Russell Elementary School

195 School Street

School District

Rumney
Grade

K-8
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:6
Type

public

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 March 31, 2022

Unfortunately the school has gone significantly downhill, especially since the coronavirus pandemic. We have a student at the school and the difference from before and after the pandemic is marked. Apparently the word in the town is that approximately 7 years ago there was an exodus of good teachers at the school after one faction of teachers and administration essentially "lost". Since then good teachers have been leaving and the new hires are, to put it mildly, WOKE. There is a lot of propaganda at the school being passed off as educational material. Political opinions, biases and open favoritism is now the norm. Science? Expect your child to learn that science consists mostly of climate change. About 50% of the lessons concern climate change, and no counter argument or counterfactual material will be tolerated. English language arts? Up until the law changed and muzzled woke teachers, the upper grade's English teacher openly told students that white people are responsible for the world's problems. This is still implied at ever turn in the classroom. An openly transgender student was granted the right to use the bathroom of the other gender and no one in this mostly conservative town was consulted or even made aware of this. There is a gay club whose students are openly favored and protected by the staff, even when they misbehave they receive little to no punishment for their actions as a special class of students. As far as I can determine a lot of this is coming down from the school board which this readers knows for a fact contains at least 1 EXTREMELY liberal member. Extreme, like SF and Portland OR extreme. The principal is highly overreactive and shows favoritism to the students of teachers and workers at the school. This is a small town, if you are new here it will take a long time to figure out who knows who and see the invisible lines of back scratching and looking the other way that is a daily fact of at the school. One child does bad behavior X and gets suspended, another, favored child does X and nothing happens. Some teachers actively denigrate and give extra consequences to students who will not follow the liberal agenda being presented in class. Patriotism, conservative values, and give-and-take argumentation involving facts are not present here. Cannot recommend the school. Surrounding towns may be a better option for moderately liberal, libertarian or conservative parents.
Submitted by parent on August 27, 2018

Overall its a good school with some space for improvement. Most of the teachers are great, they add their own approach and have helped my children learn as well as foster curiosity and allow space for growth. Some of the teachers are less than great and demonstrate poor self control. After care is free and excellent, which really helps working parents. Principle is willing to work on issues that arise even when she finds it to be close to laughing matter. Overall I would recomend this school to anyone.
Submitted by parent on December 10, 2017

I have had 2 kids in this school. Both loved going here. The classes are small and the teachers are very involved with each child's education. Parent involvement is high and the staff is great. Our kids especially enjoyed the after school programs. Great school!
Submitted by parent on November 14, 2017

Vary poor, would rather my kids went anywhere else
Submitted by parent on June 10, 2014

Lacking in educated, motivated and youthful teachers. As a rule the school spends more time on discipline and less on academics, after putting two children through this school, I would never recommend it to anyone, I wish we could have moved away. In fact i think it needs a total overhaul, sexual and harassing behavior is overlooked, the SAU fails to act on and follow through with complaints.
Submitted by parent on May 04, 2014

Russell has small class sizes, great parent involvement, high expectations and best of all my children love to go to school!
Submitted by parent on March 20, 2011

We moved to Rumney, NH in the summer of 2010 after accepting jobs at a local university and spending a year in the lakes region getting to know a variety of towns. A key draw to Rumney was Russell Elementary School. Russell values community, children as academically competent and socially responsible individuals and family engagement. The teachers hold children to high standards and expectations that they use to inform curriculum and meeting individual needs. The administration is supportive of teacher leadership in addition to holding high standards, a key component of an effective teaching environment. Having very different fraternal twins we live and understand the challenge of working with families with children that have diverse learning styles. Rumney honors each as individuals. What has impressed us most is the professionalism of the faculty and their ability to hold high student expectations without creating a culture of fear around outcomes and testing. At Russell, our children have been challenged to be active participants in their community, to think critically and grow as a learner. These experiences that will impact them throughout their lives.
Submitted by parent on April 25, 2010

teaching is sub standard discipline is a joke bullying is everywhere administration gives no help to teachers school board is useless