feedback on Anne Arundel schools?

[Anonymous]

We are considering moving from DC to Anne Arundel County. We are aware of the excellent reputations of the Severna Park schools but we are wondering if anyone has experience with the school systems that are closer to DC. We are more focused on MS/HS than ES. Specifically Southern MS/HS or Central MS/South River HS. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I’m a teacher who did the opposite—moved from AACPS to DCPS. I think you’ll find all of the schools you mentioned better than any DCPS. They are certainly WAY more organized and structured than DCPS (which is what I miss the most!). I think they are perfectly fine, average American schools. You don’t have the super competitiveness of Montgomery County or VA, AA county is more run of the mill people.

[Anonymous]

If the choice is between just those 2 feeders, then Central and South River. This may or may not bother you, but both are more Trump oriented than anything. If you can get into STEM at Central/South River, you will be in a good place.

[Anonymous]

We live in this Central ES/Central Middle/South River cluster and it was very well-regarded. Our child is just entering kindergarten this year but we know lots of families with kids at each of the schools and they are all happy. Kids are bright and college-bound. We are fairly liberal and so are our neighbor friends, but of course there are Trumpsters out here too. Its a mix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in this Central ES/Central Middle/South River cluster and it was very well-regarded. Our child is just entering kindergarten this year but we know lots of families with kids at each of the schools and they are all happy. Kids are bright and college-bound. We are fairly liberal and so are our neighbor friends, but of course there are Trumpsters out here too. Its a mix.

Forgot to mention that we moved here after living in DC for many years and we love it! Let me know if you have questions about areas/neighborhoods. We live in Edgewater.

[Anonymous]

Thank you! We are looking in Edgewater but the area a bit to the south (in bounds for Southern) seems to be an easier commute to DC. That said, we are hoping that the covid experience allows for more telework flexibility going forward. And good schools with a healthy contingent of college-bound kids are a big priority for us. Good to know about the mix of families. The Trumpsters might be hard to bear and would definitely be a change for our family. If you have family-friendly neighborhoods to recommend I'd love to hear about them. Just driving around right now it is difficult to get a sense, especially without the normal restaurant activity etc.

[Anonymous]

A friend works as a guidance counselor on the eastern shore. I am no expert but from what I gather there are quite a few good kids on soild footing. But there are also a lot of kids dealing with substance abuse issues at home (opiates and meth are much much much more prevalent) and the overall population is less educated and more blue collar (which is fine, just an adjustment), and yes, politically you'll find many more (MAGA) conservative students and families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A friend works as a guidance counselor on the eastern shore. I am no expert but from what I gather there are quite a few good kids on soild footing. But there are also a lot of kids dealing with substance abuse issues at home (opiates and meth are much much much more prevalent) and the overall population is less educated and more blue collar (which is fine, just an adjustment), and yes, politically you'll find many more (MAGA) conservative students and families.

Please know your geography before spreading false information. The eastern shore IS NOT Anne Arundel County. Anne Arundel County is home to Annapolis, Maryland's state capital.

The Eastern Shore of Maryland consists of all of the counties East of the Chesapeake Bay including Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! We are looking in Edgewater but the area a bit to the south (in bounds for Southern) seems to be an easier commute to DC. That said, we are hoping that the covid experience allows for more telework flexibility going forward. And good schools with a healthy contingent of college-bound kids are a big priority for us. Good to know about the mix of families. The Trumpsters might be hard to bear and would definitely be a change for our family. If you have family-friendly neighborhoods to recommend I'd love to hear about them. Just driving around right now it is difficult to get a sense, especially without the normal restaurant activity etc.

Not sure what your price range is but look in the Gingerville neighborhood off of route 2 on the north side of the bridge. I would also look at neighborhoods off of Riva Road between the Riva Road bridge and rt. 214. I'll be honest some of the neighborhoods look somewhat "interesting" from the main road but once you get up in the neighborhoods there are some nice looking houses. There is also a nice neighborhood up rt. 214 closer to the PG line that I've ridden through and it looked promising. Again, I have no idea what your price range is or what you are looking for. But the area down Mayo Road is a bit sketchy as far as drugs and criminal activity (between rt. 2 and the Royal Farms).

