning a full experience.

Brooklyn C

Our child started here in the lower school, but we will be transferring to a more diverse school.

Andrew Hemmingway

I drive around the school sometimes when I'm bored and by the time I almost do one lap, my McLaren P1 LM runs out of gas and falls apart. I swear they make schools so much larger now than they used to. I remember when I would barely get tired by walking around my primary school back in 1945. Then again it didn't take much back then to make a quick buck and I'm now a millionaire thanks FDR for making social security numbers and red line neighborhoods. If you don't know what either one of these is, look it up on your own time. Alright i'm out like the monopoly that Rockefeller had.

Christina Woelffer

This is our first year at Ravenscroft (a 4th grader) and we are very pleased. From the caliber of the teachers and staff, to the excellent communication, to the extra seminars/speakers/workshops available to parents, to the top-notch partnership with the Social Institute, everything has exceeded our high expectations at every turn! We are very pleased.

MM Ellis

Ravenscroft continually strives for improvement — improvement in its teaching, learning, and application. It attracts and retains students from various racial, socioeconomic and religious backgrounds to provide its families with a complete, real-world education of the mind, heart, and body. Its students are citizen leaders as each grade level participates in service to the local and global communities they study. Ravenscroft provides a solid, lifelong education for the whole family.

Jean Mathews

Proud to support our amazing school and blessed to have both kids here. My son toured Cary Academy and did NOT get the same vibe he got at Ravenscroft! Both my kids LOVED RAVENSCROFT and so did we.

- SSR

As a new family to the area, we were welcomed into the Ravenscroft Community with open arms. Our children are in Lower School and we’ve been part of this community for over 5 years. The teachers at the school are excellent and with small class sizes, they are able to know the individual needs of each child. The Character Tree program in Lower School is such a fantastic compliment to the curriculum. Children are taught and able to show their understanding of words like spirit, responsibility, courage, dedication and compassion. Seeing a need to even take it a step further, Ravenscroft has partnered with the Center for Creative Leadership to develop and infuse a program called Lead from Here into the curriculum in Lower School, Middle School and Upper School. While there’s no way to know what the world will look like in 10 years or types of jobs will be available then, we feel confident that by having our children receive a Ravenscroft education, they’ll be equipped with the tools to lead themselves, lead with others and change their world.

Michael Reives

Every staff member is genuinely invested into your child and the raven community

cupric tiger

Overpriced and ruined everything I had going for me

Averi Gaines

I have two children currently attending Ravenscroft school. While no school is "perfect" I can honestly say since transfering them from OUR slated public schools, I have not looked back. Both of my children seem settled and academically challenged in all of their classes. The Arts and Sports programs take a back seat to academics as they should.

Shelly Schiff

Ravenscroft builds a great foundation for each student to pursue their dreams!

Veronica Evans

Absolutely amazing school! Whoever wrote the comment about Ravenscroft not focusing or caring about academics obviously doesn't know what they are talking about! They exceed every public school in the triangle when it comes to academics! I have two children there and they are far ahead of kids their age academically in the public school system . Kindergartners take violin!!!! 1st graders take swimming as a part of their PE just to name of few of the extra added activities they offer !!! Need I say more! We are extremely happy with this school and we chose it solely based on their academic program and NOT their athletics program!

Chuck Vitello

We are finishing up our third year at Ravenscroft (K-2) and could not be happier with our choice in sending our son there. The teachers are among the most caring and hard working in the area. Even with small class sizes (15) the teachers divide up their classes in several subjects to assure that everyone's learning level is kept at a challenging pace. As a former private and public school teacher in NY & NC I can say with certainty that Ravenscroft is among the best of any school in either category. Ravenscroft has a very strong Fine Arts program, even in Lower School. What is most exciting is the new Lead From Here initiative that Ravenscroft is developing with the Center for Creative Leadership. I have seen many positive changes in my son as it relates to working with others through collaboration, communication and cooperation. The goal of the program is to intertwine leadership skills into their already rigorous academic program to produce a generation of citizen leaders who will be responsible for running an increasingly complex and diverse World. Other schools in the area have strong academics, some of them strong fine art, but none of them have a robust leadership program like Ravenscroft!

