PG County schools? TAG prgram?

[Anonymous]

I see so much about MoCo and very little about PG county here. We currently live in VA, but I work in PG County and the commute is rough. We are considering moving closer to work. My DD is in the FCPS and is in the GT program.

Just wondering what the thoughts are of those who have kids in PGCS? Specific experience with the PGCS TAG program would be appreciated.

FWIW, I work in Hyattsville. DH is a consultant and works out of the home but often commutes into DC to meet with clients.

[Anonymous]

I've been to Hyattsville quite a bit, and while its not a bad place, I'm not sure I'd want to live there. In your situation, I think I would move to Silver Spring and get the Montgomery County Schools.

[Anonymous]

I normally don't do this in response to a specific question in an OP, but if I were in your position, I would definitely keep your daughter where she is. My husband grew up in that school system and from his experience and a lot of people that I currently know, I think it would be a mistake.

[Anonymous]

There is no way I would give up FCPS for PG. Please really research your options and neighborhoods and the schools associated, please.

What about Howard County?

[Anonymous]

Thanks, but I am looking for feedback on PGCS. We would not necessarily live in Hyattsville. I am considering Greenbelt and Cheverly as well as other locations. The people I know here who live in Howard County also have rough commutes and that would make DH's commute rough into the city as well.

My commute is not so bad if I go in early and leave early (35-40 minutes), but if there is an accident on 495 it's rough and it can take well over an hour.

And FWIW, I have not been so happy with FCPS. I know it gets glowing reviews, but seriously, it has its own sets of issues.

[Anonymous]

I live in Hyattsville and am happy here (shocking, I know). We send our little kids to a private school but from what I hear from my neighbors, Univiersity Park Elem. school is good and the magnet program at Rossevelt High School is good. Also, the spanish & french immersion elem schools in Greenbelt are well-loved, as is the public Montessori elem school in Greenbelt.

There's a very active parents group in Hyattsville, made up of families with kids under age 6 or so. They have a yahoo group called Hyattsville Nuturing Moms. They are very supportive and involved with Hyattsville Elem school, which doesn't have scores as high as University Park Elem school.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP.

Do you have any info on how thw TAG program works? It seems different from FCPS in that you have to apply to go to one of the TAG magnets? Do you have a choice of magnet or is it determined by your base school?

[Anonymous]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_George's_County_Public_Schools

[Anonymous]

I looked at Wiki. I was hoping for personal experiences.

[Anonymous]

I'm a former FCPS teacher. I live in the Hyattsville area and my child attends school at Oakcrest, one of the TAG magnet schools. Our experience there so far has been really positive! The teacher and principal have been very responsive, the staff has been warm and friendly. My child's work has been interesting and challenging, and the homework has not been onerous. I've been very pleased so far with the experience. I even like the bus driver!

I think there are 8 TAG magnet elementary schools. There is also TAG in the regular neighborhood schools, which could be either kids getting pulled out for some extra enrichment by an itinerant specialist, or something called TAG in the Regular Classroom, which I think is where they group the TAG-identified kids into one class, along with non-TAG identified children.

Entrance to the TAG magnet schools is by qualifying for the program (testing plus teacher recommendations) and then also by entering the lottery. The schools aren't just for students who are at the higher end of being TAG identified in other words. Once you are in a TAG magnet school, you can continue to one of the three 3 TAG middle schools, I believe.

If you child is accepted into the TAG program and you go through the lottery and get a spot, then he'll be assigned to a TAG school for that area. There is a bus, or you can drive and pick up of course.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. Is the TAG lottery general, or is there a targeted magnet based on your base school. In other words, is it like the FCPS GT Centers, where the GT center you go to depends on your base school?

Also, do you know anything about the process for transfers? My DD is GT identified in FCPS, so would she need to go through additional testing in PGCS?

All data gathering at this point. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP. Is the TAG lottery general, or is there a targeted magnet based on your base school. In other words, is it like the FCPS GT Centers, where the GT center you go to depends on your base school?

It's all based on your base school or rather home address. You can go to the school website locator (if i have time later I'll hunt it up for you) and input your address (or the address of the house you are hoping to buy!) and find out which TAG school your child would go to if accepted.

I will be honest -- there has been some redistricting or boundary changing/school consolidations of late, so you shoudl never assume anything. I think there will be some budget problems for the next few years, at the very least. Also, I'm not sur ethe direction of the TAG program has been solidified within the school district.

Also, do you know anything about the process for transfers? My DD is GT identified in FCPS, so would she need to go through additional testing in PGCS?

I don't know anything about it.

All data gathering at this point. Thanks.

I completely understand! Our quality of live since moving to PG County has been fantastic -- prices here are so much lower than what we could afford elsewhere andit has allowed us to have one spouse at home and the other spouse to have a very short commute! The people we live near are fantastic, down-to-earth people and very friendly. The schools issue I agree is a tough one, but we have been fortunate to find a great public school program for our child. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thank you! I really appreciate it!

Honestly, our overall quality of life would improve so much if we moved to Hyattsville-ish area. FCPS has not been the stellar district that I had expected. Everything is so school/teacher/principal dependent, I have now become cynical about schools in general. Also, we are not in what is considered a good pyramid. My kids are slated to go to one of the "lesser" FCPS high schools, not a Langley/Woodson/McLean, and there is a zero chance of us moving into those areas.

[Anonymous]

I live in the Univ. Park area of Hyattsville and have 2 small kids. It is a great place to live, very kid friendly, easy commute to DC plus friendly neighbors and affordable houses. We figure we are sent school wise until middle school. After that things get dicey and I'm not sure what we'll do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no way I would give up FCPS for PG. Please really research your options and neighborhoods and the schools associated, please.

What about Howard County?

I agree. No way I would consider PG county schools.

My spouse taught for one year in Hyattsville and fled.