Why is Hyattsville Elementary School a 2?

[Anonymous]

I live in Hyattsville and have young kids. There are some big school boosters in the neighborhood, but I just can't get past the fact that the school doesn't have very good results. Genuine question: if it is so great why is it a 2? Why aren't the test scores higher? Why is there such a big discrepancy between UP Elementary and HES?

[Anonymous]

I think you have to make your decision based on your individual child and your family's needs. The kids I know who go to school there have highly educated parents and would be learning well at almost any school. It seems orderly enough, though I think I heard that there were sub teachers in some of the classrooms for long periods of time and it didn't go well.

[Anonymous]

I thought it had been bumped up to a 4, after being a 3 the year prior - but I just looked it up and it's a 2. Did it drop back down?

Well, I send my kids to the school just across the street - St Jerome's, which we're happy with. But I do get a very positive vibe from HES, and in fact the SJA basketball team practices in the HES gym, so I've been inside and it's happy, cheery place, the kids seem very happy & playing nicely when I pass by. I hear from the neighborhood listserve that the PTA is strong and the principal is a good leader. I think that the student body is diverse, some students aren't getting any English at home, some may come from families without much education, so the classroom material isn't reinforced at home - but it seems like the students whose parents are involved are doing well and the families are pleased with it.

Maybe take a tour and see for yourself? I'm sure the principal would meet with you.

[Anonymous]

Lots of poor kids and esl students- brings scores down. Kids from middle class families do fine. Don't be afraid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lots of poor kids and esl students- brings scores down. Kids from middle class families do fine. Don't be afraid.

Oh come on. Don't most PG schools have poor kids and esl students? Nearby schools that have more esl students and even fewer highly educated and middle class families score higher than 2. You shouldn't settle for a 2.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of poor kids and esl students- brings scores down. Kids from middle class families do fine. Don't be afraid.

Oh come on. Don't most PG schools have poor kids and esl students? Nearby schools that have more esl students and even fewer highly educated and middle class families score higher than 2. You shouldn't settle for a 2.

PG county has a drop out rate that is almost 14 percentage points greater than MoCo, those kids have to start somewhere. Hyattsville is worse then the rest of PG and is a factor in what is bringing the greater county down.