About Us
Rincon Valley Charter School Mission Statement

The Rincon Valley Charter School provides excellence in middle school education in a small, secure atmosphere where students hold themselves to high academic and personal standards.

On a small campus located in Eastern Santa Rosa lies our vision of what a successful middle school looks like. This vision includes excellent teachers, high-quality student work. and a supportive school culture.

Students are actively involved in their education. Learning occurs in classrooms where students demonstrate proficiency through problem-solving and complex reasoning. Students participate, cooperate, and collaborate with administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community to demonstrate learning. Our caring teachers emphasize differentiated instruction with all students and honor the rich diversity of students.
Learning for our students includes real-life experiences demonstrated by field trips, school-to-career mentoring, and work experiences. Our students learn using technology and validating the integrity and quality of content.

At RVCS, we value the individual and promote values of empathy, integrity, respect, trust, and leadership. We prepare students for life.

Facts Parents Should Know

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Información en español

School Accountability Report Card

Location: 5305 Dupont Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95409 click for map

Rincon Valley Charter School
Cutting-Edge Technology and an Innovative, Integrated Curriculum in a Small Middle School Setting
 Chartered by the award-winning Rincon Valley Union School District, providing excellence in education on all our campuses

en español

• All RVCS Students Are Issued MacBook Laptops
RVCS features a unique technology-empowered curriculum in which students master commonly- used software in the course of their studies. Every student has instant access to internet research. Interactive lessons on websites automatically adapt to focus on the areas students most need. Students are able to access class notes via the RVCS server, as well as submit homework electronically. This increased access to technology keeps students engaged while giving them invaluable skills to take into high school and college.

• Project-Based, Integrated Curriculum
RVCS faculty work in concert to integrate history, social science and language arts lessons to make connections come alive for students. RVCS students do very little “busy work,” but instead demonstrate their mastery of a topic via projects. Many RVCS are top students when they arrive, but many more find the increased teacher attention and integrated approach helps them improve their grades significantly. The results are dramatic, with RVCS API scores consistently among the highest in the county. Current API: 871

•Block Schedule
Unlike most middle schools, RVCS has a block schedule where students have 100-minute long classes most days. This allows for more depth and complexity in each class session as well as additional opportunities for teacher assistance.

•More Students at RVCS Take Algebra
At RVCS 70% of 8th grade students are enrolled in Algebra 1. Other middle schools enroll only 29% or less of the student body in Algebra 1. Of those 70% taking Algebra 1 at RVCS, 61% scored proficient or advanced in their Algebra 1 CST scores. Per capita, nearly three times as many students take Algebra 1 at RVCS than at neighboring middle schools. A new advanced course has just been added for our most gifted students.

 

• RVCS Focuses on Science
Last year 86% of RVCS 8th graders scored proficient—or higher—in science, nearly three times the national average. RVCS features an inquiry-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) science program. We know 80% of all jobs created in the next few decades will require a background in these fields.

• RVCS Students Experience More Elective Courses
We believe middle school is the perfect time for students to broaden their horizons, thus RVCS students are not limited to one elective per year. All RVCS students receive introductory Spanish and can take Band before school. Students also get to choose from Drama, Technology, RVCS Live (video production), Yearbook, Journalism, Art, and Elective 8th Grade Spanish.

• Inclusive Sports Program
All students are encouraged to play sports at RVCS -- team membership is not limited to a select few. RVCS participates in the Middle School Sports League, competing against private and charter schools throughout the region. Sports include:
• Boys Basketball
• Girls Basketball
• Co-Ed Volleyball
• Co-Ed Cross Country
• Co-Ed Track

• Small School Setting Encourages Responsibility Students are never anonymous at RVCS, but accountable for their behavior. The RVCS curriculum includes a character development component to help eliminate many of the problems plaguing larger schools. The latest research indicates that middle school students are much more likely to thrive in a small school setting, leaving them better prepared and more confident for high school.

•RVCS Students Serve the Community
RVCS community service opportunities empower students and foster leadership skills. Each year students assemble more than 2000 hearts for the Volunteer Center Giving Trees, as well as raising funds to fulfill some of the wishes on those hearts. Other projects include service as classroom assistants and a campaign for Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County.