Roots to Grow, Wings to Fly
Philadelphia Daily News columnist Russell Byers believed that the greatest gift you can give a child is roots and wings.
In his columns for the paper, Russell wrote frequently and passionately about how to improve the city of Philadelphia and was most passionate when writing about public education. He thrived on the excitement of city life and believed that a solid education has the power to change the life of a child... thereby changing the world.
Russell died on December 4, 1999, when he was murdered during an attempted robbery. As a tribute to his life, the columnist's family—Laurada Byers, his widow; his daughter, Alison Byers; and his son Russell Byers, Jr.—have founded a charter school that honors Russell's lifelong commitment to civic responsibility, community service and academic excellence.
With tremendous community support, the Russell Byers Charter School opened its doors on September 11, 2001 to 120 students in grades 4K-2nd in the diverse Spring Garden neighborhood of Philadelphia. We are thrilled to be entering our 20th year with over 725 students in grades 4K through 8th and in our current beautiful home at 1911 Arch Street.
The Russell Byers Charter School provides a rigorous education that cultivates self-assurance, love of fresh ideas, and especially, a sense of joy. Our students are creative problem solvers, powerful communicators, and knowledgeable and responsible citizens. They will develop the character and gain the academic skills to truly make their lives and their world better.
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Our Impact
Honoring Russell Byers, our school leads Philadelphia in academic drive and community strength.
485
Students Enrolled Yearly
96%
High School Graduation Rate
20+
Years of Community Service
100%
Commitment to Individual Growth
Early Learning
At RBCS we believe the journey of learning begins at a young age. That’s why we are only one of two schools in Philadelphia to offer a two year, full-day kindergarten program that begins with four-year-olds (4k).
Our Core Values
Expeditionary Learning
Expeditionary Learning is an innovative teaching approach based on the guiding principles of
the famed outdoor educational program, Outward Bound. EL emphasizes high achievement through hands-on learning, character growth, team work and community service.
The Whole Child
At RBCS, we don’t just educate our students. We focus on creating great citizens by teaching resilience and responsibility for learning. It takes a holistic continuum of support to build character and confidence from an early age.
Ours for Life
We measure the true value of a RBCS education by where students go when they leave our doors. Ours for Life is a full-service college-track program that supports our students throughout their education and especially in critical transition points in their academic careers.
Partnerships
RBCS takes full advantage of Philadelphia’s urban resources, using the city as an extension of the classroom. Through these rich partnerships, RBCS offers exciting programs that support our students’ learning experience both in the classroom and in the community.
