The Russell Byers Charter School provides students roots, a safe, stimulating environment with a rigorous academic education grounded in Expeditionary Learning. Our students take responsibility for their learning to become powerful communicators, creative problem solvers, and compassionate, engaged citizens. RBCS students develop wings to succeed in selective schools and embrace a love for learning. RBCS has five distinguishing characteristics that guide our direction as a school. Early Learning: We offer a two year, full-day kindergarten program that begins with four-year-olds (4K). This allows our children to plant roots a full year earlier than their peers. As a result, our 4K students are socially, emotionally, and intellectually ready to move on to 5K and make the most of their RBCS education. Expeditionary Learning: At the core of RBCS' mission is being an educational agent of change as an EL school. At RBCS, students learn by doing. Academic goals are linked to adventure, service work, teamwork, and character development. The Whole Child: We focus on creating great citizens by teaching resilience and responsibility for learning. RBCS students study art, music, physical education, and digital media literacy. Partnerships: RBCS takes full advantage of Philadelphia's urban resources. Partnerships include The School Collective, Playworks, Springboard Collaborative, Dancing Classrooms Philly, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Outward Bound, Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Academy of Natural Sciences, and many more. Ours for Life: We consider RBCS students "Ours for Life” and strive to support them as they continue their education and especially in critical transition points in their academic careers. We work to ensure all students have access to excellent out-of-school-time, academic, and social opportunities to foster the personal growth that results in success in school and in life.