PG County Parents, where are you sending your kids to school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last PP here - my bad - maybe they didn't used to? A friend quit her job about 3 years ago so she could drive her kids to and from Goddard. Glad things have shaped up!!

May I ask a related question? I didn't realize the three year old class was half day. We were interested in the lottery for Goddard montessori but half day won't work for us unless there is some kind of before or after care (both DH and I work in DC). Can you speak to whether or not there are options for us? And if there aren't, what are the chances of getting into the program once the full day starts (I assume at age 4?) if you weren't enrolled at age 3? Sounds impossible.

They don't offer aftercare for 1/2 day programs. Regarding 4 year olds, I have never seen kids that young when I picked up my children. They were older when they started @ RGMS. We got in through lottery and they were coming from a private school.

BTW, if you are trying to get in @ 4 you have to have prior Montessori experience from a certified school. Age 3 is the only other age where no prior Montessori experience is required.

You could also call the main office of the PGCPS Program Operations office for more info:

Central Office
Owens Road Elementary School Administrative Facility
1616 Owens Road
Oxon Hill, MD 20745
240-724-1675 (Office) - See more at: http://ektron.pgcps.org/beforeandafterschoolelp/#sthash.neUOewfE.dpuf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great. Hopefully, other parents here may be able to utilize that option. Is aftercare expensive?

There are two aftercare options - 3-4 and 3-6. The latter is about $130 every two weeks. The deposit was $50. There are also clubs, some free and some not. If your child is in a club you still have to pay for aftercare (full fee). So not cheap but not more expensive than what I have used previously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No Hyattsville representation? Any information on that school???

Hyattsville here! DS is a rising second grader at HES and I am the PTA Co-Vice President. Very happy with the staff, administration and community. Diverse, rigorous, and walking distance from home! I have been an educator for 17 years, and I am thrilled to find a neighborhood school that meets the needs of all students while continuing to find ways to grow and improve upon opportunities for students and families. Our principal is responsive and energetic, she really "gets it" in terms of what it takes to lead a school.

Our child won't start at HES until 2015 but everyone seems happy there. Glad to hear good things on here as well.

[Anonymous]

We just recently moved into the neighborhood and our first born will start at HES in 2015. Good to know of positive feedback.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last PP here - my bad - maybe they didn't used to? A friend quit her job about 3 years ago so she could drive her kids to and from Goddard. Glad things have shaped up!!

May I ask a related question? I didn't realize the three year old class was half day. We were interested in the lottery for Goddard montessori but half day won't work for us unless there is some kind of before or after care (both DH and I work in DC). Can you speak to whether or not there are options for us? And if there aren't, what are the chances of getting into the program once the full day starts (I assume at age 4?) if you weren't enrolled at age 3? Sounds impossible.

There was chatter about the bus service being lost around then but there has always been transportation to the specialty schools.

[Anonymous]

If you are in the Bowie/Mitchellville area, I would seriously consider Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School. My DD went there from Pre-K through 8th grade. The academics and the music program at HT are stellar. While HT has become less diverse over the years, it remains a wonderful environment in which children can learn and grow. My DD and several of her classmates tested well and received multiple academic and music scholarships at DC area private high schools last year such as Sidwell Friends, Holton Arms, Maret and Bullis. They also received multiple scholarship offers at the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Washington. In addition to academic and music scholarships, several classmates received sports scholarships to DC area private schools. After all was said and done, my DD tested into Eleanor Roosevelt Science and Tech in Greenbelt and that is where she currently attends. We chose Roosevelt because she is interested in STEM, it is close to home (quality of life), and the college outplacement from the S&T program is just as good as the DC area private schools...not to mention that Roosevelt is free. There are many good choices in Prince George's County...however, Holy Trinity gave our DD "roots to grow and wings to fly" and it worked well for us. Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friends coming school in college park is definitely worth exploring. Tremendous diversity; racial and economic.

I know a lot of people who were not happy at all with this school. Very unprofessional staff/teachers.

You do know it's a Friends school, right? My dd went there and we loved the teachers and the philosophy.

[Anonymous]

Another private I haven't seen mentioned is Fairhaven School in Upper Marlboro. It's a Sudbury school, so they're definitely different than other schools mentioned on this thread.

Our ds loves it, and we're very happy too.

If you're looking for a program with regimented academics, Fairhaven isn't for you.

[Anonymous]

PP, did your child start at Fairhaven or transition from a more traditional curriculum? I've wondered about Fairhaven as an option (my child is at a pretty regimented magnet), but worried about the kind of adjustment it would be.

[Anonymous]

Isn't this the school in which your child learns at their own pace. Is it a Maryland approved school at all? Fairhaven.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are in the Bowie/Mitchellville area, I would seriously consider Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School. My DD went there from Pre-K through 8th grade. The academics and the music program at HT are stellar. While HT has become less diverse over the years, it remains a wonderful environment in which children can learn and grow. My DD and several of her classmates tested well and received multiple academic and music scholarships at DC area private high schools last year such as Sidwell Friends, Holton Arms, Maret and Bullis. They also received multiple scholarship offers at the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Washington. In addition to academic and music scholarships, several classmates received sports scholarships to DC area private schools. After all was said and done, my DD tested into Eleanor Roosevelt Science and Tech in Greenbelt and that is where she currently attends. We chose Roosevelt because she is interested in STEM, it is close to home (quality of life), and the college outplacement from the S&T program is just as good as the DC area private schools...not to mention that Roosevelt is free. There are many good choices in Prince George's County...however, Holy Trinity gave our DD "roots to grow and wings to fly" and it worked well for us. Good Luck!

This is where our child is (Holy Trinity) and we Love it!

[Anonymous]

A DC charter. Grandma lives in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC private school. Unfortunately, whether we admit it or not, anywhere in PG County is just settling.

++++1

Any private school in PG County is truly settling. You will be commuting to DC for the best private schools, so you might as well get used to the idea. BTW, my house in PG is FOR SALE. Any takers? Cannot get out of this dump fast enough.

[Anonymous]

We are at an independent private in PG and love it. My child's classmates are all very sharp and doing work beyond grade level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are at an independent private in PG and love it. My child's classmates are all very sharp and doing work beyond grade level.

PP, would you be willing to share the name? We simply won't be able to afford DC private prices so are looking at some of the most-recommended private schools in PG (Friends Community, Holy Trinity, etc.). Would love to hear more of what you have to say!