The Raleigh School

1141 Raleigh School Drive

Raleigh, NC 27607

37 Reviews

School District
Grade

PK, K-5
Type

private

Find Homes for Sale in this School Zone

Reviews

Submitted by parent on February 08, 2025

On paper, this school looks fantastic and for a lot of families, it is a perfect fit. They have an amazing campus with a focus on outdoor learning, facilitate a lot of project-based learning, and the preschool really emphasizes social-emotional learning. The parent involvement is high because of the parent involvement requirement, especially in the preschool. Multiple parents are on site and in the classroom every day, however, no background checks are done amongst parent volunteers. At the elementary level, the teachers are fine and do a great job communicating with you in regards to day-to-day activities and happenings within the classroom. While classroom happenings are communicated in depth, we found that there was a complete lack of transparency in regards to individual academic progress. The school caters to traditional learners and despite their verbalized commitment to inclusion, seem unable to accommodate children who require even the most basic supports or any level of differentiated instruction. They are quick to refer out to alternative schools and recommend external supports (such as 1:1 tutoring) instead of collaborating with families to implement basic accommodations within the classroom to help your child succeed. This ends up alienating students who are very bright, but simply process information differently or have different learning styles. In addition, they seem to measure the success of your child based on what is normal or typical amongst peers instead of recognizing and finding the value/strengths of each child. This has created somewhat of an exclusive environment and while some parents may prefer this, please know that if your child has learning differences, they will either be left behind in the classroom or encouraged to seek alternative placements at a different school. Unfortunately, we found that behavioral concerns and bullying were approached with more flexibility and understanding by staff, provided the student met academic expectations in the classroom. Overall, based off of our experience, I cannot recommend TRS for a well-rounded and inclusive education.
Submitted by parent on January 17, 2025

What a wonderful school!! The parent engagement is what makes this school so special.
Submitted by parent on January 17, 2025

I cannot say enough amazing things about TRS!! I work in the schools and specifically chose TRS for my children. I love the focus on the whole child and the true understanding of child development. The teachers meet each child where they are and help them reach the next step. The project based learning is so fun for the kids and the focus on social emotional learning and time spent with nature is a true gift. This school is the best gift I will ever give my children. Knowing my kids are thriving socially, emotionally and academically at a school with teachers who love and care for them is also the best gift we can give ourselves as parents!
Submitted by parent on January 11, 2025

The Raleigh School is truly a special place, and I feel so fortunate that my children get to be part of this wonderful school community. We have been at TRS since preschool 2's and currently have a 1st and 3rd grader.What stands out to me the most about TRS is the strong sense of community and the kind-hearted people it brings together. From the moment you walk onto the campus, you feel a warm and welcoming atmosphere. We’ve gotten to know so many of the children and families by being involved in the school, through class activities, events and parent committees. There’s a shared commitment here to fostering a love of learning, not just focusing on tests or meeting standards. The school values creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, and it attracts families who want to nurture their children’s curiosity and help them grow in thoughtful, meaningful ways.The teachers are also incredibly special people. It’s clear that every teacher takes the time to understand the unique needs and strengths of their students, and they go above and beyond to help each one thrive. The campus itself is absolutely beautiful and an ideal setting for creativity and exploration. From the garden spaces to the outdoor classrooms, TRS values learning beyond the classroom walls.I couldn’t be more grateful for the positive impact TRS has had on my child’s educational journey.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2025

The Raleigh School is a wonderful community of parents, students, and teachers that work together to foster a love of learning. As an alumni that attended The Raleigh School from 2 years old through 5th grade, I can attest that there is no other place like it and that it certainly helped shape me into the person - and parent - I am today. My own children now attend TRS and I could not be happier to see them learning to love school at this very special place.
Submitted by parent on January 07, 2025

The Raleigh School has been an absolute gift to our family. From the moment we first stepped onto campus, we knew it was a place where our children would not only learn but truly thrive. The sense of community, inclusiveness, and kindness that permeates this school is unlike anything we’ve experienced elsewhere.One moment that really encapsulates the spirit of The Raleigh School happened on the playground. My child came home one day, beaming with excitement about playing a game with some older students. When I asked how they felt about a younger student joining in, the response I was given was simple but profound: “Mom - Everyone can play!” This wasn’t just a one-off; it’s a reflection of the school’s values—an environment where students of all ages are taught to be welcoming, collaborative, and kind.What makes The Raleigh School truly special is the way it fosters a deep sense of connection and belonging. It’s not just about academics (though the education is excellent); it’s about raising compassionate, thoughtful, and well-rounded individuals. The parents, teachers, and staff all work together to create a nurturing environment that feels like an extended family.Parent involvement is also central to the culture here, and there are so many ways to contribute. It’s inspiring to see how much everyone—faculty, staff, and parents, comes together to make the school such a vibrant, dynamic place.If you’re looking for a school where your children will feel supported, included, and inspired every day, I can’t recommend The Raleigh School enough. It’s more than a school—it’s a community that we’re so grateful to be part of.
Submitted by parent on March 17, 2023

