What's the right PG path?

[Anonymous]

My daughter was at a neighborhood daycare from ages 1-3, and has been at UMD's Center For Young Children for 3K and 4k (it will take her through kindergarten). And then...I'm panicking. Our zoned elementary school is University Park, which I've both heard can be great and also potentially rocky. If she tests into Glenarden Woods, that seems like the right academic choice, but also means that she would be have been in four different schools by third grade. That seems like a lot! Our other options would be just keeping her at UP, or trying Friends Community, which goes all the way to eighth grade. If you're in PG County, I'd love to hear what you did/are doing and how you felt about it.

[Anonymous]

If you are up by college park she needs to somehow end up at Roosevelt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are up by college park she needs to somehow end up at Roosevelt

I believe Roosevelt has a Science and Technology program and when I went to University of Maryland a lot of the kids were from that program at Roosevelt.

[Anonymous]

I had two kids that both went to DKFI from K-8th. One went to ERHS (S&T program) and the other went private for HS. Worked great for both!

I've heard really positive things about UPES.

[Anonymous]

Lots of options but don't overthink it since your kid is still in pre-school.
If you are moving to University Park a lot of people get their kids slots at College Park Academy for 6-8 and then either continue onto 12th there or go to ERHS or Private. UPES is a decent public school.
College Park Academy is a lottery but there is a significant pool of seats that is reserved for the impact zone.

As far as multiple schools, it can be a lot for some kids but if you start at UPES, I can guarantee that you will have neighborhood friends who also go to Glenarden Woods.

[Anonymous]

Also there is no "right" path. Your kid is unique and what works for one kid, might be a disaster for another kid. None of my three kids had the same school path. My older two have done local ES, TAG middle and one is in the VPA program at Northwestern and another is at ERHS. My younger kids moved to a TAG center while they were still in elementary school because it was a better fit for them.
And winning the lottery isn't always winning. The specialty schools aren't always a step up from your local schools and language immersion isn't for all kids.

[Anonymous]

People always suggest DKFI, but it is moving from Greenbelt to Landover, so it won't be close anymore. I also know lot's of folks aren't actually happy there. It's not just a French immersion schools; it's a "French" school.

I would choose the neighborhood school University Park and then middle at College Park Academy, or try for Friends Community. Private schools generally only work if your child is NT, though, otherwise public is the best thing.

[Anonymous]

UPES has been great for both of my kids, one who has a learning difference. Many friends at Glen Arden are happy as well, but nobody left UPES because it was "rocky." I have loved almost every teacher my kids have had over the years. And it's so nice to be part of a local school community.

[Anonymous]

We probably know each other IRL, and I'd be happy to chat sometime if you want. (I'm a CYC blue room mom with older kids at UPES, so that narrows it down quite a bit!)

UPES has been mostly great for my older kids. They've had good, okay, and lousy teachers, but they've still learned a lot, they have strong friendships, and they love school. (They also really love Impulse City, which has been just about as valuable as school itself.)

My oldest tested into Glenarden Woods, but we didn't move him there because it was during the pandemic, and we have regretted that decision sometimes. (But other times, we think that UPES has been the right fit for him.)

We've got plenty of friends with kids everywhere--DKFI, Caesar Chavez, RGMS, FCS, St. Jerome's--and everyone everywhere is happy with some things and has some things to complain about.

We are hoping for either College Park Academy or Creative & Performing Arts at HMS or (long shot!) Greenbelt TAG for middle school, and then ERHS for high school. But we feel like there are a few other paths that could also work out.

But I'm happy to chat more!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My daughter was at a neighborhood daycare from ages 1-3, and has been at UMD's Center For Young Children for 3K and 4k (it will take her through kindergarten). And then...I'm panicking. Our zoned elementary school is University Park, which I've both heard can be great and also potentially rocky. If she tests into Glenarden Woods, that seems like the right academic choice, but also means that she would be have been in four different schools by third grade. That seems like a lot! Our other options would be just keeping her at UP, or trying Friends Community, which goes all the way to eighth grade. If you're in PG County, I'd love to hear what you did/are doing and how you felt about it.

