The Rubicon Academy

The school leaders and staff personalize and individualize the learning experience for each student which allows students to progress as far as they are able without age or grade level boundaries. The school has revisited their mission to reflect their use of a personalized curriculum to promote students to progress as far as they are able without age or grade level boundaries. E.D. Hirsch's Core Knowledge Sequence is the basis of the school's innovative individualized curriculum. The school culture reflects the dedication of work in the best interest of students' academic well-being with individualized instruction.

The support staff members are experts in their respective fields of study and expose students to a wealth of real world experiences. Each member of the school's support staff adds significant value to the school's vision and commitment to providing a challenging and enjoyable learning experience to its students by merging real-world experiences into the school's dynamic curriculum. In addition to working at the Rubicon Academy, the art teacher works with the Woodlands Art League and the Woodland Waterway Art Festival. In like manner, Rubicon's Robotics teacher is a part-time Robotics teacher at the University of Houston. The Spanish teacher also teaches at Lone Star College, and the math teacher/tutor is a retired public school teacher and curriculum writer.

The school advocates acceleration, creative and critical thinking and problem solving through its use of the National Standards, Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), the Core Knowledge curriculum and the Texas Tech online curriculum. Creative and critical thinking are emphasized at the Rubicon Academy through their Robotics and Educational Lego programs. These initiatives not only promote teamwork, they enable students to hone their critical and higher order thinking skills. Use of the Core Knowledge Sequence affords students the opportunity to learn the important knowledge they will need to make significant progress in school and be effective in society. The Core Knowledge Sequence is aligned to the TEKS and is an excellent companion piece to the National Standards. Rubicon's school culture and climate are aligned with the campus' vision of acceleration, creative and critical thinking and problem solving.

With the creation of the Rubicon Academy, the director is able to serve gifted and talented students whose ages range from 2 to 15 years old. The defining characteristics of the school are academic excellence, leadership and character development, and emphasis on the fine arts. The Rubicon Academy's director provides exemplary instructional leadership to the school culture which honors learning. The Academy promotes quality instruction by fostering an academic learning climate and actively supporting teaching and learning.

The strong sense of family and team spirit permeates throughout the school and adds a unique richness to the school's multiage culture and strengthens each student's sense of self-reliance. Rubicon Academy exemplifies a strong sense of family and team spirit, as evidenced by students helping and encouraging each other, as well as teachers helping students to be their personal best. The school has created a learning environment for students that nurtures a sense of caring, and belonging is evident in every facet of the work of the school. Successful schools have positive and productive working relationships that are established among students, support staff and administrators.

My child has completed his preK year at The Rubicon Academy. I am so impressed with how much he has learned this past year. We started the year not knowing how to write very well, only knowing a few site words and not really have any math skills. Now he has excellent penmanship, can read the I can read books, learned basic math, time and money facts. I never expected him to be able to paint a picture and have it earn a prize at the Livestock Show and Rodeo or to become a proficient lego builder/problem solver. I can't express enough gratitude to the teachers at The Academy for helping my son become the best that he can be.

The community feeling of the Rubicon Academy is enhanced by the multiage classrooms and home style setting of the building and grounds. It encourages the children and faculty to treat each other as family and they do. You can tell that they all truly value each other.

The caring and involved attitude of the teachers at The Rubicon Academy combined with the small class size allows every child to cultivate their skills and interests.

The Rubicon Academy offers an exemplary atmosphere for learning and creative thinking. With their individualized curriculum and outstanding fine arts program, my child has excelled far beyond his age mates in his academic, critical skills and problem solving abilities.

The exemplary leadership and vision of the school's director has created an educational program of excellence for its award winning gifted students. The school's director has translated her vision to establish a school which gives families an alternative to the education offered in public schools into reality.

First off, your child would be better off just staying in public school. My Family wasted so much money sending our child to the school, for a poor education. There is a reason enrollment is down, it's because when ever you leave the academy your child is not ready for public school or the next school they go to. In most cases, it is an extremely difficult transition. Favoritism for certain students is common, and it is mostly the children who have been paying out the wazoo for more than 2 or 3 years. Are you sick of the Texas tests? Well, you don't get a break here. You train for PSIA, which is another TAKS test, except you get a medal for doing it, if your good. This is one thing I will give the academy credit for though, excellent ratings with PSIA. But, where does that get you in school, or in life? Nowhere, the worse for wear medals end up going in a cheap shadow box or in the trash, unless it's a state medal. You can also say, I won PSIA, to which the reaction will be what's PSIA? And also, all of this personalized instruction time? Well, the child's teacher is actually the books you pay 1,000 plus dollars a year for. Unless, thats changed recently, which I highly doubt. I just find it funny that Rubicon has been given all 5 star ratings. I'm not trying to insult anyone, I just dont want more people to have to spend $12,000 for a load of baloney. Don't be like our Family, that money would have been put to better use elsewhere.

