Ridgewood Elementary School

As a parent, I am sorely disappointed and disgusted by the behavior of the principal, Tia Kleinkopf. Unkind, rude, and uncivil. I'm shocked anyone would talk to another human being the way she does and she's a principal for crying out loud. Doesn't welcome and include families as partners in learning AT ALL.

I don't appreciate attending a PTA meeting in the school gym filled with other parents, and the principal, Patrica Hoyle, addressed the percentage of students that have "statistically missed school". "Studies showed that 36% or whatever percentage of the white students don't miss school; however, the blacks," and I'm just like, did I hear that right? She did it again, again, referring to the African American students as "the blacks that have missed so much school and that they need to improve". As an ally, I should have embarrassed & corrected her in that assembly. This is not a leader; this is who I don't want to lead my children. Just because she had been a principal for 10/20/30 + years, she can continue her education, tone, and humanity just as she holds her staff members accountable. Find another school; she's not out there to treat every kid equally, only selective students.

New leadership and front office staff (with exception of the current office manager) has caused a high turnover with veteran staff. The principal is dismissive and only sees things as black/white. Checks things off the list, but her actions show otherwise with making unprofessional comments and rolling her eyes to gaslight you. As a parent, I am appalled by her behavior. I have seen the Office Manager chewing out a student during the time I stopped in to check in with my child. I am glad my children has transferred to another school in the district.

Education they offer is great, but there’s a lot of focus on social issues as well. If that’s your thing, this school is for you. They offer a gender identity counselor and celebrate not just one day but the entire pride month in June. These things are for all ages, there is some tailoring for the younger kids. Admissions are difficult if you can’t check a diversity box, yet they don’t offer a foreign language. The wait list is a joke. They won’t tell you where you are on the wait list. They won’t give you any indication as to why you got out on the waitlist vs getting admitted. Lots of siblings applying, only a few spots open, anything would be nice. Unfortunately, it was likely do to the child being white male based on the kids who did get in. You do get priority admissions the following year allegedly. We pulled our application. The admissions lady is not the most friendly, thankfully the rest of the school isnt like that, but she’s a huge turn off during the admissions process. The school setting is amazing. Animals, gardens, trails, playgrounds. The curriculum is fantastic and the teachers are super nice. I wanted to love this school so much but it’s just not for my family.

Not the worst but I wouldn’t recommend. The whole school tends to favor the younger grades/new families. Which is completely understandable but they got rid of our carpet because they “didn’t have enough money” but then the little kids get 2 whole new play grounds. The administrators/dean of students also favors the more “rich” kids when it comes to getting in trouble. RCS only wants to protect the kids that are known to be “really rich” and it’s dumb because those kids never get in-trouble even if they did something bad. I also once failed a class because a teacher lost my paper that was half my grade. I had to redo it 3 times because they kept losing it, and at the end i barely passed that class because of it. If you’re a new family, or a family to a younger kid going to RCS, it’s going to seem nice at first. In the end, once they get into RCS middle school, you will understand what I am saying. They’re better off in public school than this school. The teachers always say they “care about your mental health” but at the end they don’t, when you try to get help they shut you down. Better off sending your kid to private school so they don’t have to deal with all these bratty un-humble rich kids.