Annapolis Public Schools

[Anonymous]

We are considering a move to Annapolis from DC and would love any feedback on Annapolis public schools. I am most particularly interested in Bates MS and Annapolis HS. The elementary school near the house we are considering is great (West Annapolis ES) by all accounts, so no worries there. Also wondering if there is a feeling on charter schools in the area and whether or not there will be more coming in the next few years. Our boys are 3 and under 1 year, so we have a little time to wait and see what happens. We most likely cannot afford private school.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

To see for yourself drive to Annapolis High School at dismissal time. That should probably seal the deal.

[Anonymous]

West Annapolis is a fine elementary school. I am totally against AHS but many seem to like it. I think it depends on the makeup of the child. If you can get into the performing arts part of Bates, it's fine but if you child is in the regular Bates, I wouldn't risk it. But your children are so young that things may change by the time you reach middle school.

We live in Annapolis and our child goes to a different elementary, which we are pleased with but for middle school we plan to go private and then depending on things, we'll come back to AHS. I've heard good things about South River High and there's some special program your kid could get into to go there (but don't know much about it.) The people that I know who have done AHS have been really pleased with it, their children have gone on the decent schools and stayed out of trouble, picked the right friends and activities. But it is a very diverse high school that has issues. Most parents that I know that are totally against AHS are those whose children have been in private for the most part their entire school experience so they aren't used to the diversity that public school in Annapolis offers.

[Anonymous]

I've been told public schools in Annapolis are bad.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks so much for the feedback, especially 13:15. That is really helpful. I think my dilemma is this: We have found a house we love in a neighborhood we love. Elementary school is w/in walking distance and very good. Middle school and high school...not so much. However, a lot can happen in 7 years which is when we would be approaching middle school for our eldest child. Do we take a leap of faith that the schools will improve in that time? Or that we will be able to afford private school in that time? It would be a lateral move for us, education-wise. Right now DS is at a DC charter school that we love, but it doesn't go past 5th grade. After that...who knows? We could get into another charter that feeds into DCI or has a HS option, but we might not.

We love where we live now, but there is crime and we can't afford a bigger house in our neighborhood anyway. There is nowhere else we would want to live in DC. We plan to have at least 1 more child, so we definitely need more space in the next couple of years. It would be a very good time to sell our house b/c there is a lot of demand for our neighborhood right now. We don't love the idea of the suburbs which is why Annapolis is appealing. Seems to have a small town feel near the water which is also important to us. DH is up for the commute. What would you do?

[Anonymous]

I lived in Annapolis part-time before kids. I was always frustrated there - it seemed so cute in the daytime, walking around the water, but then there was little to do at night, and even the movie theater was always sold out, at a mall so thronged you couldn't park. We used to call it Scranton-by-the-Sea.

I think with kids it might be fine for a few years, but are you OK with having to move somewhere else (maybe well outside your area) when MS approaches? I see no trend that suggests Annapolis schools will improve over the next ten years. What pressure would cause them to do so? There's unlikely to be a great influx of high SES families moving there looking for good publics. It seems more likely to me that Annapolis schools will continue on a downward trend.

I know this is all very negative, but I think it's worth weighing the bigger house and community feeling against what is going to be a crummy commute and the likelihood that the school situation will only work out for elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Annapolis High School - NO. It is ...wow.

[Anonymous]

Ah, the unspoken racism.

Annapolis High is diverse, meaning there is a significant AA population there. It doesn't necessarily make it a bad school.

I find it amusing that one poster suggests South River, which is pretty much 99 percent white.

Every time I see these posts, it reconfirms my belief that Maryland is a segregated state when it comes to education. It's pretty sad, for all of the talk of being progressive and all of the people in Maryland who identify as progressive but absolutely wouldn't even consider sending their kid to a school where there is a lot of black kids.

I know someone who went to Annapolis High a while back. It was diverse then, too. He got a fine education, went on to get a Ph.D. in math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ah, the unspoken racism.