Lisa Sykes

I have 2 daughters who have been attending Ravenscroft since kindergarten. We have been very pleased with the schools ability to stay on the cutting edge. Where else can a student participate in athletics, fine arts, attend club meeting and be offered advanced coursework beginning in fifth grade with advance math all the way up to 12th grade with honors and AP courses. When it comes time to look at colleges there are 3 expert college counsellors who are assigned to students who walk them through the intricate process of essay writing and selecting the "right fit" of school to your student. Students are actively being taught to be leaders from kindergarten to 12th grade with the Lead from Here initiative and are encouraged to think "out of the box". There is no other place like it!

Donald Lewis

Excellent decision when trying to decide your child educational experiences...

Ellen Fuller

Mass Exodus after fifth grade. Some of the teachers are top notch. Others leave much to be desired. Whatever the opinion of parents, the facts don't lie. The college placement is abysmal. Ravenscroft is the only high school - public or private, in the area with no debate team. The focus is on Basketball and fine arts. Durham Academy and Cary Academy proudly share college placement of graduates on their website. They also have a page for their winning debate teams and many after school and summer programs.

kay Dudley

Ravenscroft is a great school! We feel extremely blessed to have our children here. The entire staff are qualified and have the children's best interest in mind. Since being at Ravenscroft, we no longer have anxiety wondering if the education and environment are right. We do however shed tears of JOY when we see how not only our children, but all the children grow. It is quite touching Education, professionalism of staff and administration, nurse and physician, security are all top notch! Only wish we had taken the step to join the Ravenscroft community sooner. You will not find a better school. Our children never complain of being bored. They are challenged and engaged in so many ways! Parent portal is a wonderful tool providing so much information about school. They do a great job keeping you informed. Also, the cafeteria is wonderful with many options for lunch. So, if you haven't toured the school, please do. You will instantly see the difference compared to other schools and you will long to have the opportunity for your children here. Again, I can't say enough about the greatness of the school.

Jolly Rancher

I go to Durant, but my friend went to Ravenscroft and she said she got beat up there and the kids made fun of her clothes. :-(

Victoria Bell

Three words describe the excellence at Ravenscroft for our family more than anything else: nurturing individual potential. As the school mission states: “The Ravenscroft community, guided by our legacy of excellence, nurtures individual potential...” This is done through the very strong academics, arts, sports and extra activities offered throughout the year which have a wide range from coding to macramé (for lower school). Our children have had the most loving, caring, excellent teachers. When our daughter was in second grade, her teacher said “maybe she’d like to stay after school with me on Wednesdays.” This wonderful teacher brought her up to speed this way for almost the whole year, to strengthen one weak area, and we never even asked! My daughter has had similar mentoring in her strong area from the wonderful lower school Art teacher. All the regular classes during the day are also excellent, but these two examples showed us how they support a child’s weak areas when needed, as well as build their strengths. Although the school is 150 years old, the administration and board are looking at preparing students for the future. They show a real commitment to the second part of the school’s mission: “…and prepares students to thrive in a complex and interdependent world.” One new way is through a school-wide leadership program called Lead from Here. This was developed with consultation of the Center for Creative Leadership which works with many businesses on the subject. This was the first program they developed for a school. We would give the School Heads and the Board our highest praise for their vision, management and leadership. Communication and input from parents are welcome, carefully considered, and in my experience, often accepted. For a recent schedule change, they held six open forums to discuss reasons, explain recent research on best practices, and show data on how the school students and faculty felt about it. They invited Independent School Management (ISM) to bring its expertise on this. ISM reviewed facilities, curriculum, extracurricular activities, Fine Arts, and Athletics. They also created “school culture” surveys for the students and faculty. The results of the schedule analysis made it clear that the changes were a great direction and clear choice that would better meet the needs of our community. This not only showed excellent decision making process but great respect for including everyone when important decisions are made. Parents are children are very friendly and welcoming, with a vigorous parents association. We were new to Raleigh and each of our family has found so many great friends there. There are many international students and this diversity is celebrated through an International Day. All students are taught to respect differences and appreciate self through an Identity Day. One other thing -- that we take for granted now -- is that there is ZERO tolerance for any bullying, defined by the school as any repeated acts of meanness. The children are taught tools to identify it and address it, and if these fail then told to take it to an adult. At that point, the teachers, administration and related parents make sure it stops quickly and permanently. The counseling staff is exceptional and frequently provide sessions for parents relevant to children’s growth and challenges.

PARTY AND FUNNEL GAMING

They suck at basketball they got crushed by Greensboro day school

Sung-Eun Yoo

Best school, highly recommend! Very happy with teachers and staffs!

