A:
Hey there.
Thanks for reaching out. Surface RT would be a great device for taking notes, reviewing textbooks and searching the web, as it comes pre-installed with Office Home and Student 2013. Included in that, is Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, all of which are great programs for school. For more information on compatibility, I recommend checking out the Windows Compatibility Center and/or visiting the Surface forums for additional discussion from other Surface users. I have posted both links below for your convenience.
I hope this is helpful to you. Have a good one!
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/compatibility/win8/CompatCenter/Home?Language=en-US
http://answers.microsoft.com