This is my son's third year at The Rubicon Academy. He is now in the all day classroom and is doing a terrific job. At only 4 years old, he has already begun to master many of his site words, his handwriting is incredible for his age, and he is starting to master basic math skills. He is achieving what many 6 year old in the regular classroom have just started to learn. He is also doing well learning his Spanish (he enjoys counting and singing songs in Spanish) and playing his recorder. One of his paintings was entered into the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as well. He also enjoys his Lego robotics class tremendously and that has helped with his fine motor skills and problem solving skills. I am very pleased with the progress he is making in school and with how wonderful his teachers are.

We are thrilled to have discovered The Rubicon Academy. My child is finally being engaged and challenged academically. My child enjoys the numerous field trips that give him great exposure to the arts. I am impressed by my son's progress in the school's fine arts program. He pulls out his flute and starts playing tunes at every opportunity. He also loves to show off his Spanish to me. As a Spanish teacher myself, I am impressed with his knowledge and accent after only 2 years. My child also has a wonderful report with his teacher, who is a jewel. I am delighted by the progress my son has made during his time at The Academy.

We were drawn to The Rubicon Academy because of the small class sizes and individualized teaching. Although our son has only been enrolled for a couple of months, we are amazed at the progress he has made, especially in reading and learning to play the recorder. We have been very impressed with the well rounded curriculum including the fine arts program and extracurricular activities. Our son has been excited about his experience and we are looking forward to the rest of this year and many more years to come at The Rubicon Academy.

Our boys started in Ms. McConnell’s preschool class this year and love their introduction to school. They are thriving with the structured learning activities and look forward to each new educational experience. We especially love the new interactive learning boards and plan to donate additional funds for such innovative learning modalities.

I could not be more thrilled with our experience at The Rubicon Academy. My child is thriving. Shi is lovingly cared for, appropriately challenged and is evolving as a well rounded, healthy, considerate child. I am so happy we happened upon the Rubicon. We are very grateful for all they have done for our daughter.

We were concerned about the education our son was getting at the public school for the past 2 years. Yes, we saw some work being done, but I feel he was not being pushed or motivated enough to get the best out of him. A few years back our son was in a large private school with a great reputation, yet, I could see him under allot of stress and being "left back" by the teachers, since they are not able to put enough attention to him with such a large class room. Getting him enrolled to the Rubicon Academy was a major decision for us because it’s a small school and different than most schools we know, but after a couple of interviews with Dr. Roberts I could sense her passion for teaching, the many years of experience she has and most importantly her understanding of working with kids with special learning needs. Our son needed this special attention and patience that Dr. Roberts has provided him. It’s been just 2 months since he started at the Rubicon Academy and I'm so happy of the big changes and amazing progress I see in him. He is happy to go to school every day. Now I know that this difficult decision we faced will pay off for many years to come. I believe I will remember my boy "before Rubicon" and "after Rubicon"... I know my son has a big future!

One of the many reasons we chose Rubicon academy was its challenging, motivating curriculum that has certainly satisfied our daughter's curiosity. The high teacher-student ratio assures one-on-one attention tailored to her particular needs and degrees of advance in each of the areas. Our daughter is extremely happy and stimulated with her teachers and peers and asks to be at school everyday. What a blessing this is! Because of it's size, teachers, students and parents are very well connected. The teacher staff is very friendly and a joy to be around. This has been very exciting for all of us and we feel that this has been the best decision for our daughter's education. We look forward to many years with Rubicon!!

My son has been going to the Rubicon Academy for the past three years. Rubicon has much to offer to its students. They participate in many activities including Robotics, Spanish, computer science, competition in various subjects including math and writing.
It’s a great place for advanced kids and besides academics, they learn:
- Time management: It’s a pleasant surprise to see how much kids can accomplish if we keep the expectations high while keeping the learning fun.
- Team Work
We will be forever grateful to the director, Dr. Roberts and all the other teachers for what they have done for our son.

At Rubicon he has learned many things including time management, a positive attitude to work, perseverance and respect. It is a top-notch school and I sincerely recommend it for all gifted kids.

