"Like many young city residents just starting a family, my wife Michele and I were faced with The Big Dilemma when our oldest child was rapidly approaching school age. While our commitment to public education was and is among our central ideals, our faith in the school system in our city was critically lacking. A visit to our local neighborhood school provided a showcase of all the qualities we hoped to avoid in our children's education: A lack of energy, positivity, and creativity among the staff, and the palpable sense that virtually no one in the building wished to be there. When we heard through an acquaintance—one of the RBCS Founding Families—about a new school being opened in dedication to one of the most inspiring writers this city has known, we were needless to say, excited. When this school opened up within a short walk from our house, it seemed like something too good to be true: A tuition-free education based on the principles of diversity, inclusion, and creativity, but with the small class sizes and emphasis on family traditionally seen in private schools. Most pleasing to us was that the heart and soul of this (or any) school-- the teachers-- were bursting with creative energy and love, unencumbered by unchallenging and unimaginative mandated curricula. What we saw from RBCS in that first year was a group of kids, many coming from extraordinarily challenging circumstances, being given a chance to be safe, to succeed, to be loved, and to experience the joy of learning. When we were lucky enough to be selected in the lottery (ensuring that all our children would gain admission to RBCS), we knew we had found our home. Despite the inevitable bumps in the road, we feel that we simply could not have chosen a better situation for our children. Right at the top is a woman who has performed this most noble and far-reaching act in the face of an unspeakable tragedy. I know of no better leader than our current Principal, and I've rarely seen a teaching staff with the dedication, compassion, and creativity that we are so lucky to have in the RBCS family. More than ever, we are confident that our children's successes in life will be thanks in large part to these people, these families, this school. We are among the most blessed in the city of Philadelphia to be able to call RBCS home."

— Darin Kelly, parent of two students, 3^rd and 1^st grades

"We chose Russell Byers for our children because we wanted a school that would not only challenge them academically but would help to mold them into well rounded-individuals. Before my children came to Russell Byers they attended another Philadelphia charter school where they soared academically, but they were not happy, nor did they receive a well-rounded educational experience. Here our children became eager to go to school and participate in daily classroom activities.

The Expeditionary Learning program helps them to relate what they learn in the classroom to the real world. Russell Byers takes advantage of its location through museum visits and exploring the arts Philadelphia has to offer. The school offers them cultural diversity, a rich art program, and a chance to discover their musical abilities. Hands-on experiences help make learning fun and challenging.

With the help of the teachers and administrators, my son was accepted into the Stepping Stones program, and he obtained admission and a scholarship into a private middle school. He is now completing his first year in middle school, and my daughter, who is still a Russell Byers student, looks forward to following in his footsteps.

We searched long and hard for a school that would educate the whole child and allow their minds and spirits to soar, one that would allow us as parents to have a say in the educational process. We were lucky to find Russell Byers."

— Donna and Jeffrey Poole, Sr., parents of a 2006 graduate and a 1^st grader