Research Triangle Charter

2418 Ellis Road

School District

Research Triangle Charter
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:20
Type

charter

School Map for Research Triangle Charter 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 May 19, 2023

I'm a new parent at RTCA with a Kindergartner and I've enjoyed our time with the school thus far. My son has made great grades the entire year while being challenged and motivated. Like any school there are things that could be improved, however the staff and administration are working hard to have all students thriving post Covid! The PTO was lacking when we enrolled and it has since been revamped and are actively working to support the needs of the students and teachers. In my opinion the school could use more parent support and participation but I'm sure that will fluctuate at times. Don't judge a school by older reviews, please take a tour and ask active patents for yourself!!!
Submitted by parent on January 13, 2023

Teachers are great. Very diverse school. My child has adapted well and loves it here. Seen lots of improvement since my child has been attending here as a person and academically.
Submitted by parent on January 10, 2023

I would not recommend your child to go here. The teachers and staff have no compassion for education for your child learning for the near future. Its very frustrating to have your child here or correcting a teacher of their choice of words toward your child when they have a question. This is not my first elementary school I have sent one of my children too but it is the worst.
Submitted by parent on August 25, 2019

Great because of the teachers and Dean Bowser
Submitted by parent on December 07, 2017

Coming from a DPS (Durham Public School) middle and elementary school RTCA has been such a blessing to my children. The teachers and staff are all committed to the children's success. Other parents are motivated. They have plenty of after school activities. (Their school band program is amazing!) The middle school is college prep. I have no problems communicating with teachers and the school is accessible to me as a parent at all times. When my children were in DPS schools they were not being assigned homework, I had practically no communication from teachers or school outside of the one call from the school principal, the teachers had no control of the students, getting into classrooms to volunteer or even getting on campus was near impossible. My kids grades were suffering and they were learning nothing because teachers spent most of their time addressing behavior issues in the classroom.I have none of the above named issues at RTCA. My children have plenty of homework. I can track their progress online through the parent portal. Parents are always welcome on campus. The teachers do a wonderful job of communicating regularly. My children are now actively engaged in their education and literally earning their grades. They have some unique ways to address behavior issues in the classroom and hold children accountable. Beyond academics, I have found the teachers and staff are very aware and in tune with children's personal issues and have been able to nurture "the whole child"The demographics of the children in RTCA is not much different than the local DPS schools. RTCA's approach and level of commitment to the students is effective and they are impacting the children of our community in a positive way! If I would of judged RTCA other reviews online I would of missed such a great opportunity for my kids.As far as reading the reviews from other parents I cannot speak on their experiences but I know personally as a mother to many children the administrators and teachers have a huge range of families that they interact with and we as parents cannot expect admin charged with bringing order to a school of 100s of children to bend to our whims. As parents we need to respect the boundaries and work WITH admin and teachers for the success of our children and their school and not against the ones striving for our students to be successful.
Submitted by parent on September 28, 2017

Horrible! The administration staff are bullies themselves! Principal Muhhamed thinks he is god and is very arrogant! He said, and i quote " the difference between arrogance and confidence is the heart". Dean Bowser is way to pushy with the students. She needs some more training on how to handle OTHER peoples children. I heard her yelling at my child and she didn't even realize my son called me and i was on the phone and heard everything. But then when i go off on her for the disrespect I am the " aggressive " one. They are horrible and if you are thinking of sending your child to this school DON'T!!!!
Submitted by parent on September 03, 2017

great school not happy with a lot of teachers high turnover in the last two years
Submitted by other on March 27, 2017

This school started out being very helpful the 1st year but never keep teachers every year the teachers from last year quit and leave and new teachers step (High Turnover)Teacher my son had bullied her students and the school stood by her and gave my son a hard time after he told me that he was being bullied. Would help my son when he didn't understand work in the class room would not reach back to me when I requested help with his assignments, would not give me a referral for after school program and tutoring as I had requested sent emails of altercations regarding my son and another child but was not my child in the altercation. Then when another child punched my son in the back of the head and stepped on his glasses they wanted to suspend my son for defending himself and did not notify me of the altercation at all my son told me when I picked him up. Would not allow the children to go to the bathroom and took away extra-curricular activities for the entire class when children would act up in the class room my son has always had great behavior. but did not like the fact that even though he was being good because some of the children were not good the entire class would be punished and recess would be taken away. or learning activities canceled by the teacher and the teacher would just stop teaching when the students would act up in the class. When I attempted to look into other schools they set my son up after I said I did not want him to attend the school they tried to suspend my son to keep him from qualifying for another school and destroy my son’s good behavior track record throughout school. They tricked my husband into withdrawing my child when I requested paper work needed to apply for new schools and told me that I would have to reapply if I wanted my son to stay in school until I could find another school and that if he returned he would be suspended for fighting (defending himself because the physical education teacher failed to protect him and left him to be punched in the back of his head and his glasses broken and left to defend himself and never notified me as a parent that the incident ever happen. I did not know my son was injured until my son told me when I picked him up from school that day.
Submitted by parent on April 02, 2015

