Dickey Prairie Elementary School

Molalla River Academy is a true gem in our community. We were prepared to move out of Molalla to find better schools, only to discover that this incredible school is on our backyard. Students at MRA are getting an educational experience similar to some of the top private schools in Portland, in a free public charter school. MRA has a music program that is unlike any other. Every student learns to read music and play a variety of instruments, as well as composition and music history. The PE program allows all students to grow and appreciate health and wellness, while building confidence and knowledge of the human body. MRA offers a school garden that all students participate in, growing and eating the produce they start from seed. The teachers at MRA are not only dedicated to their craft, but also to meeting each student where they are. They not only teach academics, but also habits of mind, character building, and skills for lifelong learning. Keep in mind that negative reviews of any school are often based on personal, biased experiences. We live in a time where schools are expected to take on parental responsibility, with schools being blamed for conflict and behavior, while dealing with unreasonable parent expectations. Having children that have attended MRA and moved on to high school, I can say that we never experienced what the other reviewer claims. While that may be their experience, please take such reviews with a grain of salt. Visit the school, take a tour, and observe the teachers. My only wish is that this school was bigger, so that more students in the community could experience this kind of education!