Robin Playe

I've been at Ravenscroft for 3 years, really can't complain

Vickie Adams

I am very pleased with Ravenscroft! My daughter is provided a rigorous education that I believe will provide her with the tools needed to compete in a global community. I am also impressed with the "Lead from Here" program in which students are taught leadership skills from planning their educational goals to serving in the community, but the best part about Ravenscroft is that the school makes my child feel at home and accepted...and that means so much to me!

Julie Bardini

Our children have been at Ravenscroft since Kindergarten and Pre-K. They are now senior and freshman. We realize that our children spend the majority of their waking lives in school and with their peers and teachers/mentors/coaches and what a positive influence the Ravenscroft community has been in their lives. There is something there for every child and family to thrive. They educate the whole child with plenty of opportunities to excel in academics, sports, and/or the arts. Ravenscroft has partnered with the Center for Creative Leadership and has woven extremely valuable leadership lessons into the community as a whole which is priceless for the future of everyone involved “Lead self, lead others, change your world”. We recognize how difficult it can be to raise children in today’s day and age and are so thankful that our children have had Ravenscroft as their second home and family. It does take a village!!

A Webb

Very nice campus!

Amy Jonson

We have had two kids enrolled at Ravenscroft for 13 years. One just graduated and is going to Wake Forest University, and one is a rising junior. We could not be happier with the quality of education and faculty, unique commitment to student leadership development, endless extracurricular opportunities, and meaningful, life-long relationships our family has built over the years there. As our kids prepare to go on to college, we look back and have ZERO regrets about our choice and financial commitment to such an incredible place - truly like a second home that has had a huge impact on who our kids are today.

Kevin Tesla

I saw horses in the back and tried to park my Mustang there. Some of your faculty saw me and demanded I leave. I did, but not without using that back parking lot for my Mustang thanks Ravenscroft!

Emily Bannerman

I have been going to Ravenscroft since kindergarten and hope to keep going until I graduate. The Fine Arts program is very strong and the athletics as well. I have just become involved with school sports this year, and I plan on continuing to be on teams. All the coaches are very fun and great at what they do. For Fine Arts, I have been involved since I could. I have been in all the choirs available to me, in Lower School and in Middle School, along with taking art. The music directors and art teachers have all won awards with their students in competitions outside of school. The academic program here, has definitely made my learning experience easier and more effective. The teachers and other staff are very pleasant, and I enjoy learning from them. In conclusion, Ravenscroft is a great fit for any student.

Catherine King

My 2 sons and my sister's 2 sons are currently spread across the elementary, middle, and upper schools at Ravenscroft. This school is like going to a 5 star hotel. From the orderly carpool with staff directing traffic with a smile, to getting your kid into the classes they really want to take, to the 3 coaches and separate locker room just for middle school lacrosse and other over the top athletic perks, to the gorgeous library with free after school supervision, to the multiple city police officers protecting (not disciplining) students, the school has unparalleled services and facilities. The environment is sheltered and the kids are nice. In other words, the kids have an awesome peer group which includes advantaged and international students and some of the most talented, athletic, and gifted minority and economically disadvantaged kids in the area as well as their awesome parents (Ravenscroft has a huge fund for scholarships that other private schools in the area do not have). Unless your child is absolutely horrible, in my experience, and according to my boys, they will have accepting friends no matter race, handicap, economic situation or social impediment. If kids bully, hit, are caught doing drugs, or behave badly in school or out of school they are thrown out. Ravenscroft spends lots of money on the whole child including an extensive elementary to high school leadership education program "Lead from Here", a stunning arts program (visual, drama, orchestra, band), and an extremely well funded and well coached athletic program. When I walk through the upper school, I see kids quietly and seriously studying in study spaces during their required study halls, again positive peer pressure. Did I mention that they have brilliant teachers that care, who kids will remember for a life time? These teachers, from the elementary to the high school are passionate about encouraging and truly educating kids. These teachers won't take less than the best your kids can do, and will communicate and work on issues with you and the school guidance counselors. Did I mention there is a real nurse onsite everyday to care for sick children? She has multiple separate rooms with beds to care for children until their parents can arrive. Private school is expensive. If all you care about for your kid is a test score, then maybe there are other schools in the Triangle that would work (although academics are first at Ravenscroft and many kids have super high scores), but if you want your kid to be truly educated in academics, arts, athletics, and leadership for life with a group of great kids and passionate teachers consider Ravenscroft.