Annapolis High is diverse, meaning there is a significant AA population there. It doesn't necessarily make it a bad school.

I find it amusing that one poster suggests South River, which is pretty much 99 percent white.

Every time I see these posts, it reconfirms my belief that Maryland is a segregated state when it comes to education. It's pretty sad, for all of the talk of being progressive and all of the people in Maryland who identify as progressive but absolutely wouldn't even consider sending their kid to a school where there is a lot of black kids.

I know someone who went to Annapolis High a while back. It was diverse then, too. He got a fine education, went on to get a Ph.D. in math.

And this is the problem. Anytime anyone says "it's a bad school", it's because of racism. Not because it has poor academics, low standards, etc. It's racism. You caught me, PP.

FWIW, my kid attends a private school with a significant black population, higher than Annapolis's. Doesn't mean I'd send him to Annapolis, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ah, the unspoken racism.

Annapolis High is diverse, meaning there is a significant AA population there. It doesn't necessarily make it a bad school.

I find it amusing that one poster suggests South River, which is pretty much 99 percent white.

Every time I see these posts, it reconfirms my belief that Maryland is a segregated state when it comes to education. It's pretty sad, for all of the talk of being progressive and all of the people in Maryland who identify as progressive but absolutely wouldn't even consider sending their kid to a school where there is a lot of black kids.

I know someone who went to Annapolis High a while back. It was diverse then, too. He got a fine education, went on to get a Ph.D. in math.

And this is the problem. Anytime anyone says "it's a bad school", it's because of racism. Not because it has poor academics, low standards, etc. It's racism. You caught me, PP.

FWIW, my kid attends a private school with a significant black population, higher than Annapolis's. Doesn't mean I'd send him to Annapolis, though.

Did you not see the PP who suggested OP drive by at dismissal? You don't think that's racism? You can't "see" if it's a bad school by driving by at dismissal. What do you think the PP meant by that?

You are naive if you don't realize that a lot of people hide behind the "it's a bad school" when the motive is indeed race. No one mentioned the scores of Annapolis High. No one described why they claim it's a bad school.

The comments are "No -- Wow" and "drive by at dismissal."

If you can't see that that is racism, then you are beyond naive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ah, the unspoken racism.

Annapolis High is diverse, meaning there is a significant AA population there. It doesn't necessarily make it a bad school.

I find it amusing that one poster suggests South River, which is pretty much 99 percent white.

Every time I see these posts, it reconfirms my belief that Maryland is a segregated state when it comes to education. It's pretty sad, for all of the talk of being progressive and all of the people in Maryland who identify as progressive but absolutely wouldn't even consider sending their kid to a school where there is a lot of black kids.

I know someone who went to Annapolis High a while back. It was diverse then, too. He got a fine education, went on to get a Ph.D. in math.

And this is the problem. Anytime anyone says "it's a bad school", it's because of racism. Not because it has poor academics, low standards, etc. It's racism. You caught me, PP.

FWIW, my kid attends a private school with a significant black population, higher than Annapolis's. Doesn't mean I'd send him to Annapolis, though.

Did you not see the PP who suggested OP drive by at dismissal? You don't think that's racism? You can't "see" if it's a bad school by driving by at dismissal. What do you think the PP meant by that?

You are naive if you don't realize that a lot of people hide behind the "it's a bad school" when the motive is indeed race. No one mentioned the scores of Annapolis High. No one described why they claim it's a bad school.

The comments are "No -- Wow" and "drive by at dismissal."

If you can't see that that is racism, then you are beyond naive.

I've pretty much learned my lesson not to take people's casual observations about high schools to heart. For example, there is an entire cadre of people who will tell you that Wilson is terrible and they would NEVER send their children there. Most of these people have, at best, second-hand information about the school or are those who have walked by the Tenleytown Whole Foods at 3:30. However, there are just as many families who have taken the plunge and are satisfied with the education their DC are receiving. I would really seek out the opinion of people who have DC who attend or have attended Annapolis High School. Really, they're the only people in a position to know the truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ah, the unspoken racism.

