Academic Support

RPA is designed for students that are invested in their education; they are motivated, organized, and take responsibility for their academic success. But RPA is invested too and offers many resources to keep students on track to success.

A Faculty Advisor

Every student at RPA has an advisor. This is the student’s and family’s first and main contact at RPA. Your student’s advisor will help with scheduling, academic concerns, and with “learning the ropes” as RPA runs a little differently than most schools. Most student questions will be answered by the advisor, who is empowered to direct the conversation and figure out solutions.

Learning Labs

RPA’s learning labs are open throughout the day for students to research, write, and get help from staff. There are laptop computers available for checkout, in addition to desktop computers in each working space.

Office Hours

RPA staff love to work with students who want additional help or insight into their classes. Each of our teaching staff has office hours available for student appointments, and they are available by email or text as well.

NHS Tutors

RPA has a very active National Honor Society (NHS). NHS students are required to tutor other students, and our NHS students work hard to help support other students. In fact, peer tutoring is such a part of the RPA culture that one of our students worked with our staff to create this Android tutoring app (very much like the Uber app) so that students and tutors can connect easily in real time.

Recovery Class

Each January term and June term, we offer a recovery class for students to do work that they were unable to complete during the previous term. While they are unable to participate in our other (pretty cool) offerings during J Terms, they do have the chance to salvage their grades instead of taking the entire class over.

Parenting a middle or high school student can be a different experience than parenting younger children. Here are some ways parents and other adults can help students maintain their academic rigor.

Top Ten Ways To Support Your Student

1. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Talk with your student about how they are doing. Ask specific questions. For example, instead of asking “How was school today?” ask “Have you finished your English paper?”
2. Talk with your student’s teachers. At RPA you have the ability to call, email, text or meet with your student’s teachers. Their contact information is located on the RPA Homepage under “Parent Tools.”
3. Stay on top of your student’s progress. It easier to catch a small deficit at the beginning of the semester then dig out of big hole at the end of the semester. You can check your student’s progress by looking up their grades on Alma.
4. Make contact with your student’s advisor. Your student’s advisor should be your main contact at RPA if you have questions about your student’s performance.
5. Encourage students to advocate for themselves. Part of college preparedness at RPA is encouraging students to learn how to ask for help and clarification. Teachers will work in partnership with your student, but students are encouraged to communicate clearly with teachers about their needs.
6. Check your student’s attendance. Consistent attendance is essential for academic success. You can check their attendance by logging into Alma.
7. Monitor homework time. Make sure that your student sets aside time each evening to do homework.
8. Help your student organize their time. They may have three assignments due one week and none the following week. Letting work pile up will affect timeliness and quality of work.
9. Focus on the positive. Giving students praise is much more rewarding than criticizing. Give yourself a goal each day of giving specific, positive feedback to your student. Remember that praising their process and their hard work is more effective than praising them for being smart.
10. Keep your student busy. Students that have a schedule of positive extracurricular activities (sports, dance, volunteering, etc.) are more academically successful. Help them find activities or volunteer positions that keep them engaged in the world around them.

We encourage you to read the following article for more information: Supporting Your Teen’s Academic Success