Riverwood Elementary

108 Athletic Club Boulevard

School District

Johnston County
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:15
Type

public

School Map for Johnston County School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on June 19, 2017

This school is amazing. I'm tired of reading all of these bad reviews on this forum. The schools are like new. The teachers care and don't put up with funny business. Parents that have a problem with this school, as explained on the posts, should engage more in the child development process. These teachers are not supposed to raise your kids. They teach them. Please do a better job parenting and your students experience at this school will improve.
Submitted by other on December 09, 2016

I would give a negative star if possible. New principal is causing the school to decline. She seems to try to be the teachers buddy rather than support the students best interest. Will be looking for other alternatives soon. Run don't walk away from this school.
Submitted by parent on May 21, 2016

So far so good! My daughter has improved each quarter in K! She could only read a few words in the beginning of the year, she's reading level 1 and 2 books with little or no help by 3rd quarter. She has also progressed very nicely in math. I am very happy with RES so far.
Submitted by other on May 27, 2015

My daughters grades improved from C's to straights A's with the switch to this school. If anyone has complaints, it may be the tremendous growth at this school, or not enough educational discipline at home. I love this school!
Submitted by parent on February 06, 2015

Such a disappointment! I had so many high hopes. We have been at the school for years and it seems to get worse every year. Not to say that there aren't amazing teachers at this school, because there are. For me, the principal is Destroying the moral of the teaching staff. It sounds as if those really great teachers and looking to move elsewhere. If you are not a stay-at-home mom and can volunteer at the school 3 to 5 days a week: beware. It can also be extremely cliquish. At this point, if I could homeschool, I would.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2014

Riverwood ES is new, clean and well-run. The teachers are very nice, the children well-behaved and the parents very involved. However, the curriculum of Riverwood ES, as well as most other schools in NC, is horrendous! We moved from a state with the best schools in the nation (to bad for us, right?) and were seriously disappointed in the level of rigor our 4th grader was given. Honestly, much of the stuff was at least 2 grade levels behind. The schools seems to only care about ensuring kids pass the end of year grade level exams. If you want your child to get a rigorous, thorough and academically challenging curriculum, Riverwood is not the place or... any other school in NC for that matter. Thanks Koch brothers!
Submitted by parent on June 30, 2014

Very unhappy with this school. My son's 1st grade teacher has left us with horrible memories. It is so unfortunate and disheartening that some teachers unleash their frustrations on innocent children. What's worse is that the office attempts to blame the child or the parents rather than deal with the teachers.
Submitted by parent on May 20, 2014

I wish we could report a good experience here, but this is a cliquish school. The principal is flakey and my child gets no remediation for her learning disability. Totally reactive and not proactive approach here. Teacher was nice but unable to help.
Submitted by parent on April 10, 2014

I love the school and the staff seem really nice but my child is in kindergarten and is scared to death of his teacher. I've had three other parents tell me their child had the same teacher and were scared as well. His confidence has gone down since he started school and he says she yells at him. There are no programs to help with kindergarten students that are struggling after school only for the upper grades so I'm paying two tutors as well as obviously working with him myself. She is very condescending and talks down to the kids and from my experience the parents as well.
Submitted by parent on October 08, 2013

Nothing but great things from this school. Lots of parents participate, and are very helpful. Community is awesome as well.
Submitted by parent on October 06, 2013

This school is the best school my children have been to. Every person in that school is very helpful and caring to the children. My child has excelled and was more than prepared for the next school year. I am very grateful for all the teachers and staff have done.
Submitted by parent on September 27, 2013

Since moving from Wake county to Johnston. We have been thrilled with Riverwood. There focus on academics has been completely refreshing. Please keep up the great work!!!
Submitted by parent on September 24, 2013