Annapolis High is diverse, meaning there is a significant AA population there. It doesn't necessarily make it a bad school.

I find it amusing that one poster suggests South River, which is pretty much 99 percent white.

Every time I see these posts, it reconfirms my belief that Maryland is a segregated state when it comes to education. It's pretty sad, for all of the talk of being progressive and all of the people in Maryland who identify as progressive but absolutely wouldn't even consider sending their kid to a school where there is a lot of black kids.

I know someone who went to Annapolis High a while back. It was diverse then, too. He got a fine education, went on to get a Ph.D. in math.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ah, the unspoken racism.

Annapolis High is diverse, meaning there is a significant AA population there. It doesn't necessarily make it a bad school.

I find it amusing that one poster suggests South River, which is pretty much 99 percent white.

Every time I see these posts, it reconfirms my belief that Maryland is a segregated state when it comes to education. It's pretty sad, for all of the talk of being progressive and all of the people in Maryland who identify as progressive but absolutely wouldn't even consider sending their kid to a school where there is a lot of black kids.

I know someone who went to Annapolis High a while back. It was diverse then, too. He got a fine education, went on to get a Ph.D. in math.

And this is the problem. Anytime anyone says "it's a bad school", it's because of racism. Not because it has poor academics, low standards, etc. It's racism. You caught me, PP.

FWIW, my kid attends a private school with a significant black population, higher than Annapolis's. Doesn't mean I'd send him to Annapolis, though.

+1


True as well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ah, the unspoken racism.

Annapolis High is diverse, meaning there is a significant AA population there. It doesn't necessarily make it a bad school.

I find it amusing that one poster suggests South River, which is pretty much 99 percent white.

Every time I see these posts, it reconfirms my belief that Maryland is a segregated state when it comes to education. It's pretty sad, for all of the talk of being progressive and all of the people in Maryland who identify as progressive but absolutely wouldn't even consider sending their kid to a school where there is a lot of black kids.

I know someone who went to Annapolis High a while back. It was diverse then, too. He got a fine education, went on to get a Ph.D. in math.

+1

Annapolis grad here and I agree. These posts are always amusing. It's amazing how strong the opinions are of people who never stepped foot into this school and others like it. I received a great education, went on to a top 30 undergraduate program and a T14 law school. Several of my classmates went on to similar success, but if you listen to DCUM it's a miracle any of us made it out alive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ah, the unspoken racism.

Annapolis High is diverse, meaning there is a significant AA population there. It doesn't necessarily make it a bad school.

I find it amusing that one poster suggests South River, which is pretty much 99 percent white.

Every time I see these posts, it reconfirms my belief that Maryland is a segregated state when it comes to education. It's pretty sad, for all of the talk of being progressive and all of the people in Maryland who identify as progressive but absolutely wouldn't even consider sending their kid to a school where there is a lot of black kids.

I know someone who went to Annapolis High a while back. It was diverse then, too. He got a fine education, went on to get a Ph.D. in math.

And this is the problem. Anytime anyone says "it's a bad school", it's because of racism. Not because it has poor academics, low standards, etc. It's racism. You caught me, PP.

FWIW, my kid attends a private school with a significant black population, higher than Annapolis's. Doesn't mean I'd send him to Annapolis, though.

Did you not see the PP who suggested OP drive by at dismissal? You don't think that's racism? You can't "see" if it's a bad school by driving by at dismissal. What do you think the PP meant by that?

You are naive if you don't realize that a lot of people hide behind the "it's a bad school" when the motive is indeed race. No one mentioned the scores of Annapolis High. No one described why they claim it's a bad school.

The comments are "No -- Wow" and "drive by at dismissal."

If you can't see that that is racism, then you are beyond naive.

So says the person whose children are in a private school or a 90% white public school.