Escaping Harm, Finding Hope: A Family’s Fight to Leave RCSD

A and her son B are seeking help to move outside of the Rochester City School District (RCSD) to a safer environment. To protect their identities, they will be referred to by their first initials. A and B have endured more hardship than any family should ever have to face. Since B started attending RCSD, he has been subjected to relentless bullying, including racial discrimination (being called a monkey, the n-word, spit on, stabbed with a pencil, and even knocked unconscious on the playground).

B has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) due to learning disabilities, yet RCSD failed to accommodate him academically and also failed to protect him. The situation escalated to a breaking point when B was sexually assaulted by an older student in a school bathroom in 2023. B was brave enough to vocalize his story in 2024. Devastatingly, B recently shared that he had immediately sought help from 3 school officials after the incident (a security guard, a teacher, and the principal). Despite being mandated reporters, none took action—instead, B was told to return to class. When A learned of this, she began an ongoing legal battle against both the individual and the school district.

A is a meticulous record-keeper and a fierce advocate for her son. Her strength is unwavering, even as she faces her own battles. Meanwhile, B has been undergoing a series of surgeries since April 2024 to treat familial adenomatous polyps, a serious medical condition that has greatly impacted his health. To accommodate his health needs, B has been receiving tutoring at home. A refuses to send him back to a school where he suffered in silence as his abuse proliferated without any documentation or accountability from the adults and administration that was supposed to protect him.

A and B’s challenges extend beyond the school system. They live in a dangerous neighborhood where they have faced multiple violent altercations with neighbors, some involving A directly, and even a fatal shooting nearby. They are now seeking funds to move to a safer neighborhood with a better school district. This move would allow B to start high school in an environment where he can trust the adults and peers around him, and where both A and B can find peace of mind as they continue to heal from illnesses and trauma.

Your support can help A and B leave behind a harmful environment and build a new life filled with safety, stability, and hope. Every contribution will go directly toward their relocation and ensuring B has access to the education and care he deserves. Thank you for your kindness and generosity during this critical time.

You can read or listen to the story on WXXI (aired 3/19/25 at 5:42am on 105.9 FM) A student's assault allegations reveal reporting gaps in Rochester schools.

Due to the sensitive nature of their situation we cannot share full details publicly. However, all funds raised will go directly toward a security deposit, moving expenses, and otherwise supporting them during this incredibly difficult time.