The Long Ridge School

Hi-Overall we are not pleased with what our child received from LRS and the overall management of the school. It’s very dated in terms of the processes. The head and some of the teachers are extremely unprofessional. The tour is wonderful and that’s what won us over. Unfortunately, that was fluff.

After conducting thorough research on the school's staff bios, we discovered that their approach to education is quite limited and the teachers possess inadequate skills in various areas.Unfortunately, the school lacks diversity among both students and teaching staff.The school primarily consists of female teachers, and it was the bios of the administrative staff that initially caught our attention. However, we found their experience to be outdated. They lack resources. Most of the teachers have been in their roles for many years, but they lack innovation and fail to effectively communicate with parents. I would receive frequent emails concerning my child's behavior, indicating a lack of skill in resolving conflicts. Their approach appears biased and one-sided. I even have video evidence supporting this claim, which left me quite surprised. On one occasion, I was informed that my child used an aggressive tone, but later discovered that another student had thrown something, justifying such a response. Unfortunately, I was never informed about the latter incident.The school principal is unqualified for the position, having been a former teacher who somehow made it into the role. She tends to judge people based on appearances and assumes she knows everything without asking questions. Her communication skills are lacking, as well as her ability to handle sensitive issues positively. Overall, she is not adequately qualified for the position. Furthermore, there seems to be no clear chain of command within the school.The school head is running and ruining the show. I have observed previous parents helping out with the children on school grounds, which was never brought to our attention .A few years ago, I witnessed a 4-year-old child accidentally getting kicked by what appeared to be a 10-year-old after running in front of the swings. Although it was an accident, the teacher simply stood by with her arms folded, reassuring the older child that everything was fine, while the 4-year-old was left crying and bleeding. Later, I discovered that the parents of the 10-year-old were part of the school board.The school lacks a robust security system, does not have a full-time nurse on-site, and lacks an AED system.The tuition fees seem disproportionate to the value we receive from the school.It seems that the school may not be aware that open-toe shoes and skirts/dresses above the knees are considered inappropriate attire.

My son graduated last spring from Long Ridge and I feel compelled to share how wonderfully prepared he is for middle school! He grew up at LRS starting in the Beginners program and culminating in graduation where each graduate gives a thoughtful speech reflecting on their time at the school. LRS is nurturing and creative, yet also rigorous. Each child is treated with care and communication is excellent among the school head, teachers and parents. Similarly, the community is vibrant and inclusive. With sensitive and innovative teachers and programming, LRS ensured that my shy child had everything he needed to emerge self-assured and confident academically. Thank you Long Ridge!

Long Ridge is a wonderful elementary school in Stamford, grades nursery through 5th (with preschool as well). Both of our children went there and really benefited from the small class size, dedicated teachers and unique programs including Spanish, music, and art. The school instilled a love of learning which followed them to middle school and beyond and contributed to their lifelong success. Our granddaughter now goes to Long Ridge and loves it, she has made a lot of close friends and looks forward to class (and after school activities) each day.

The teachers and staff at the Long Ridge School truly know how to engage students in learning. There is something special to be said about the multi-age grouping in each classroom. The younger children learn from the older children and the older children learn compassion toward the younger children. The way the curriculum and schedule are designed, our (2) children are learning age-appropriate material and are never held back academically. In fact, something my husband and I appreciate about the teaching at Long Ridge is that they will recognize when a child can be pushed further along in their learning. At the same time, the teachers also pay close attention to how each child is learning, academically, socially, and emotionally and are always there to provide support and strategies as needed. Activities and classes are set up during the day so that children from all age groups come together for plenty of social interaction. There is a wonderful sense of community among the teachers, staff, and students.