Alumni Name: Diamari Simmons
Graduation Year: 2013
Current Position: Crime Scene Detective with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
Diamari Simmons was a graduate of RCSA’s class of 2013. She continued her education with the Florida State College of Jacksonville and earned an Associate’s in Arts and an Associate's in Science in Criminal Justice. She joined the police academy track program from 2013-2015 where she earned her basic law enforcement training certification. In December of 2016, she joined the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and became a police officer. She was assigned to work the night shift patrolling the Arlington area until November of 2020 where she transferred to the Crime Scene Unit. In her current position, she assists other officers and detectives which include the Homicide Unit, Cold Case Unit, Robbery and Violent Crime Unit, and Special Assault Unit, by processing the scene and collecting evidence. Some of the calls she responds to throughout the city includes homicides, death investigations, shootings, robberies, and burglaries. While working with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, she continued her education and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a Minor is Psychology at the University of North Florida. She is currently in school working towards a Master’s in Criminal Justice at the University of North Florida.
In August, we hosted our annual Alumni BBQ, providing a great opportunity for alumni to reconnect and expand their networks. We also held our first Alumni Association Board meeting, with members Mikaila Mangubat, Ugur Barindik, and Sel Buyuksarac. If any alumni are interested in volunteering on the board, please send your resume to alumni@rivercityscience.org.
Additionally, Matthew Davis, Class of 2017, recently spoke to our current high school students about his college journey and career as a Deputy Sheriff. His insights were incredibly valuable for helping students plan for their futures.
We’re kicking off our alumni college campus visits soon, providing a great opportunity to reconnect with our graduates. We're also introducing a new alumni networking series where one of our alumni will host a gathering and share insights about their career journey. These events will be held at various venues, such as local coffee shops, restaurants, or libraries, with attendees covering their own expenses. Keep an eye out for the announcement of our first event! Don’t forget, our annual holiday dinner is coming up in December as well.
Kandace Leslie (RCSA Class of 2015)
Fifteen years have passed since the first time I stepped foot into RCSA. Back then it was just a warehouse by an overpass, with a couple trailers out back. Inside was a basketball court lined with blue double-stacked lockers and classroom doors, and the rain pounded so loud on the metal roof that you could hardly hear the person standing in front of you. My mom told me "This is the kind of school you need to go to in order to stay out of trouble." I wasn't sure what to expect going into sixth grade, but this was not it. It was the strangest school I'd ever seen, but it didn't take me long to realize that it was also filled with the happiest people. Girls were walking around arm-in-arm laughing, there were boys shooting hoops and calling their friends over to join them- even the teachers all were smiling.
RCSA has grown a lot more in the time that I've been gone, and I've grown a lot, too, but I wouldn't change my experience there for anything. It was incredibly unique and exceptional. I made countless memories and met so many amazing people- people who became like a second family to me. Some of those people are settling down with their own families now, some chasing their passions...some who moved, some who stayed, and some who have already passed on from this world (may they rest in peace). Through all the changes, though, one thing remains the same: RCSA is a special place, and it's because of the people growing inside it-- right down to the roots.
I don't know who I would be now if I had never stepped foot in that warehouse all those years ago, and I can't say I never got in any trouble either, but I'm proud of who I am today and I have the RCSA family to thank for that. I'm so grateful for the time I had there- for all the lessons I learned and the opportunities we were given, but especially for the friendships, the teachers, and the memories made along the way. I feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of such an experience. Shout out to the Class of 2015-- hang in there, we've come a long way.
Join RCSA for a Night with the Jacksonville Icemen!
Come out on Friday, November 15th at 7pm for the first-ever RCSA Night as the Icemen take on the Atlanta Gladiators. Enjoy a fun night with your RCSA community and take part in post-game activities like taking a hockey shot on the ice and a photo! Special events include RCSA Teacher of the Year and Student Recognitions. Dr. T will also drop the puck to open the game, and we have other RCSA surprises in store!
From Student to Teacher: Moriah Taylor '15 Honored as Teacher of the Year
Our alumni, Moriah Taylor, from the class of 2015, has been honored as the Teacher of the Year at our RCSA Middle and High campus. We're incredibly proud of her achievements and the positive impact she's making on our community!
RCSA Middle-High Earns Platinum Status on the AP Honor Roll!
RCSA Middle-High has been recognized on the AP Honor Roll with Platinum status, an exciting upgrade from last year's Gold! This prestigious honor is based on the performance data of our graduating seniors, reflecting their success over their four-year high school journey.
92% of our graduating seniors last year took an AP exam while in high school, and 58% graduated passing at least 1 AP exam, and headed to college with college credit.
Go Rockets!
RCSA Schools Lead the Way: Top Niche Rankings for 2024!
We are proud to announce that RCSA schools continue to lead the way according to Niche rankings!
RCSA Middle-High is #1 Charter Middle and High School in Duval County and the Jacksonville area!
RCSA Mandarin is #1 Charter Elementary School in Duval County and the Jacksonville area, and #2 Charter Middle School in Duval County and the Jacksonville area!
RCSA Elementary is #2 Charter Elementary School in Duval County and the Jacksonville area!
RCSA Intracoastal is #3 Charter Elementary and Middle School in Duval County, and #4 Charter Elementary and Middle School in the Jacksonville area!
…and many more incredible rankings across our campuses!
RCSA Middle and High Named 2023-2024 School of Excellence!
We are thrilled to announce that RCSA Middle and High has been named a 2023-2024 School of Excellence by the Florida Department of Education! Only three combination schools received this prestigious title, and we are honored to be one of them. Thank you to our staff, students, and community for making this achievement possible!
Congratulations to Delaney D.!
We are incredibly proud to announce that one of our seniors, Delaney Dixon, has qualified as a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist! This is a huge achievement, and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate her hard work and dedication.
Let’s all congratulate Delaney on this outstanding accomplishment!