This school is a gem! The partnership between the faculty, parents and teachers fosters such a strong sense of community and our children love going to school. Each day they are encouraged to be curious, inquisitive and imaginative which is building confidence, critical thinking, collaboration with others and a love of learning! Thank you TRS for all that you do and continue to do!
Submitted by parent on December 20, 2021

All four of our children have attended The Raleigh School and we have been thrilled to be part of the school community for many years. Our oldest kids are in high school now and our youngest is still at TRS. The school was crucial in building a strong foundation and sparking an early love of learning. TRS has an approach to teaching that allows infinite possibilities for exploration, play, and meaningful learning. The campus and grounds are beautiful and kids are able to be outdoors a lot. The teachers are also incredibly nurturing and encourage students to be active learners, take risks and work cooperatively together. Thanks TRS for cultivating a strong sense of community and helping to raise kids to be curious, confident, compassionate...and lifelong learners.
Submitted by parent on December 13, 2021

I’ve been a Raleigh School parent for 7 years having brought two children up through the preschool and now in the elementary school. Now that I have a child in 3rd grade, I have to say that I am extremely impressed at how The Raleigh School guides the social and emotional development of children through their journey from 2s through elementary. I remember my youngest sucking her fingers snuggling in the lap of her 2s preschool teacher because she was overwhelmed by the music emanating from the preschool music teacher’s guitar. I enjoyed being able to come into the classroom as a helping parent year-over-year and watch our preschoolers grow and develop through play. When my oldest was in 4s preschool we got helpful strategies from the Preschool Director on how to help her make the decision on her own to stop sucking her fingers. Spoiler alert - It worked.As our daughter moved into Elementary there were challenges as kids are learning how to do school, some for the first time, in kindergarten. The Raleigh School’s counselor, aka the feelings coach, helped students both individually and together in-class to learn about and manage their emotions while developing positive social relationships.I’ve also been very impressed at the teachers’ skilled approach to let the student interests guide student projects at The Raleigh School. In Kindergarten, my daughter’s teacher gathered student interests and they were all over the place. Undeterred, the teacher developed a special project for the class called the “imaginary creatures museum.” The students developed their own imaginary creatures and had to figure out common attributes like what it ate, where it lived, and what it looked like. They designed their creatures along with the factual information into a museum that parents visited. This museum was also one of a couple of projects that parents were invited to see and where the students presented the materials to the parents.I have truly appreciated The Raleigh School’s engaging, child-centered approach to learning. I enjoy playing with my daughters and their classmates and seeing the results of their projects. If you are interested in The Raleigh School, I encourage you to check it out for preschool as most of their kindergarten slots are filled by families continuing on from preschool.One last point - The school’s response to the pandemic only deepened our love and appreciation for The Raleigh School.
Submitted by parent on September 29, 2021

Our son started at The Raleigh School in second grade. The transition was wonderful. He made friends easily and instantly enjoyed his teachers. The project-based curriculum is engaging, fun and very child-centered. It is a wonderful place for children to thrive not just in the classroom but as good humans and future leaders who have great potential to make a difference in the world. We feel very lucky to have found TRS.
Submitted by parent on September 23, 2021

Our son has been going to The Raleigh School since preschool, and now he is in the 1st grade. He loves his class and especially the teachers. He also loves the playground, which is absolutely amazing. My son has already asked me to keep him in the school until the 5th grade. From the beginning, TRS has strived to instill fun in learning so that our kids enjoy going to school, and it shows. We are truly blessed to have found TRS!
Submitted by parent on September 21, 2021

We have been at The Raleigh School for years and the teachers truly care about our children. It is a safe space to be kids and learn in a well-rounded environment. The campus is beautiful and easy for kids to be kids.
Submitted by parent on September 20, 2021

Current parent in the Parent-Child 2's class. My family is in love with this school! The teachers are so nurturing, grounded, and lovely. Truly the kind of people we want our daughter to learn from! We are so grateful to have found this school and cannot wait to see how the outdoor curriculum unfolds as our daughter moves through the grades. Highly recommend for a nurturing, nature-embracing (outdoor), environment for your child. I've also found all the parents I've met to be equally as friendly and down-to-earth.
Submitted by parent on January 15, 2021