First, let me say the comments about no buses and chaotic drop off have not proven true. There are buses, and drop off in the am is actually easier than the bus that is a block from my front door! We have a first grade exceptional student (IEP w/autism). I cannot say enough GREAT things about this school! Last year, our daughter had a terrible experience at a different school, and this left her with a complete lack of trust for educators. The Principal, Asst. Principal, Teacher, TA, Counselor, and Behavioral Specialist jumped in right away, involving us in the process, to help our daughter adjust and be successful. No judgments, no pushing to remove our daughter from a regular class, no restraints- only positive reinforcement. We came up with a plan, and they follow the plan. Again, if you are considering this school, DO IT! We moved an hour away from our last home to be here, and it's the best decision we have ever made for our kids! I can't wait until our youngest starts next year!
Submitted by parent on September 06, 2013

I would definitely agree that she makes it hard to feel heard and to feel listened to. However if the former reviewer has information that proves that, you should take it before the Board or at least the RES Advisory Council (who somewhat privately exist) who can field your concerns. That is the purpose of that service -- to serve the parents and teachers who have needs that affect the well-being of the children, teachers, school, and community. If you can collect enough signatures or valid concerns (with facts and data) from a group of parents, we parents can finally exact change rather than simply leave our frustrations here on a website for us all to sit home and only shake our heads in agreement. You have no idea how many may be ready and willing to join along with you, CONSTRUCTIVELY, for good. I know I am!
Submitted by parent on September 01, 2013

All the teachers are great. The principle is not going to listen to you. She not helpful at all.
Submitted by parent on April 08, 2013

Riverwood has been an amazing experience for my children and myself. The teachers are very professional as well as the principal. The principal doesn't seem warm and fuzzy on the exterior but I have had several conversations with her and she is very kind and seems to care. She was out running during fun run to keep the kids going while pushing a wheelchair. My children have experienced great teachers. Pta does a great job. My children are getting an excellent education in a great and caring environment.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2013

My children have attended this for many years, and we have always loved it. Until last year. The principal is horrible. No people skills what so ever. She has, in 1 and 1/2 years change the atmosphere in the school...and not for the better. She doesn't care about the teachers at all. I could give MANY examples. If you are considering this school...I would look at other schools in the area. East Clayton, River Dell. The negativity in this school is everywhere. Teachers are leaving at an alarming pace, parents don't want to volunteer. It is just not a happy place anymore. It is all because of the new principal. Please, think twice before choosing RES. It's not what it used to be., and I hate to say that. :(
Submitted by parent on September 09, 2012

My daughter has attended kindergarten and 1st grade classes at Riverwood Elementary. The level of teacher involvement and the quality of instruction has been first rate. My daughter has excelled in reading, mathematics, and writing as a consequence of personal attention she has received from her instructors. Although classes include students at varying levels of achievement, the curriculum is tailored to the needs of the individual student. I would not hesitate to recommend this school to a friend or a co-worker. Riverwood provides a safe learning environment backed up by teachers that live in the neighborhood and parents that care.
Submitted by parent on July 24, 2012

To the lady with the walking incident, your kids should not have been walking. As a parent, school personnel highly DIScourages walking to and from school because of the high amount of traffic. Great school though!
Submitted by parent on April 27, 2012

Overall, Riverwood Elementary is a wonderful school for most students EXCEPT those who are dyslexic. To be fair I think NC is a hard place to be if you are dyslexic (a dirty word that not a single teacher or principal would utter). Our child had a wonderful experience in early grades but hit a wall (which we learned was dyslexia) and we left. Specific teacher training is required to teach dyslexic children. Although the Special Education instructor seemed to want to do her best, we did not feel that she was qualified for our child's dyslexia. At one point in the discussion our child turned to me and whispered: "Does she know that I have dyslexia?" The spec. ed. teacher made comments indicating lack of understanding of dyslexia (i.e. insisting 90 minutes of required homework time could not be adjusted - implying we were trying to avoid homework because of extra-curricular activities, telling our child that this time "hard work" was required - as though our child simply didn't try hard enough. One teacher insinuated I had not read enough with our child (untrue).) We are now in another state using approved intervention measures (Orton-Gllingham, Wilson, etc.