Many things initially drew me to The Rubicon Academy. First, they have an excellent reputation for academic success, music instruction, Spanish, art appreciation and for their participation in many extracurricular activities that enhance instruction and expand real world knowledge. My child thoroughly enjoys every aspect of her school day. She is challenged in many different areas and she loves it. We really enjoy the weekly library trips, Main Street Theatre, Jones Hall performance, as well as the performance at the Rockets game. She has made significant progress in all areas. We are very proud of her and of everyone at The Rubicon Academy.

Our son Devon has attended The Rubicon Academy for 6 years. He was extremely bored and unchallenged in 2nd grade at another school. He tested very well in math but his verbal skills were not as high. When he started attending Rubicon he was able to move ahead at his own pace in math. Today at 14 he has finished pre-cal and is looking forward to AP Calculus. In one year his test scores on the verbal part of the Iowa test increased significantly. Devon has won 1st place in Math at state in PSIA for 2 years in a row. He has medaled in many other subjects as well. He has learned to play the flute beautifully and enjoyed playing at Jones Hall many times with The Rubicon Academy. His SAT score last year was in the top percentile of the Duke TIPS program earning him an invitation to a special awards program at Duke University. He was also picked to attend a national leadership program. While Devon is a very bright person I don’t feel he would have achieved any of these awards and levels of recognition without the special atmosphere at Rubicon. This school prides its self on helping gifted youngsters move as far ahead as they are capable of. I also loved the art and arts and crafts programs. We have some lovely stained glass items in our home thanks to Ms. McConnell. Rubicon creates a warm family of students and an extremely safe, nurturing experience for my son with a top notch academic program. When you are surrounded by other gifted students you don’t “dumb down” to fit in, you race to see whom is the best. My only wish is that we had found Rubicon earlier so his sister could have had this advantage.

The Rubicon Academy has been an absolute blessing for our child. The structure, curriculum, and especially the faculty have been an ideal setting. Our son was complacent at his previous school and falling short of maximizing his academic needs. He is now challenged on a daily basis and does so within an environment that recognizes GT students. The faculty and instruction is thorough and focused directly on the students. We couldn’t be happier!

My wife and I could not be more pleased with Rubicon. Our children are very motivated and focused students. The school works out well with our conservative lifestyle. I would recommend Rubicon to anyone who wants their children to succeed.

Eight years ago, I was looking for a private school that would provide not only a sheltered environment, but also had a heavy focus on student success. I found both at Rubicon. My daughter was having a hard time with the public school system and coming from a conservative family, I knew that was not where I wanted her to stay. My employee suggested Rubicon and after talking with Dr. Roberts, I knew I had found the right place. I love the small class size, the one on one attention, the leadership skills that are emphasized and the strict curriculum. The school teaches Spanish, music, and art four days a week and the attention to detail, down to the educational field trips is unbeatable. All three of my children attend Rubicon and I couldn't feel happier about their future success!

My daughter has just completed her first year at Rubicon Academy. We could not be more pleased with how she is progressing. The student/teacher ratio has allowed her to reach her potential in her course work as well as music and art. We could not imagine enrolling her anywhere else.

The Rubicon academy is a wonderful school. I’ve been going to it for eight years. I am in the 8th grade. It is wonderful in every aspect. I’ve been to several schools and this one was the best school I could ever dream about. There is no bullying and the teachers take their time and work with students individually. Everyone at the school is kind and does not leave anyone out. It is a wonderful education that prepares you for the future. There are several activities such as field trips, art classes, arts and crafts for all grades, PE, and much more.

Our son Devon has attended The Rubicon Academy for 6 years. He was extremely bored and unchallenged in 2nd grade at another school. He tested very well in math but his verbal skills were not as high. When he started attending Rubicon he was able to move ahead at his own pace in math. Today at 14 he has finished pre-cal and is looking forward to AP Calculus. In one year his test scores on the verbal part of the Iowa test increased significantly. Devon has won 1st place in Math at state in PSIA for 2 years in a row. He has medaled in many other subjects as well. He has learned to play the flute beautifully and enjoyed playing at Jones Hall many times with The Rubicon Academy. His SAT score last year was in the top percentile of the Duke TIPS program earning him an invitation to a special awards program at Duke University. He was also picked to attend a national leadership program. While Devon is a very bright person I don’t feel he would have achieved any of these awards and levels of recognition without the special atmosphere at Rubicon. This school prides its self on helping gifted youngsters move as far ahead as they are capable of. I also loved the art and arts and crafts programs. We have some lovely stained glass items in our home thanks to Ms. McConnell. Rubicon creates a warm family of students and an extremely safe, nurturing experience for my son with a top notch academic program. When you are surrounded by other gifted students you don’t “dumb down” to fit in, you race to see whom is the best. My only wish is that we had found Rubicon earlier so his sister could have had this advantage.

