What is wrong with Rancocas valley higschool (Burlington: low income, house)

[sterling8]

What kind of problem do they have at Rancocas valley high shcool, why is it not a good highschool? I am moving into westampton and would really like to know what i am getting into

[MoorestownResident]

Low test scores, located in Mount Holly, large low income student population, safety concerns. Others say it is has lots of academic quality academic programs and they swear by it. I think RV hurts resale if you are buying something because the perception is reality.

[shannybannany]

Hopefully, you didn't buy yet. Can you afford private school?

Shanny

[Busch Boy]

Doesn't "Rancocas Valley" sound like the name of a school that would be out in California? Just a random question I threw out there.

[Bored2Day]

Westampton is very pretty and affordable. It's a shame that you have to factor in the cost of a private school. I was looking at that area myself. Eastampton and Southampton have their own schools (I believe) but Westampton, Mt Holly and Lumberton all go to Rancocas Valley. Everyone I talked to said that they would not send their kids there.

[MoorestownResident]

Westampton is not the best location though. Parts are near some pretty shady areas. The rule of thumb is you want to be in a town near Rt 38 and not 541. Lumberton is probably the best of the lot but the RV factor will work against you when selling.

[dhanu86]

Burlington County Institute of technology is in westampton, I went there. It's a nice highschool, not to challanging etc. but avoid auto-tech, new teacher every month

[JGN1981]

Hi all,
I'm also looking for information in regard to Rancocas Valley HS. Is it as bad as they say? What makes it a bad school besides low test scores and the fact that they don't spend as much money per pupil. Please elaborate... Is it a good school if your child is in the honors classes? NJ monthly seems to place it pretty low on the list. Is there any hope of it improving?

[MoorestownResident]

There is minimal hope of improving it. Some of the growth of the sending districts in the last few years ie Lumberton will make it even more overcrowded than it is. It is currently overcrowded. Some people swear by the academic programs and the amount of scholarship money the kids get since it has a number of programs not offered by a lot of HSs. While that's fine and dandy, there is no getting around the fact that it is harder to sell a house in the RV district. People with $$$$ don't want to be associated with it, it is true they can send their kids to other schools but it will cost them. I would not buy into any sending district until I knew that progress was being made on SATs, etc., but with the number of low income students going there from Mount Holly that is likely a pipe-dream. Some districts like Lumberton have thought about breaking out of the district but from what I know that is not happening.

[pirate girl]

I was raised in a neighboring district to RV and graduated from high school in the 80s- even back then RV had a horrible reputation- there were lots of fights, the kids seemed different- lots of teen pregnancies, lots of drugs. Just a lower class of people overall. And most people looked at that district as not so good.

I know in the years since Westhampton and even Lumberton have evolved into nicer areas with more of a suburban feel- it's too bad the school hasn't improved along with the feeding townships.