Please help this clueless family moving to MD target the right schools

[Anonymous]

Look at the areas that feed into Annapolis High School. It’s one of the most diverse schools in Anne Arundel, and despite what you’ll hear from some people here, it’s really an excellent school. It’s home to both an IB and Arts magnet, so there are a lot of smart, talented kids there.
Annapolis Middle had a reputation of being a rough school, but DS has two good friends that go there for the IB magnet and they both love it.
Broadneck feeders are a little less diverse than Annapolis, but the schools are good and it’s nice being so close to the bay.

Crofton would be great for being close to BwI and the schools are good, but there are not a lot of minority students there.

I don’t know enough about HoCo to recommend any particular schools, but their reputation in general is great.

In any case, with your housing budget and desire to be near the airport, I’d eliminate MoCo entirely.

[Anonymous]

MoCo, Silver spring. Done
End of thread.

-African American family

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MoCo, Silver spring. Done
End of thread.

-African American family

I have heard Howard County has very good schools. So please do explore.

I am a long time Silver Spring resident (not white, not AA) - with kids going through elementary, middle, and high schools. I have loved the diverse, grounded, excellent MOCO/Silver Spring schools. With two magnets in Takoma and Blair. The area is almost equidistant (40 minutes) from Dulles, BWI, and Reagan National. So would recommend Takoma/Silver Spring/Forest Glen.

[Anonymous]

Don’t know why people are talking about Crofton like it’s not ethnically diverse and like it’s a terrible place for ethnic minorities relative to some of these other places. Crofton Middle School is 20% Black, and Nantucket Elementary School is INCREDIBLY diverse. It’s 47% white, 26% Black, 13% Asian, and 7% Hispanic. The only school in Crofton that lacks diversity is Crofton Woods Elementary School. The other schools in Crofton are very diverse, and they’re continuing to become even more diverse at rapid rates. Same with the other side of route 3 as well. The Arundel High School pyramid has very excellent schools and there’s great ethnic diversity there as well. I always laugh when people call these areas not diverse and terrible compared to MoCo and HoCo. I’ve seen way more Black people in Crofton and Odenton than I have in Bethesda, much of Rockville, Clarksville, and certain parts of Ellicott City. I also see a decent amount of Asian and Hispanic people in those areas as well. Crofton has a decent-sized Muslim and Korean population. A minority population that is almost entirely rich Asians is not “diverse.” I can guarantee you that the rest of MoCo and HoCo are not as progressive as people claim they are. They get their reputation boosted by the minority of areas that are progressive, the same way that Crofton and Odenton have tainted reputations due to being located in Anne Arundel County, which is generally noted for having issues with racism. Frankly, I saw way more racism coming from HoCo families when the Board recently adopted BLM related legislation than I did from families in Anne Arundel when their BoE did the same thing.

That being said, I would still definitely put Columbia and areas in Ellicott City that feed to Howard and Mount Hebron High Schools at the top of your list. MoCo is very diverse as well, but Silver Spring is becoming increasingly expensive and gentrified. Columbia was designed with socio-economic and ethnic diversity in mind, and they have worked hard to committing to a high quality lifestyle for folks of all incomes and backgrounds. You’d be able to buy a nicer house with your budget in HoCo as well. Crofton, Odenton, and Gambrills are completely fine areas themselves, but since you’re sharing a school district and Board of Education with the surrounding areas—some of which are not so great, you may deal with bureaucratic bs at the schools that are greatly influenced by loud-mouth Severna Park families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t know why people are talking about Crofton like it’s not ethnically diverse and like it’s a terrible place for ethnic minorities relative to some of these other places. Crofton Middle School is 20% Black, and Nantucket Elementary School is INCREDIBLY diverse. It’s 47% white, 26% Black, 13% Asian, and 7% Hispanic. The only school in Crofton that lacks diversity is Crofton Woods Elementary School. The other schools in Crofton are very diverse, and they’re continuing to become even more diverse at rapid rates. Same with the other side of route 3 as well. The Arundel High School pyramid has very excellent schools and there’s great ethnic diversity there as well. I always laugh when people call these areas not diverse and terrible compared to MoCo and HoCo. I’ve seen way more Black people in Crofton and Odenton than I have in Bethesda, much of Rockville, Clarksville, and certain parts of Ellicott City. I also see a decent amount of Asian and Hispanic people in those areas as well. Crofton has a decent-sized Muslim and Korean population. A minority population that is almost entirely rich Asians is not “diverse.” I can guarantee you that the rest of MoCo and HoCo are not as progressive as people claim they are. They get their reputation boosted by the minority of areas that are progressive, the same way that Crofton and Odenton have tainted reputations due to being located in Anne Arundel County, which is generally noted for having issues with racism. Frankly, I saw way more racism coming from HoCo families when the Board recently adopted BLM related legislation than I did from families in Anne Arundel when their BoE did the same thing.