When I first heard about RTCA I thought that they were doing great things at their school. I talked to several people who had sent their children/grandchildren there before and they told me to stay clear. After being hardheaded and sending my child to this school I now realize that I made a horrible decision. The leadership lacks proper experience to deal with children. They allow children to jump on weaker children and then when the child defends themselves they kick them out of school. This school is HORRIBLE when it comes to communicating with parents. If your child has a continuous issue with another child they will not allow you to have a conference with the other parent and child. The assistant principal lacks skills to deal with parents who actually care about their child's well being. Additionally, the lunch is subpar at best. They have to microwave each "mystery meal" and some days the truck that delivers the meals doesn't even show up.
Submitted by parent on February 19, 2015

the school is the best, i am glad my son attend it, the learning are great, the teacher are nice and helpful, i love the school policy and program
Submitted by parent on November 04, 2013

I don't want to knock this school, because academically, your child will thrive IF you work with them at home too. I had to confront the teacher about keeping me in the loop early on in the school year regarding my son's in class performance on assignments. If your child tends to be the "typical" very active boy this is not the school for your child. My son attended this school for kindergarten and the 1st 2 months of 1st grade. The school lacks teachers with experience dealing with very active students. When asked if my child could be transferred into a teacher with more years of experience my request was denied TWICE. If your child isn't one of those kids that stays focused ALL day, the teachers nick pick at EVERYTHING they do from talking to yelling answers out without raising their hand. If your child needs a program for being academically gifted, this school doesn't have it. I have switched to Durham Public Schools and I m so glad I did. DPS understand that kids will be kids and not discipline for everything they do. Three days out of school suspension of a 5 year old in one month is just RIDICULOUS!! The explanation the principal gave was "We had to do something!" No Thanks!
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2013

This is our second year at rtca...I now have a kindergarten and 2nd grade student. I'm very pleased overall. The teachers are easy to communicate with, the administration is great and my kids are happy to go. The car pool line is crazy but will settle down as the year progresses. I love the way the school seeks out ways to Schiavo encourage students to be leaders and behave through positive incentives. The whole class may receive a punishment (usually walking laps) but they don't make the kids change their color for a class misbehavior...that is just an indicator of individual behavior. The homework loss is very appropriate..one page of math and one of penmanship/spelling and then reading. We are very happy overall with this school. My son is very advanced in reading and they are able to work with him at his level to constantly improve...They are not letting him slide because he is ahead.
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2013

It's sad that the reviews for this school are being dragged down by reviews from years ago. I love this school and Dr. Carson will always be supported by my husband and I. The private school we wanted her to get into since she turned 2 years old sent us away last year. This year they would have accepted her ... but we declined. She's thriving, why move her? It's not perfect, but the teachers and staff are wonderful. They are honest and helpful. They tell you what is really going on with your child so that they can help find solutions and help them. What parent wants to be left in the dark about their child's true progress? Dr. Carson is doing a fantastic job.
Submitted by parent on May 02, 2013

My daugther is in 1th grade and the teacher are amazing..always attenden my request the teacher are very friendly......everybody know everybody and I like that!!!
Submitted by parent on November 27, 2012

I love the school. My kids were there for 3 years and it was an awesome experience. I left this school year and I missed the school so bad. The teachers at RTCA really care for each child and they want each one of them to succed. I volunteered as much as I could and the teacher were always nice.
Submitted by parent on November 26, 2012

My child is in Kindergarten this school year. I am very impressed with his teacher. I am a very involved in my child's school life and I expect a lot of him. His teacher understands this and we email almost daily. My son lets me know daily what "my teacher said to do it this way". The principal is new, but seems to be making changes for the better. I highly recommend this school to parents seeking positive reinforcement and a sense of comfort within the school.
Submitted by parent on March 28, 2012

This is by far the best school that my children have attended. We went to three schools in three years. Regular public schools have nothing on RTCA. All of the teachers are caring and dedicated. I do not see any difference in treatment between kids. I try to volunteer regularly and do so unexpectedly, and it is always a pleasant experience. Furthermore, their orchestra, band, and art programs are some of the best! My children will continue to attend until their time to move on to high school.
Submitted by parent on February 22, 2012

My daughter is in kindergarten at RTCA. So far, I am pleased with the school. She is learning well and getting plenty of homework, I can see her maturity since the beginning of the year. She went from not really reading to writing sentences and she works very well on her own. She gets along with the other students and loves her teacher. New Principal this year and seems to be still feeling his way through but has made a couple of changes for the better. I have not yet gotten involved with the Parent Association but would like to next year.