If you're including childcare and preschool, 4 schools by 3rd grade isn't a lot. It's very normal.

I think the value of a neighborhood school, especially in the early years, is immense. I'd send her to UPES, which has a good reputation and many people love, and then when she's old enough for TAG testing, see how she's doing and make a decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We probably know each other IRL, and I'd be happy to chat sometime if you want. (I'm a CYC blue room mom with older kids at UPES, so that narrows it down quite a bit!)

UPES has been mostly great for my older kids. They've had good, okay, and lousy teachers, but they've still learned a lot, they have strong friendships, and they love school. (They also really love Impulse City, which has been just about as valuable as school itself.)

My oldest tested into Glenarden Woods, but we didn't move him there because it was during the pandemic, and we have regretted that decision sometimes. (But other times, we think that UPES has been the right fit for him.)

We've got plenty of friends with kids everywhere--DKFI, Caesar Chavez, RGMS, FCS, St. Jerome's--and everyone everywhere is happy with some things and has some things to complain about.

We are hoping for either College Park Academy or Creative & Performing Arts at HMS or (long shot!) Greenbelt TAG for middle school, and then ERHS for high school. But we feel like there are a few other paths that could also work out.

But I'm happy to chat more!

I’m this PP, and I just reread what I wrote—I meant to say that my kids’ teachers at UPES have ranged from outstanding to lousy (not just good, okay, and lousy). In fact, I’d say that about half have been truly outstanding and only one has been really lousy.

[Anonymous]

Kenmoor Middle school .......> ERHS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kenmoor Middle school .......> ERHS

UP is zoned for Greenbelt not Kenmoor for TAG but I generally agree. As long as the PSAT goes ok next year, it will be my kids path.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We probably know each other IRL, and I'd be happy to chat sometime if you want. (I'm a CYC blue room mom with older kids at UPES, so that narrows it down quite a bit!)

UPES has been mostly great for my older kids. They've had good, okay, and lousy teachers, but they've still learned a lot, they have strong friendships, and they love school. (They also really love Impulse City, which has been just about as valuable as school itself.)

My oldest tested into Glenarden Woods, but we didn't move him there because it was during the pandemic, and we have regretted that decision sometimes. (But other times, we think that UPES has been the right fit for him.)

We've got plenty of friends with kids everywhere--DKFI, Caesar Chavez, RGMS, FCS, St. Jerome's--and everyone everywhere is happy with some things and has some things to complain about.

We are hoping for either College Park Academy or Creative & Performing Arts at HMS or (long shot!) Greenbelt TAG for middle school, and then ERHS for high school. But we feel like there are a few other paths that could also work out.

But I'm happy to chat more!

I’m this PP, and I just reread what I wrote—I meant to say that my kids’ teachers at UPES have ranged from outstanding to lousy (not just good, okay, and lousy). In fact, I’d say that about half have been truly outstanding and only one has been really lousy.

I think that this could be said for most schools in PG. My kids stayed in our neighborhood school for K-5 and we had several outstanding teachers, many good teachers and one particularly lousy teacher. I got the impression that the Principal was actively trying to get rid of her but it's a long process. Kenmoor has been better but it's not perfect. Surprisingly, the math teachers at Northwestern High School have been outstanding as have the VPA staff.

[Anonymous]

We have our kids at DKFI right now and have generally had a good experience. Our oldest tested into Glenarden Woods but we are happy where we are at and like being at a K-8 school (plus her younger sister is going there too).

I think like PPs have said, any school you go to will have good things and things to complain about. From my knowledge the neighborhood elementary schools all do a pretty good job. All our friends who have kids going to neighborhood schools are pretty happy.

When my kids hit high school we will look at a variety of options along side them based on their interests, strengths, and goals. We plan to stick to public though.