Any info on Capitol Heights Elementary?

[Anonymous]

I've heard a mix of opinions. Anyone with first hand experience with Capitol Heights?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've heard a mix of opinions. Anyone with first hand experience with Capitol Heights?

From what I remember it's a TAG school. Good test scores and reviews

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've heard a mix of opinions. Anyone with first hand experience with Capitol Heights?

From what I remember it's a TAG school. Good test scores and reviews

More than half the kids are TAG and the ESOL rate is low so I would expect test scores to be high. I'm trying to get some first hand account of the culture of the school.
Thanks!

[Anonymous]

School is a happy, positive place. The principal asks teachers to dim the lights in the morning and starts the day with a medication exercise. There are a lot after-school clubs and kids take a bunch of field trips. After care (Alphabest) looks fun and inviting and the kids always seem active and engaged in it. The school has some great Spanish speaking teachers who teach math and science in Spanish.

[Anonymous]

I went for a visit last week and I while was initially excited because it’s a TAG school and seemed better on paper than most schools in the area, I was disappointed. According to the principal the students spend only 30-45 minutes learning to use PCs each WEEK. On the plus side, the small size and co-teaching model were appealing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went for a visit last week and I while was initially excited because it’s a TAG school and seemed better on paper than most schools in the area, I was disappointed. According to the principal the students spend only 30-45 minutes learning to use PCs each WEEK. On the plus side, the small size and co-teaching model were appealing.

This is why we can't have nice things. This is why you were disappointed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went for a visit last week and I while was initially excited because it’s a TAG school and seemed better on paper than most schools in the area, I was disappointed. According to the principal the students spend only 30-45 minutes learning to use PCs each WEEK. On the plus side, the small size and co-teaching model were appealing.

Do they only use PCs for 30-45 min each week or only have a dedicated technology class once a week. My kid goes to another PGCPS and they have an official Technology special once a week but they have PCs in their classrooms and use them daily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School is a happy, positive place. The principal asks teachers to dim the lights in the morning and starts the day with a medication exercise. There are a lot after-school clubs and kids take a bunch of field trips. After care (Alphabest) looks fun and inviting and the kids always seem active and engaged in it. The school has some great Spanish speaking teachers who teach math and science in Spanish.

Is this open to all students or just Hispanic kids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School is a happy, positive place. The principal asks teachers to dim the lights in the morning and starts the day with a medication exercise. There are a lot after-school clubs and kids take a bunch of field trips. After care (Alphabest) looks fun and inviting and the kids always seem active and engaged in it. The school has some great Spanish speaking teachers who teach math and science in Spanish.

Is this open to all students or just Hispanic kids?

It is called Dual Language Stem. Math and Science classes are taught in Spanish to all students.

http://www.pgcps.org/capitolheights/PB_ches.aspx?Pageid=256973&id=257849

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went for a visit last week and I while was initially excited because it’s a TAG school and seemed better on paper than most schools in the area, I was disappointed. According to the principal the students spend only 30-45 minutes learning to use PCs each WEEK. On the plus side, the small size and co-teaching model were appealing.

The students use Chromebooks and other technology in the classroom. Not so much the PCs.

[Anonymous]

file:///home/chronos/u-68b8090ac1e938b02714f0ede21d5145b4865df2/Downloads/november-newsletter.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went for a visit last week and I while was initially excited because it’s a TAG school and seemed better on paper than most schools in the area, I was disappointed. According to the principal the students spend only 30-45 minutes learning to use PCs each WEEK. On the plus side, the small size and co-teaching model were appealing.

This is why we can't have nice things. This is why you were disappointed?

Yes, this is just one of the reasons why this isn’t the right school for us. When I asked the principal about the use of Macs she scoffed and acted like I spoke a foreign language. We toured a lot of schools and while this certainly isn’t the worst (the art teacher’s approach to incorporating fractions into art class was interesting), it didn’t hit some of the marks that are important to our family.

But I guess we all set our sights at different levels...

[Anonymous]

CHES graduate from 1993! Happy to hear my old ES is still doing well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went for a visit last week and I while was initially excited because it’s a TAG school and seemed better on paper than most schools in the area, I was disappointed. According to the principal the students spend only 30-45 minutes learning to use PCs each WEEK. On the plus side, the small size and co-teaching model were appealing.

This is why we can't have nice things. This is why you were disappointed?

Yes, this is just one of the reasons why this isn’t the right school for us. When I asked the principal about the use of Macs she scoffed and acted like I spoke a foreign language. We toured a lot of schools and while this certainly isn’t the worst (the art teacher’s approach to incorporating fractions into art class was interesting), it didn’t hit some of the marks that are important to our family.

But I guess we all set our sights at different levels...

Your family is looking for maximum computer time? What schools have you found that provide the amount of Mac Use you are looking for?

[Anonymous]

We did atour recently and I was impressed with the Principal and TAG coordinator. The school is absorbing TAG students from Highland Park ES next year. Would love to hear more reviews from existing Capitol Heights parents.