Charles River School

PO BOX 339

Dover, MA 02030

24 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK-8
Type

private

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Reviews

Submitted by parent on January 31, 2024

My son attends Charles River School and could not be happier. He absolutely loves going to school each day and wishes the school did not end after 8th grade. CRS makes learning fun. Academic rigor is balanced with strong social emotional support. The school encourages kids to be curious, self-aware, compassionate and understanding toward others. It's ok to take risks and try new things and fail because you will be supported. Learning is not competitive. The community is very warm and supportive. I really wish I had the opportunity to attend a school like CRS when I was a kid because it provides a great foundation of knowledge as well as a curious and thoughtful approach to lifelong learning.
Submitted by parent on January 30, 2024

I am both an alum as well as a parent of 3 kids who have attended Charles River School (1 still in attendance). It is a school I credit with so much of my own development as a productive member of society - personally and professionally. I still count some of the friends I made during my 10 years at the school as my closest to this day. The school has offered my own kids the same level of excellence in academics, arts, and athletics that I enjoyed. I feel a great debt of gratitude to the school for all it has done for my family.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2024

My children had a wonderful, well rounded experience at CRS. They all had wonderful options for secondary school - and have been doing well in their studies post CRS. They felt well prepared for the setting and curriculum that followed their studies. They continue to speak fondly about their time at CRS. I highly recommend CRS to other families.
Submitted by parent on January 29, 2024

Since joining Charles River School almost 7 years ago, I remain impressed and thrilled that my child has the privilege and opportunity to attend a school that fosters the importance of "igniting curiosity, encouraging creativity, and cultivating intellectual engagement. " At CRS children are allowed and expected to be children. They can win high awards at Model UN conferences one day and spin around with glee on the new merry-go-round the next--without judgment, only encouragement.Charles River School's approach to learning has allowed my child to truly love learning. Even when the content might take a little longer to grasp, the teachers and support folks are right there, ready and able to present the material in ways that truly resonates with your child's learning style. We leave our children in the hands of others for hours upon hours and in most situations you can only hope that they return a better version of themselves. At CRS, the growth is undeniable and noticeable on day 1.
Submitted by parent on January 28, 2024

CRS is a place where my children learn through exploration and curiosity. They are challenged to think critically, learn from mistakes, and work with others. It is also a place where they find the simple joys of childhood and feel free to be their unique selves. We are so grateful to have found CRS and the incredible learning experience it offers.
Submitted by parent on January 26, 2024

CRS is a gem! Our family could not love the school more or be happier that our children have had the wonderful experience of attending. CRS nurtures the whole child and educates students who will lead in high school and beyond. When you meet a CRS graduate you can immediately see what sets them apart. They are poised, confident young people who are bright, curious and ready to make their mark on the world. Gabe Burnstein, who is the new Head of School is an innovative, energetic and engaged leader who has embraced his role and is a joy to watch. He leads an expert faculty who take them time to know each and every student. Don't let your kids miss out on an opportunity to attend such a wonderful school.
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2024

We sent our children to CRS so that they could experience learning in a progressive, theme based structure with small classrooms and attention to fostering curiosity and community. Over the past several years we have witnessed a steep decline and have decided not to continue on to middle school there. For the large investment, there is not a return. Teacher and administration turnover has been rising. Academically there is a lack of cohesive curriculum from one grade to the next and math proficiency is lagging. There are too few extra curriculars and service offerings. Based on the behaviors of children in our kids classrooms alone, the school seemingly accepts all who apply regardless of academic or behavioral needs, yet has almost no support for them once there. The middle school is tiny and the kids exhibit behavioral, social and academic under-development in comparison to their peers and compared with students at other schools we have toured. Sadly, we no longer recommend CRS.
Submitted by parent on December 06, 2023

CRS provided our 2 children with an outstanding education that fostered independence, confidence, and ambition. Both attended Pre-K through 8th grade and entered high school academically prepared with confidence and enthusiasm for learning. CRS's two-teacher model, interesting experiential learning programs, and small school environment were perfect for our children. I highly recommend this school.
Submitted by parent on December 06, 2023

