Rooftop School

What I’d like to know is how the parents are gaming the system to get their kids into this school. I see one school bus dropping off about twenty kids every morning, and hundreds of late model luxury SUV’s causing traffic congestion. It doesn’t make any sense that families who actually live in the neighborhood have very little chance of getting their children enrolled in this school.

With first-​round applications for fall 2013 due soon, schools are on my mind.
Rooftop is one of the few K-​8 schools in the City and has a storied reputation. My impression of it was very different:
I found the classrooms and hallways chaotic and cluttered (I can only imagine what this would do to a child who has ADHD or is on the Spectrum), I thought the Principal was out of her depth and couldn’t answer basic questions during the tour (I understand she has since left the school).
They had very few spots for the after school program and it’s luck of the draw — so if that’s important to you, ask more questions about resources.
I left with more questions than answers and with a slightly negative view of Rooftop.

After elementary, get out of there!
This school used to be amazing. The atmosphere was so positive, and everyone was so loving. But it seems like as the years go on, the worse this schools get — Trust me.
The middle school is terrible now! It wasnt always like this. The kids are so arrogant and obnoxious to the teachers and each other. Many students have left the school in fear for their safety. Many fights break out here, and oh goodness. Just dont come here.
This school is super small. 60 kids per grade. In the 6^th grade, they are split to two classes and share two teachers. In the 7^th and 8^th, all of them share the same teachers! And oh the teachers. Not all of them even know how to teach and handle this mess. And just to add, kids have made their teachers cry, and the teachers didnt know what to do.
There was recently a guard that was fired for sexual abuse with a student and swearing and talking about gays for a whole year. And he was JUST fired! After a whole year! And on a different note, there aren’t electives exactly. Just a required art class.
Pros: great elementary, diverse
Cons: I cant explain in words.
Bottom line: Come here for the elementary, then get the heck out! Or just don’t come at all, many other elementary schools are just as great.

My son Toby attends Rooftop since kindergarten. He loves his school. Rooftop is a small school with only 2 classes per grade. The beauty is also there as my son grows with his schoolmates and are close. The school population are well mixed with varied races: African American, Latinos, Asians & Europeans. Parents are very encouraged to take some volunteer positions inside the classroom or outside. The teachers are nice and usually give good accomodation. The programs are well versed with sufficient sensory motor training, arts as well as different field trips.
I am so happy for Toby to be there.

Rooftop is a wonderful school! It’s a true public-​school success story with a committed faculty, a great principal, fantastic kids and active parents who work hard to support the staff and raise funds to pay for programs the government won’t.
Along with doing a great job with the academics, the school excels with the «extras.» The arts program is integrated into the curriculum at the school, with lots of visting artists (musicians, muralists, dancers and more!) and weekly visual arts instruction in each classroom. The garden program is fantastic with weekly garden classes as part of the science curriculum as well.
The facility itself is a bit shabby and institutional, as is the case with many of our under-​funded public schools. But the faculty and parents do a very good job of making the best with what they’ve got, and it still manages to be a very vibrant and cheerful place. Besides, it’s what goes ON in the building that really counts — not just its appearance.

My favorite school of any I attended… all the way through college! I’ve heard it was never the same after Mrs. Mayeda left, so you might want to look into sending your kids to a private school.