Teachers Micromanage students--no repercussions for violence. Okay, education at best, Budgeting problems. Overpriced tuition for the quality of the education that you receive. You pay 18 grand to receive teachers who don't know what they're doing and a building that looks like it's from the 1980s that was never bothered to be renovated. There are a few kids that have shown violent tendencies, with the principal not seeming to care about the other kid's safety. But overall, it is not a horrible school but it has a few major flaws. read more

I love this school I used to go their since pre-JK And the teacher ps are really kind I will always have a special place of this school in my heart read more

Our children are in their sixth year attending RVS. In addition to the school curriculum, they have attended the integrated before and after school care and participated in the summer care program. We were referred to the school by friends and it was convenient during our relocation to a nearby neighbourhood. We weren't necessarily committed to staying at the school long-term, but the character of the institution, small class sizes, thoughtful programming and genuine staff convinced us that the education offered by the school is notably superior to most other available options. The school has undergone significant changes since our enrolment, from the facility arrangement to the programming to the leadership. Granted, RVS is relatively young, but it has evolved immensely in the past few years to establish a clear identity and future vision, with strong leadership at the helm. The school prides itself on fostering contributive, well-rounded members of society who think critically, are inquisitive, and generally strive to improve the world around them. Bold words, perhaps, but this school is developing future leaders. We feel that RVS is setting our children up to be successful in life, regardless of the path they choose. No educational institution is perfect. Under previous leadership and ill-suited instruction, one of our children struggled behaviourally. During this period we did not feel supported by the school, nor that the needs of our child was its priority. This very nearly led to our departure from RVS. However, through changes to leadership and staff, the school has addressed the root cause of our concerns. The current leadership and staff are generally excellent and are appropriately aligned with the school priorities and objectives, with the best interests of the students at the forefront. It is not inexpensive to have our children attend this school, but we are fortunate to be in a position where it is an option for us. We have decided to prioritize their development with confidence that the future returns will be well worth the investment. We highly recommend that those evaluating the educational options for their children in the Calgary area strongly consider RVS as a top candidate. read more

Our grandson is in his 5th year of attending River Valley School. The entire experience has been such a positive and rewarding time in his life. Starting in Kindergarten he has grown in his academic achievements, his social development, and his personal level of commitment and dedication. Each year his teachers, and the staff at the Kids Club childcare, have excelled in creating a positive and energetic atmosphere. The Administration at River Valley School brings a level of professionalism and inviting participation to the entire RVS community - staff, students and parents. If you are considering options for a successful outcome for your child's education and future then you need to check out River Valley School. I can guarantee you will be happy you did. read more

It's been couple of years my kids go to the school. the teachers are fantastic and very nice but the management no so much. The bussing services is very poor with no flexibilty what so ever. The management is not always cooperative and often happens that you have to live with what ever is being decided at school. I wish I could find a reason to keep my children in this school but decised to change thier school. I hope with the new campus, the satff up enough to be able to be more flexilble and be able to service better. read more

I am so happy that my son has been at River Valley this past year. He has grown so much as a person this year. The school focuses on values and fair play. He has learned so much! Best decision I ever made. read more

If your child is gifted or average, this is not the school for you. The focus of the school has, over the last two years, shifted to being the go-to school for "challenged" children (emotionally, behaviourally, academically) which the school touts as being "inclusive" but which translates to having a percentage of "challenged" children that is more than double the average in Alberta. This takes away time from the kids who can muddle through the work on their own, which means you are paying for a private school education but your child is getting the same attention as a child in a class of 31 students (my other child is in public school and this is the number in his class). My other huge complaint is that the Head of School is in utter denial about the presence of bullying. Every school has it; how the school reacts to it is how I judge the school. At River Valley, I was told, "There is NO bullying at this school. NO parent has ever told me there is bullying at this school," by the Head of School. This was quite false as several parents had confided in me that they had discussed that their child was being bullied with the Head of School. (I was not reporting that my child was being bullied; I was reporting that my child had reported to me that another child was being bullied.) The school couldn't even call Anti-Bullying Day by its name - they called it "Friendship Day" instead. As a final note, I will tell you that the Head of School regularly reads emails from parents to their child's teacher and from the teacher to the parents (and she is not cc'd on them). We are leaving after three years. Some of our favorite teachers have left or are leaving. This school is changing its character and I do not think it is for the good of the majority of the students who are there. read more

This has been an incredibly bittersweet experience. We are grateful that our daughter was accepted into the Arrowsmith Program and we appreciate the teaching and help that she has received from her teachers. But it's been extremely painful that our son has been turned down over the past three years. To offer to help one child in a family and turn down their sibling makes it incredibly difficult for the whole family. read more