That being said, I would still definitely put Columbia and areas in Ellicott City that feed to Howard and Mount Hebron High Schools at the top of your list. MoCo is very diverse as well, but Silver Spring is becoming increasingly expensive and gentrified. Columbia was designed with socio-economic and ethnic diversity in mind, and they have worked hard to committing to a high quality lifestyle for folks of all incomes and backgrounds. You’d be able to buy a nicer house with your budget in HoCo as well. Crofton, Odenton, and Gambrills are completely fine areas themselves, but since you’re sharing a school district and Board of Education with the surrounding areas—some of which are not so great, you may deal with bureaucratic bs at the schools that are greatly influenced by loud-mouth Severna Park families.

Quoting my post. Forgot to add: check the MD Report Card Website for info related to students with disabilities. They have good information for each school there.

[Anonymous]

I would consider Columbia, but if the the airport commute is killer then I would do Bowie near the Marc station but use the parochial schools in Bowie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would consider Columbia, but if the the airport commute is killer then I would do Bowie near the Marc station but use the parochial schools in Bowie.

What? Columbia is closer to BWI than Bowie. It takes 10-20 minutes to get to BWI from various places in Columbia. It takes 20-30 minutes to get to BWI from various places in Bowie.

Your comment seems backwards.

[Anonymous]

I don’t usually suggest this but I would talk to an educational consultant. A few hundred dollars for a consultation may be worth it so you get in the right place. It’s been awhile since I’ve been in the know but maybe others can suggest someone who would be appropriate and would not steer you to a majority white school. Rich Weinfeld and Assoc. used to be highly recommended - not sure if that’s still the case and if they have someone who could help you.

[Anonymous]

AA family. I would look into Crofton/Gambrills or Columbia. If you decide to move into Anne Arundel - avoid Pasadena or Edgewater. Those are very Trumpy areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP please know that when people say “ good schools” on here they mean majority white schools. There is more to learning and getting an education than test scores. I would choose Howard over AA and both are closer to the airport. We are in the NE section of moco and can get to BWI in 25 mins. You could check out Silver Spring, Burtonsville, Cloverly areas.

this

[Anonymous]

I'll never understand why people don't admit that "most" kids will do just fine at "most" schools. The exception to that is schools that are unsafe due to violence or have extremely bad teachers. Many studies show that it's the home environment that has the most impact on how kids do in school. Kids in Middle to Upper-class families are going to do well wherever they go to school. That's why I live in a wonderful, large house in PG county and send my child to a PG county school. He's doing excellently, very intelligent and we add whatever we feel is needed for extracurricular outside of school. More importantly, he has a very diverse experience and is learning really important life and social skills. It's true that on this forum people equate white to better. That's what they really mean about "good schools"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'll never understand why people don't admit that "most" kids will do just fine at "most" schools. The exception to that is schools that are unsafe due to violence or have extremely bad teachers. Many studies show that it's the home environment that has the most impact on how kids do in school. Kids in Middle to Upper-class families are going to do well wherever they go to school. That's why I live in a wonderful, large house in PG county and send my child to a PG county school. He's doing excellently, very intelligent and we add whatever we feel is needed for extracurricular outside of school. More importantly, he has a very diverse experience and is learning really important life and social skills. It's true that on this forum people equate white to better. That's what they really mean about "good schools"

This, people need to do some soul searching when it comes to how they define what a “good school” and “good area” is. I hear so many whites from Anne Arundel County who would tell you that Pasadena and Edgewater are nicer than Bowie despite the latter being significantly wealthier and more educated than the former two. The only difference is well, you know....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OMG. Not Dufief. Please. Utter mediocrity. I would do silver spring and Grace Episcopal... the only private school in the region that has laddered tuition. MCPS is an utter joke...

so are private schools with laddered tuition. Also they tend to pass on kids like the OP with have behavioral issues that will be an impact to the other paying customers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would consider Columbia, but if the the airport commute is killer then I would do Bowie near the Marc station but use the parochial schools in Bowie.

What? Columbia is closer to BWI than Bowie. It takes 10-20 minutes to get to BWI from various places in Columbia. It takes 20-30 minutes to get to BWI from various places in Bowie.

Your comment seems backwards.

My point was BWI is two train stops away from Bowie State. Driving or Uber from Columbia might be fine depending on op’s work travel schedule but if they prefer the train (and if pre-pandemic ever traffic returns) it would be worth a consideration. Note though that the bwi Marc train stop has a shuttle bus and not extended hours though.

[Anonymous]

Ho Co is a good option. Good schools, and diversity.
Recommend research which areas in the county. Not all areas pay the Columbia Association fee.

moved here from PG to HoCo. Very Happy with the new school system. Love the Diversity. DS often compares how positive the year has been in comparison.

other counties are good as well. Its all about what is the most important to you. Not every area is perfect match just because it fits one family.

A good realtor that knows the MD very well is also a helpful benefit.