PG or DC Schools?

[Anonymous]

I graduated from Bowie High school. I would not send my child there. At all. Roosevelt is only an option if your child tests in to the science and tech program. This has not changed in 20 years.

There are decent ES option in Bowie. Benjamin Tasker MS is soso.

I would not want to live as far south as Upper Marlboro for commuting purposes. I would pick Bowie in a heartbeat if DH was willing. I would love to get the perfect house at a great price and send our only child to private middle and high school

We live in Montgomery County now and my parents are still in Bowie. I find the people much nicer in Bowie than in MoCo. They smile in the grocery store, etc. The lack of good shopping sucks, but honestly, I live near Montgomery Mall now and buy most everything online anyway.

[Anonymous]

If you expect that your child will be high performing than the new academy at PGCC is doing amazing things for High School. It's a test in program and your child will finish their high school career with two years of college.

I'd only avoid PG for high school if you don't believe your children will be able to test well. If they do, then you're fine. There are also several DC/Montgomery country privates that have buses that pick up in the Bowie area. Bullis and Potomac for sure.

The aforementioned areas of Bowie, Greenbelt, Upper Marlboro and University park are more than comparable for ES and MS too anything DC can offer unless you're able to afford the JKLMM area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you expect that your child will be high performing than the new academy at PGCC is doing amazing things for High School. It's a test in program and your child will finish their high school career with two years of college.

I'd only avoid PG for high school if you don't believe your children will be able to test well. If they do, then you're fine. There are also several DC/Montgomery country privates that have buses that pick up in the Bowie area. Bullis and Potomac for sure.

The aforementioned areas of Bowie, Greenbelt, Upper Marlboro and University park are more than comparable for ES and MS too anything DC can offer unless you're able to afford the JKLMM area.

Do you have any more information about this academy? Thanks

[Anonymous]

I think there are only about 100 slots per class, and half of those go to kids from low SES families or kids who will be first generation to go to college.

[Anonymous]

http://www.pgcps.org/academyatpgcc/

[Anonymous]

Half of the slots do go to low income students, however they still have to take the test and presumably obtain a passing score and attend a summer bridge program. Therefore you are getting motivated students and families. Not all 8th graders take the exam, you have to either express interest and/or be steered towards the application by your school counselor.

[Anonymous]

Surrattsville High is such a nice school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Half of the slots do go to low income students, however they still have to take the test and presumably obtain a passing score and attend a summer bridge program. Therefore you are getting motivated students and families. Not all 8th graders take the exam, you have to either express interest and/or be steered towards the application by your school counselor.

I have a friend with a child in this program and she is very happy. My understanding is that the original plan was that half of the slots were reserved for kids whose parents did not go to college but that was relaxed because not enough kids applied and tested high enough.
I"m guessing that will change as news about this program becomes more widespread. I am also not sure that they provide transportation so that might deter some lower income kids from applying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There aren't any schools in PG that are as rigorous as Walls, Banneker, Mckinley Tech, Basis or Latin. The Science and Tech programs in PG are average in comparison. I would not leave the city for any PG schools. Look at all of the data before you make a move.

Lmao!! Those schools u named are "nice" but please every Tech program in PG are equal or above those you mentioned.

[Anonymous]

No they are not. Most of the kids who come out of PG schools are not prepared for college and usually have to take remedial classes. The kids who are in the Tech Programs in PG are smart, but the schools do not stretch them in anyway possible. It is such a shame. Most have to drop out of Engineering or Science because they lack the knowledge and exposure to compete with kids from other schools. Not to mention the fact that DC has much better connections and students are more mobile, which allows them to take advantage of so many more opportunities than in PG. I would select a good DC school over a good PG school any day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No they are not. Most of the kids who come out of PG schools are not prepared for college and usually have to take remedial classes. The kids who are in the Tech Programs in PG are smart, but the schools do not stretch them in anyway possible. It is such a shame. Most have to drop out of Engineering or Science because they lack the knowledge and exposure to compete with kids from other schools. Not to mention the fact that DC has much better connections and students are more mobile, which allows them to take advantage of so many more opportunities than in PG. I would select a good DC school over a good PG school any day.

Back these statements up please. Give us links to hard data that prove "most have to drop out..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No they are not. Most of the kids who come out of PG schools are not prepared for college and usually have to take remedial classes. The kids who are in the Tech Programs in PG are smart, but the schools do not stretch them in anyway possible. It is such a shame. Most have to drop out of Engineering or Science because they lack the knowledge and exposure to compete with kids from other schools. Not to mention the fact that DC has much better connections and students are more mobile, which allows them to take advantage of so many more opportunities than in PG. I would select a good DC school over a good PG school any day.

This has not been my family's experience. I have 2 kids in the science and tech program at Roosevelt who are doing well. Their PSAT and SAT scores are strong. We just had parent-teacher conferences with the AP teachers of Chem, Biology, Physics, and Calculus as well as Government, World History and English/Language Arts. They each seem to be teaching well and I don't hear complaints from my kids.

Applications for internships at NIH, NASA and the like are due in December for next school year. Really, I don't see how ERHS could be doing any more than what they are doing. I haven't heard of ERHS graduates dropping out of science and engineering majors in college, or needing remedial classes. If it's happening, it's well hidden.

My only complaint about ERHS is that we need more school counselors. They each have too many students and can't give my kids much time at all.

[Anonymous]

DCPS has Wilson and SWW and maybe one charter if you want to count Latin (no real longterm data) as truly stellar high schools. To act as if DCPS high school students are far outstripping PG high school students is ludicrous.

OP the truth is that good students from engaged families will do well in most PG County HS Programs. I know Doctors, Lawyers, IT people, Engineers etc from many different PG county High Schools.

I don't recommend sending your child to Friendly or Central, but you're child is going to be fine at many of the other schools. There are bad students in these schools but students who are excelling and in advanced programs are not going to have the experience that the general population students do. ERHS is of course the standout because they've had the Science/Tech Program the longest.

Do your research and find a school that works for your child. Don't focus in on PP's doom and gloom approach. There are options in PG county that will serve your family and if you don't want to do public, you're still going to be better off living in PG county and paying for private than moving to DC and paying an astronomical amount for a guaranteed successful HS (you'll need to move into the JKLMM area). If you don't move to that area in DC you're going to have to try the lottery system and still pay more for housing.

Good luck in your search for a school that will work!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I graduated from Bowie High school. I would not send my child there. At all. Roosevelt is only an option if your child tests in to the science and tech program. This has not changed in 20 years.

There are decent ES option in Bowie. Benjamin Tasker MS is soso.

I would not want to live as far south as Upper Marlboro for commuting purposes. I would pick Bowie in a heartbeat if DH was willing. I would love to get the perfect house at a great price and send our only child to private middle and high school

We live in Montgomery County now and my parents are still in Bowie. I find the people much nicer in Bowie than in MoCo. They smile in the grocery store, etc. The lack of good shopping sucks, but honestly, I live near Montgomery Mall now and buy most everything online anyway.

What do you do now?

[Anonymous]

OP you have a better chance testing into a DCPS than getting into private school not to mention most of the good privates are about $40,000 each year. Banneker has an application process but students do not have to test in. The counseling team is great and kids get into great schools with lots of scholarship money. Students are said to be very well prepared for college.