Charles River School focuses on academic excellence and the joy of childhood. Academic excellence is demonstrated through my children's strong reading, writing, math, and--most importantly--critical thinking skills. The school's curriculum is presented thematically, so my children approach their academic work with curiosity and a growth mindset. My children also find so much joy at school. They love getting out of the car every morning to see their friends and teachers, and play on the new playgroundI cannot say enough about the CRS community. The partnership between parents and faculty is unparalleled: My children are supported academically, socially, and emotionally to be the best version of themselves. My entire family is so grateful for everything that CRS has done for us and we feel lucky to be a part of this amazing preK-8 independent school. I know that if you come visit campus, you'll see the mission in action in the classrooms, playground, gym, and throughout campus.
Submitted by parent on December 05, 2023

The best thing I ever did as a parent was leave Charles River School. What I learned is that CRS caters to children with behavioral challenges at the expense of in-class learning or other children's experiences. In spite of paying an exorbitant amount for tuition, my children needed outside academic enrichment to be challenged and to stay on par with the norm in our area, especially in math. They were frustrated by the many behavioral disruptions in their classes and the teachers not doing enough to manage it. Our concerns as parents were dismissed and we were even condescended to by the head of school who had one foot out the door. The only families I would recommend CRS to are those with children with ADHD or other differences that make a more structured school experience difficult, which is definitely not how it tries to sell itself.
Submitted by parent on August 15, 2022

Charles River School is what you have been looking for! My two children thrived here in a small, inclusive, nurturing environment where they were seen and heard daily. They learned how to be active participants in their own learning as they jumped out of bed, excited to go to school every day! They both gained a confidence about themselves that I had not previously seen from them while they were attending our local public school. The teachers knew where they excelled, could decipher where they had challenges, and supported their social and academic learning needs at every turn. The community embraced us and we found more opportunities to build connections with families from a variety of different towns. I can't speak highly enough about CRS!!
Submitted by parent on August 11, 2022

As a former student and now a parent I cannot say enough great things about what this school has provided me and my family.
Submitted by parent on August 01, 2022

Charles River School has been great for our family! The decision to leave our local public school was not one we made lightly. My two kids are quite different from one another and when we started looking at private schools, we thought we might end up sending them to different schools (or keeping the younger one in public). In fact, because Charles River focuses on what each student needs, our introvert is finding his voice in the classroom and our outgoing, try-anything child has lots of options for self-expression. There is lots of individual attention and my kids have loved all of their teachers, including the ones who teach specials such as gym and art and technology. It's been great to watch my son go from flying under the radar and doing "just fine" in school to excelling academically and putting more effort into school because more is expected of him. Also, the kids and families at the school are, by and large, really nice and unpretentious. There's a big emphasis on kindness and inclusivity.
Submitted by parent on July 18, 2022

As someone previously unfamiliar with the independent school world, we could not have found a more nurturing, empowering and child-centered environment. The care and compassion is felt throughout every area of campus. Our son is excited to go to school. Never thought I’d see the day.
Submitted by parent on October 26, 2020

Excellent. The academic culture really is one of enthusiasm, fun, and challenge too. Balance to me means that your child is healthy and happy, but also learns how to be stretched and challenged.
Submitted by parent on September 24, 2020

Outstanding. We feel this is the best investment we can make in our children.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2020

Highly satisfied with the education my young learners are receiving at Charles River School. I have 3 happy and engaged children that enjoy being in school. CRS is a warm and welcoming community.
Submitted by parent on October 31, 2018

Great academics, and a childhood too. My children were challenged and pushed academically - and nurtured and cared for emotionally. The perfect recipe for healthy, happy, and very capable people!
Submitted by parent on September 12, 2018

CRS walks the walk. The school is truly dedicated to the growth and development of all aspects of a student -- intellectual, personal, social/emotional. It has been a great fit for our family! Our kids are excited to go to school each day and I am amazed at how much they are learning. The teachers are clearly excited about what they are teaching and their enthusiasm and belief in each child's capacity to think critically and to delve into challenging material help kids stretch themselves academically. I am so glad we found this amazing school!
Submitted by parent on April 18, 2018

I cannot say enough about Charles River School. It is integral to who I have become today. I attended the school PreK through 8th grade and it has formed how I approach problem-solving and critical analysis. I went on to a top boarding school, Harvard University and then Wharton Business School, carrying with me by ability to evaluate issues holistically and from multiple perspectives. I credit my curiosity in the world and my love of learning to CRS and the incredible thematic-based curriculum the teachers employ there.