Privacy Statement

Last updated: February 5, 2026.

Overview

RateMyTeachers.org is designed to be a low-data, high-trust community resource. The site helps students, families, and educators understand classroom experiences through ratings and written reviews. We do not require accounts, we do not ask for student names, and we do not sell personal information. We do collect and store the content that people submit so the directory can function, along with limited technical data that helps us keep the platform secure and reliable. We aim to collect only what we need for the directory to work.

This statement explains how information moves through the site when you browse, search, and submit reviews or teacher entries. It also explains how public content works, what protections we apply, and how to request changes or removals. If you use RateMyTeachers.org, you agree to the practices described here.

Scope and Definitions

This Privacy Statement applies to RateMyTeachers.org and any pages or features that link to it. It covers information we collect directly from you, information you provide through reviews or submissions, and information collected automatically when you access the site. "Information" in this statement includes content you submit, technical data like IP addresses and device details, and any messages you send to us. "Public content" means information that is visible to anyone who visits the site.

Information You Provide

The core data on RateMyTeachers.org comes from user submissions. When you write a review or submit a teacher, you choose what to share. We ask for information that helps other users understand the classroom experience and locate the correct teacher or school. We do not ask for your name, email address, phone number, or any student identifiers as part of the review process.

When you submit a review, we collect the information you enter in the form. This includes the course name or level, the grade you received (if you choose to share it), ratings across several teaching criteria, and a written comment. We also store the date and time of the submission so the review can be displayed in chronological order and used in aggregate statistics.

The specific rating categories currently include teaching clarity, feedback usefulness, grading fairness, respect and classroom culture, support and responsiveness, and professionalism. These fields may evolve over time as we improve the questionnaire, but the intent remains the same: focused, classroom-specific feedback.

When you submit a teacher, we collect the teacher's name, subject, and school. The school information includes the school name and may include location details such as city and country, as well as academic curriculum labels when provided. This directory data helps users find the correct profile and reduces confusion between teachers with similar names.

If you contact us directly, we collect the information you choose to share in that message. This might include your email address or additional context about a review. We use this information only to respond to your request, resolve a concern, or improve the accuracy of the directory.

Information We Collect Automatically

Like most websites, RateMyTeachers.org receives certain technical information when you access the site. This can include your IP address, device and browser type, operating system, the pages you request, the date and time of your request, and basic diagnostic data. We may store this information in server logs or security systems to prevent abuse, monitor performance, and keep the site stable.

We do not use these technical logs to build personal profiles or to track you across unrelated sites. We use them for operational purposes such as detecting unusual traffic patterns, mitigating spam or automated submissions, and investigating issues reported by users.

Information We Do Not Collect

We do not require account registration, and we do not request student identifiers such as student ID numbers, government IDs, or Social Security numbers. We do not ask for home addresses, personal phone numbers, or private email addresses. We do not request precise location data from your device, and we do not build profiles of users for advertising. If you include any of these details in a review, that is user-generated content and it may be removed under our Guidelines.

Cookies and Similar Technologies

RateMyTeachers.org does not use advertising cookies or third-party tracking pixels. We may use essential cookies or local storage if needed to support basic site functionality, security features, or administrative access. For example, our admin interface may rely on standard browser features for authentication. If we introduce any optional tracking tools in the future, we will update this statement and provide appropriate notice.

The site also loads fonts from Google Fonts. When your browser requests those font files, Google may receive technical information such as your IP address and browser details. You can block third-party font requests using your browser settings or privacy tools, but doing so may change how the site looks.

How We Use Information

We use information to operate and improve RateMyTeachers.org. The primary purpose of collecting reviews and ratings is to display them publicly, compute summary statistics, and help users evaluate classroom experiences. We also use information to maintain the integrity of the site, respond to user requests, and comply with legal obligations.

Specifically, we use information to:

• Display teacher profiles, ratings, and written reviews.
• Compute averages and summary statistics for ratings.
• Moderate content and enforce our Guidelines and Terms of Use.
• Detect and reduce spam, abuse, or manipulation.
• Maintain and secure our infrastructure and databases.
• Respond to support requests or removal requests.
• Improve the usability and quality of the site.

