Mount Rainier Elementary School

[Anonymous]

OP, are you looking for a house? I would try Greenbelt. It's only a few miles farther from DC and the schools are better -- for the most part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The College Park Academy is opening in the fall. That's middle school and up. They have a website but it isn't great.

There aren't many "crappy" houses in University Park. That's part of the problem. You pay for the elementary in the cost of the houses there as they are much higher than the surrounding areas. The rentals in UP are also low-inventory and high in price compared to CP or Hyattsville or Berwyn Heights or Greenbelt. We looked at a "crappy" house in UP a couple of years ago and it quickly got bid up into the same price range as the other houses in UP.

Some homes that are in Hyattsville, right across the street from UP, are zoned for UPES. I remember looking at one in particular with a sump pump in the basement. It was on the corner of 410 and Queens Chapel. I would download the UPES zone map and check there.

The problem with close-in PG County is that there are not a lot of options for schools outside of your in-bounds. If you are dead-set on buying in Mt. Rainier, you will have to accept everything that comes with address.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The College Park Academy is opening in the fall. That's middle school and up. They have a website but it isn't great.

There aren't many "crappy" houses in University Park. That's part of the problem. You pay for the elementary in the cost of the houses there as they are much higher than the surrounding areas. The rentals in UP are also low-inventory and high in price compared to CP or Hyattsville or Berwyn Heights or Greenbelt. We looked at a "crappy" house in UP a couple of years ago and it quickly got bid up into the same price range as the other houses in UP.

Some homes that are in Hyattsville, right across the street from UP, are zoned for UPES. I remember looking at one in particular with a sump pump in the basement. It was on the corner of 410 and Queens Chapel. I would download the UPES zone map and check there.

The problem with close-in PG County is that there are not a lot of options for schools outside of your in-bounds. If you are dead-set on buying in Mt. Rainier, you will have to accept everything that comes with address.

The other problem is that UPES threatens to rezone every year which means you could buy that Hyattsville house on the other side of 410 and then find yourself zoned out of UPES the next year. I wouldn't trust a non-UP address to stay UP.

[Anonymous]

Yes that is what is happening to friends of ours.

[Anonymous]

But you won't never get re-zoned out of Chavez or Stone in Mt Rainier. Getting rezoned out of UP might not be bad if you get the new elementary school they are building near Giant.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone who actually has a child attending MtR elem respond to this thread?
We hear a lot of mixed reviews on total opposite ends of the spectrum -- this thread is the perfect example. It's hard to sort through the opinions that are influenced by people's OMG NON-ENGLISH SPEAKERS reaction and which ones are legitimate.

I realize the audience here on DCUM I'm typing this to so if your response is going to be along the lines of WATCH OUT, ITS PG COUNTY, THERE ARE BLACKS THERE! please don't even waste your time. I've heard all that before and you will be ignored.

But I appreciate any honest opinions from others in the community.

[Anonymous]

Check out Cheverly. I've lived there for 11 years and the community is fantastic.
The public elementary school is Gladys Noon Spellman and although it has it's issues, we are extremely happy with our experience there. The GreatSchool rating has gone up to 7 which is the same as UP and better than Greenbelt. (not that GreatSchool ratings are the only metric to consider).
The demographics of the entire school is ~55% black, 40% Latino and 3% white....but that is changing as more people from the more affluent side of Cheverly are sending their kids there. In the K class this year it is 30-40% kids from the more affluent side of town (all races). I know it is classicist but I want to put it out there.
Regardless, I have been going to the school for a few years now and I have never seen anything besides caring, professional staff and above average student behavior. The principal is excellent!
The only unpleasant encounter I've had is with the school secretary which is unfortunate since that is often the first person people meet when the visit the school.

[Anonymous]

I hear you, OP - sorry I can't help. Friends of mine in Mt Rainier send kids to CFMS in Petworth, St Jerome, and the PG French immersion charter.

[Anonymous]

Well, I still live in Mt. Rainier, but my kid's now in middle school. I stand by my statement that at the time my child attended, MRE was TERRIFIC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out Cheverly. I've lived there for 11 years and the community is fantastic.
The public elementary school is Gladys Noon Spellman and although it has it's issues, we are extremely happy with our experience there. The GreatSchool rating has gone up to 7 which is the same as UP and better than Greenbelt. (not that GreatSchool ratings are the only metric to consider).
The demographics of the entire school is ~55% black, 40% Latino and 3% white....but that is changing as more people from the more affluent side of Cheverly are sending their kids there. In the K class this year it is 30-40% kids from the more affluent side of town (all races). I know it is classicist but I want to put it out there.
Regardless, I have been going to the school for a few years now and I have never seen anything besides caring, professional staff and above average student behavior. The principal is excellent!
The only unpleasant encounter I've had is with the school secretary which is unfortunate since that is often the first person people meet when the visit the school.

13:24 here

Sorry I didn't answer your original question. I have no first hand experience but I have heard that Mt Rainier ES has a great Principal and that the school is improving. I have also heard that the school's principal is open to visitors.....You should call the school and see when the Kindergarten Open house is. It should be very soon since the county just opened up Registration.