We have been attending The Raleigh School for 8 years now in total, starting in the 2’s class in Preschool. The experience has been WAY beyond my expectations. The community that is created by the School, Teachers and Parents creates an environment that is safe, challenging and fun. My children have developed a true love for learning, the social and emotional skill development is exceptional, and the curriculum motivates my kids to engage in projects with such enthusiasm. This is a very challenging season we are in with Covid and I have been beyond impressed with how they have handled the situation and kept our children safe while continuing to educate. I highly recommend!!
Submitted by parent on December 16, 2020

I was really hoping that this school would be the play based, nurturing school they advertised. Unfortunately, We found teachers to be critical and terrible communicators with parents. It is not a diverse or representative community either- you can look at the breakdown in the statistics below. I was shocked at many of the implicit and sometimes explicit assumptions that there would be that a mom would be able to stay home and respond to the many school demands and needs. The head of school literally said in our orientation that they would love for a room “mom” volunteer. “Well it could be a dad, but we all know it won’t.” What types of messages is this sending to those dads? What types of people are educating your children if they are saying this publicly? Certainly not the modern loving school I was hoping for. I was very disappointed in our experience.
Submitted by parent on October 11, 2018

Like others, we also had a horrible experience at TRS preschool. The teacher was shockingly cold and unprofessional, and did everything she could to convince us that our 3 yo had delays. She suggested we ask my pediatrician sister what was wrong with our child. She said they had analyzed our kid's hands and they were too "floppy" (they're not). At one point she asked if there were complications during childbirth (there weren't). She sent emails telling us our daughter had gotten overly upset when she almost fell in the toilet. Her interactions with our kid made it obvious she had made inaccurate assessments about her development. She mentioned different diagnosis including cerebral palsy, autism, spd, hypotonia, and a motor planning disability. Our family went through a living nightmare because of this school. Both the teacher and director showed us graphs of a "typical" child's development and a lower line representing our child's current and future development. We took our daughter to her ped, who offered nothing but reassurance (and was shocked at the situation). After following up with the teacher, she later told me off in the middle of class. We pulled our child out of TRS but still followed up with the professionals they recommended. Ultimately we were out a lot of money, suffered from emotional trauma, and learned there was nothing wrong with our child. She's a thriving, outgoing, brilliant kid who should never have been put through what she was at TRS. We also learned that this is a common theme with this school (as mentioned by almost every professional we met with). TRS's child led philosophy dictates that the teacher not assist the kids with tasks. This creates a stressful environment for kids (and parents) who are still learning skills. The preschool has inappropriately high standards of development (confirmed by the professionals we met). When kids are not meeting expectations they suggest expensive outside intervention. This pushes out any family without money and furthers the school's reputation for elitism and a lack of diversity. TRS also has a policy of choosing friends for the preschoolers. This promotes cliques and exclusion and, in our case, it forced our child to play alone in the classroom. The teacher even suggested not to do play dates with certain kids due to their personalities (one she described as a "loner").
Submitted by parent on October 24, 2016

Our daughter just started kindergarten at TRS. Although we have not been part of this community for very long, we are so pleased. She talks constantly about school and what she is learning. On the weekends, she even asks if it is a school day because she is so anxious to attend. Her teachers are phenomenal. They are so creative in their methods of teaching and truly make learning fun! We have found communication between the teachers and parents to be excellent. Community is fostered among the children, parents and teachers. It has been a top notch experience so far. If you are looking for an alternative to public school, I encourage you to check out TRS. We are so glad that we did!
Submitted by parent on August 26, 2016

We have not been at the school for very long. All I can say is they love it and I am constantly amazed at the quality of teaching and focus on learning. My children jump out of the car each morning and run to their classroom.
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2015

I have had 4 children who have either graduated from or currently attending The Raleigh School. The most amazing thing about this is that my children were in an environment that has fostered a love of learning. Not only is the learning fun but the teachers allow the kids to be kids and use their own creativity. Respect and kindness is expected- not rewarded. No matter where they go to middle school I believe that TRS has set the foundation of how teachers should treat students and how people treat people. This is a foundation that is critical in the early years. No place is perfect- but its close...Love, love this school and feel so fortunate to be a part of it.
Submitted by parent on October 01, 2015

My children have been in the school through the preschool and now in the Elementary School. We continue to see our children being nurtured and grow into confident well rounded students with a passion for learning. The sense of community is a truly great one, and everyone from parents to teachers to support staff are deeply committed to the success of each child! GO TRS!