De-identified and Aggregated Data

We may aggregate ratings and review counts to generate summary statistics at the teacher or school level. Aggregated metrics help users see overall trends, and they help us evaluate how the site is used. When we share or analyze aggregated information, we do so in a way that does not identify individual reviewers. For example, we may report the number of reviews submitted in a given month or average scores across a subject area. These summaries are not intended to identify any individual user.

Moderation and Automated Review

We use a combination of human review and automated checks to enforce our Guidelines and Terms of Use. Automated tools may scan submissions for profanity, personal information, or patterns that suggest spam or manipulation. These tools are designed to flag content for review, not to make final decisions on their own. If a review is removed, it may be reviewed by a human moderator, and you can contact us if you believe a decision was made in error.

Public Nature of Reviews

Reviews and ratings are public by design. When you submit content, it may be visible to anyone who visits the site. This includes the written review, the rating scores, the course name you select, and the grade you choose to share. The review is displayed on the teacher's profile along with aggregated scores from other users.

Please do not include sensitive personal information in a review. If you mention specific students, private health information, or other identifying details, that content could be visible to the public until it is removed. We actively moderate and remove content that violates our Guidelines, but the safest approach is to avoid sharing any personal or sensitive details in the first place.

Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell personal information. We do not share your information with advertisers. We share information only as needed to operate the site, comply with law, or protect the community.

We may disclose information in the following situations:

• Service providers. We rely on infrastructure and hosting providers to deliver the site. These providers may process technical data, including IP addresses and request logs, as part of operating the service.
• Public content. Reviews, ratings, and teacher directory information are visible to the public and may be indexed by search engines.
• Legal requests. We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or legal process, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect rights, safety, or prevent harm.
• Business changes. If we undergo a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to appropriate safeguards.

Data Retention

We retain reviews, ratings, and teacher directory data as long as they are needed to provide the service. If a teacher profile is removed, associated reviews may also be removed. If a review is deleted through moderation or a valid removal request, it will no longer appear publicly, but copies may persist temporarily in backups or logs. We retain technical logs only as long as reasonably necessary for security, debugging, and operational integrity.

Security Practices

We take reasonable steps to protect the information we store. This includes standard web security practices such as encrypted connections (HTTPS), access controls for administrative tools, and monitoring for abuse. No system is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. You can help protect your privacy by avoiding sensitive details in reviews and by using secure devices and browsers.

Access to administrative tools is limited to authorized personnel who need it to manage the directory or moderate content. We may log administrative actions to maintain accountability and to investigate issues if they arise. Even with these safeguards, any information posted publicly can be copied, shared, or indexed by others, which is another reason to avoid sharing sensitive details in reviews.

Your Choices and Rights

You can browse RateMyTeachers.org without submitting any information. If you choose to submit a review, you control what you include. You can also request that a review be corrected or removed. We evaluate these requests on a case-by-case basis and may ask for additional information to verify the request.

Depending on where you live, you may have legal rights to access, correct, or delete personal information associated with you. Even if these rights do not apply to you, we aim to be responsive and fair. If you believe a review includes personal information about you or violates our Guidelines, contact us using the method listed on the site and we will review the request.

Your choices include:

• Do not submit personal or sensitive information in reviews.
• Request removal or correction of a review you submitted.
• Request removal of content that violates our Guidelines.
• Use browser tools to limit third-party requests, such as font loading.

State Privacy Rights

If you are a resident of California or another US state with privacy laws, you may have additional rights related to your personal information, such as the right to know what information we collect, the right to request deletion, and the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. RateMyTeachers.org does not sell or share personal information for targeted advertising. We may need to verify your request before processing it, and some information may be retained as required by law or for security purposes.

Children and Student Privacy

RateMyTeachers.org is intended for general audiences, including students. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13, and we do not ask for student names as part of the review process. If a child under 13 has submitted personal information, a parent or guardian may contact us to request deletion. We also encourage all users, regardless of age, to avoid sharing identifying details about themselves or others.

International Users

RateMyTeachers.org is operated from South Korea and may be hosted or processed in multiple regions. If you access the site from outside South Korea, your information may be transferred to and processed in jurisdictions with different privacy laws. By using the site, you consent to that processing.

Changes to This Statement

We may update this Privacy Statement from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. If changes are material, we will provide additional notice on the site.

Contact

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to privacy, please contact us at contact@ratemyteachers.org. We are committed to addressing privacy concerns promptly and respectfully.