Riverside Elementary School

4431 Hardy McManus Road

School District

Columbia County
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:14
Type

public

School Map for Columbia 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 February 20, 2024

I don't like how people are so rude to parents when it comes to their child especially a special needs child. They don't keep parents informed on how the child is doing and take forever to respond to parents. They have a bad system on releasing after school since they tried giving me someone else's child several times after I said no this is not my child.... Not happy at all... Do research before sending your child to this school especially a special needs child.
Submitted by other on August 27, 2022

Principal is mean, teachers treat kids like they don’t matter because they are kids. Ruined school for me. Pretty mean to kids who need more help. My mental health is now horrible.
Submitted by parent on August 08, 2019

We have been extremely pleased with Riverside Elementary. I was concerned before our children entered due to a couple negative reviews I found online - but I strongly believe this was due to past administration. We have had nothing but a positive experience thus far and we are thank ful for the education our children are receiving. Thank you!
Submitted by parent on June 17, 2019

My family is very happy with Riverside Elementary and the staff. My child loves his teachers and I feel confident sending him to school each day.
Submitted by parent on July 01, 2017

This school has been wonderful. Considering the high teacher and administration turnover from the last year just due to changing life circumstances, I am very impressed with the new principal and vice-principal. The principal went out of his way to help us with a situation in which a teacher was not emotionally suited to deal with direct communication from me about my son. She made my son feel disadvantaged rather than trying to understand him, and the principal made sure that the situation was smoothly resolved and apologized for her immaturity. Other than one bad apple, I haven't had any bad experiences with the other teachers during our 4 years there so far! They are very communicative and want the success of your children. The front staff and janitors are like family to us, and patient with us no matter the situation. Thank you for providing a safe, challenging, and respectful experience to our family!!
Submitted by parent on June 05, 2017

New principles, Mr. Wright and Ms. Ellis, arrived for the 2016-2017 school year and have improved communucation with parents. Several teachers have transfered to the school and have been extremely helpful and communicative. After several so-so years, RES has been a great experience for my child.
Submitted by parent on May 15, 2015

Riverside has a good school curriculum in place. They are family oriented and always offer enrichment activities for all. However, they have a very low tolerance for children that are "active" and at times impulsive. The school doesn't have interventions in place to stimulate high energy kids or shall I say "bored" children. Instead they point the finger and base ones behaviors as making "not so great choices". When in fact the school could better service the needs of these children. Just because a kid asks questions, and is eagerly assertive shouldn't be a negative thing. That's a sign of being smart! In fact the school should better educate there staff on managing overly assertive children and strong personalities. As for being a minority, please prepare yourself to be labeled. The principal is less to be desired with the favoritism she has the school show her grandchild that attends.
Submitted by parent on March 20, 2014

A lot of families have pulled their kids out of Riverside and have moved them to a new public school (because they were so unhappy they were allowed to move three families to another school that's better but close by) and they've also put them in private school. But like myself, they are now homeschooling their kids. Words getting out all the way over to Augusta schools that you do not want your child at Riverside. It's sad, bc it didn't use to be this way. I can think of 6 families who have pulled their kids out just this year alone. And those are just the ones I know of. It woul be interesting to find out from the Columbia County Board of Education, if you can find out how many kids were pulled out of RES in the last 5 years for reasons other than moving.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2012

My oldest attended Kindergarten and 1st Grade at RES and I was not impressed. Columbia County BOE has the money and resources but the teachers make the classroom and teaches the students. The two teachers we experienced were: new to kindergarten and our first grade teacher was more focused on upcoming retirement since it was her last year. My daughter had her moments but as a hands on parent I was there, I was very involved but had to literally pull teeth to get assistance. Why would any child know what reading level they are on compare to another student unless they were told. Do you know how that makes a 5 year old feel? To see my daughter work so hard not for the enjoyment of reading but for competition sadden me. She is on grade level so why push her, so what u have others on 4th and 5th grade reading levels in 1st grade, good for them. Why does my daughter come home know she made the lowest grade on a money test? Really!! . As a parent I shouldnt have to tell you how to teach. Send home a note, email me, call me, request a conference. Don't discourage my child. Just little things I didn't like. Very snobbish school and teachers that want robotic students. Moved to FL now...
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2012

We loved RES! Our daughter attended this school during her Kindergarten and 1st grade years. Her teachers were very caring and communicated well with parents. We were very involved with her teachers and with the PTA. As the military goes, we have relocated, but I would highly recommend this school to anyone moving into the area. Our daughter thrived at RES and we chalk it up to great teachers, great staff and parent involvement.