The Rubicon Academy is an accelerated school, in which children are not held back by large classes. Every child works at his or her own pace, and can get as far ahead as they desire. Speaking for myself, I am in 7th grade doing various high school courses. I started at The Rubicon Academy when I was entering 5th grade, in 2008. Immediately my family and I saw a difference in my vocabulary, math skills, and time management. We also noticed how I seemed more involved in political events, such as the 2008 elections. Our teacher, Dr. Franci Roberts, had us watch the debates and write notes on them. She then listened to each of our opinions, and we compared and contrasted views on which president had better ideas on the hundreds of issues our country was facing, including the economic recession, the rising gas prices, and health care for American residents. I tested into Pre-Algebra in 5th grade, and now, in 7th grade, I am finishing Algebra 2. I hope to get into the Academy of Science and Technology, a magnet school to College Park High School, going into Calculus and Spanish 4.

Both of my children have attended The Rubicon Academy. I see that they are always stimulated and are so much more advanced in all areas compared to other children their age. They have been exposed to all types of activities that normal children don’t get to experience. They get to excel at their pace, which again keeps them interested in what they are learning. I have been here so long at this school that I cry at all the graduations and other school activities, for I have not only watched my two sons grow, but I have seen these young kids mature and grow into the best they can be with no potential left to unearth. It has been an amazing experience to be a parent here, knowing my kids are getting the best education in the world.

My daughter has just completed her first year at Rubicon Academy. We could not be more pleased with how she is progressing. The student/teacher ratio has allowed her to reach her potential in her course work as well as music and art. We could not imagine enrolling her anywhere else. –Jake L

My granddaughter, Isabel, has truly amazed her grandpa and our whole family. It must be because of all the programs offered, including advanced writing, art and music at The Rubicon Academy – she has excelled and blossomed. She is special!

My daughter Kylah started The Rubicon Academy the last nine weeks of the 2010-2011 school year. After about two weeks, she had made tremendous progress and we knew this was the school for Kylah. Rubicon offers many different aspects of education that she would have otherwise not experienced for many more years. Kylah fell in love immediately; she stated "the teachers and staff are nice and friendly". Kylah has had the opportunity to learn everything from Art to World History in Kindergarten. I felt very welcome to the school as Dr. Roberts the director and Mrs.Gunnell, the teacher assisted me in understanding how the school operates. We are very happy about the choice we made for our daughter and look forward to each and every school year

My son has been at The Rubicon Academy for the past year. I have been very impressed with how much he has learned and how far he has come. He is in the two/three year old class (he is two) and knows his letters, shapes, numbers and colors. He can count up to 13 by himself, but with help can count up to 20. He can also count to 13 in Spanish, sing songs in Spanish and knows many of the colors in Spanish. He has learned much more this past year then I would ever have been able to teach him at home by myself or in traditional daycare/preschool.

His socialization skills have also far exceeded my expectations. He plays well with the other children at the school-ranging from 3-14 years. He is able to introduce himself to new people and ask their names as well. The children in the school all get along so well together, with the older children taking time to help and play with the younger children. Usually older preteen children ignore the younger age groups, but not at this school. The older children pride themselves on being mentors to the younger classes. When I go visit, I am always warmly welcomed, knowing all the children and parents by name, and all of them knowing my son and me.

Being part of The Rubicon is the best learning and socializing experience I could imagine for my son.

If you feel your child is not reaching his potential, or is getting lost in the crowd in a classroom of over 25 students, look no further than Rubicon Academy. Because of limited classroom size, the teachers have the ability to focus in on the skills, talents and gifts of all students, not just the “needy.” This specialized treatment allows for acceleration if needed, or patience and further studies if indicated. Our son has grown far beyond our expectations this school year. We, as well as our son, look forward to the years to come at Rubicon, along with his newly acquired self confidence and happiness that comes with the acceptance of knowing that he can do it!

The Rubicon Academy has been an absolute blessing for our child. The structure, curriculum, and especially the faculty have been an ideal setting. Our son was complacent at his previous school and falling short of maximizing his academic needs. He is now challenged on a daily basis and does so within an environment that recognizes GT students. The faculty and instruction is thorough and focused directly on the students. We couldn’t be happier!

Rubicon finished first in state last year and second this year after participating in the Private School Scholastic Competition (PSIA) for schools its size. That’s because
Rubicon provides its students individualized attention and personalized instruction so that they fulfill the full measure of their potential