South River does a good group of college bound graduates especially because the STEM program is there but a number of non-STEM go to college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend works as a guidance counselor on the eastern shore. I am no expert but from what I gather there are quite a few good kids on soild footing. But there are also a lot of kids dealing with substance abuse issues at home (opiates and meth are much much much more prevalent) and the overall population is less educated and more blue collar (which is fine, just an adjustment), and yes, politically you'll find many more (MAGA) conservative students and families.

Please know your geography before spreading false information. The eastern shore IS NOT Anne Arundel County. Anne Arundel County is home to Annapolis, Maryland's state capital.

The Eastern Shore of Maryland consists of all of the counties East of the Chesapeake Bay including Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester.

You're right I misspoke. My friend works in Anne Arundel County and I was trying to be vague as to not identify her school/her. She does not work in the Eastern Shore! I may have failed geography of MD, but my thoughts are still actually applicable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend works as a guidance counselor on the eastern shore. I am no expert but from what I gather there are quite a few good kids on soild footing. But there are also a lot of kids dealing with substance abuse issues at home (opiates and meth are much much much more prevalent) and the overall population is less educated and more blue collar (which is fine, just an adjustment), and yes, politically you'll find many more (MAGA) conservative students and families.

Please know your geography before spreading false information. The eastern shore IS NOT Anne Arundel County. Anne Arundel County is home to Annapolis, Maryland's state capital.

The Eastern Shore of Maryland consists of all of the counties East of the Chesapeake Bay including Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester.

You're right I misspoke. My friend works in Anne Arundel County and I was trying to be vague as to not identify her school/her. She does not work in the Eastern Shore! I may have failed geography of MD, but my thoughts are still actually applicable.

Ah ok. So you have a friend or know someone who maybe works in Anne Arundel County SOMEWHERE, probably nowhere near the school districts the OP is asking you about. And you thought that you should definitely spread some negative hearsay. Yes, there are poor and troubled areas in AA county, as there are in affluent Montgomery county. Yes, opioid addiction is sadly a problem in most rural areas and it is more rural here. There are also very high-income part of AA county where I promise you no one is walking around addicted to meth. My neighbors are all educated professionals with high-achieving kids and we all chose the South River pyramid because its great. As for politics, Anne Arundel County voted for Clinton in the last presidential election so don't blame Trump on us. I encourage you to take a day trip to historic waterfront Annapolis and walk around a bit for a history tour. Or visit gorgeous Quiet Waters Park and rent kayaks to take out on the bay. Or at the very least understand that guidance counselors deal with troubled kids and there are (sadly) troubled kids everywhere (including wealthy Bethesda where we used to live).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you! We are looking in Edgewater but the area a bit to the south (in bounds for Southern) seems to be an easier commute to DC. That said, we are hoping that the covid experience allows for more telework flexibility going forward. And good schools with a healthy contingent of college-bound kids are a big priority for us. Good to know about the mix of families. The Trumpsters might be hard to bear and would definitely be a change for our family. If you have family-friendly neighborhoods to recommend I'd love to hear about them. Just driving around right now it is difficult to get a sense, especially without the normal restaurant activity etc.

Not sure what your budget is but South River Colony is in the Central ES/Central Middle/South River pyramid. Great neighborhood with golf, tennis, pools, woods. Tons of kids everywhere!

[Anonymous]

Stick to a densely populated city. Other places can have as much as 49% trump support and you don't want to deal with that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend works as a guidance counselor on the eastern shore. I am no expert but from what I gather there are quite a few good kids on soild footing. But there are also a lot of kids dealing with substance abuse issues at home (opiates and meth are much much much more prevalent) and the overall population is less educated and more blue collar (which is fine, just an adjustment), and yes, politically you'll find many more (MAGA) conservative students and families.

Please know your geography before spreading false information. The eastern shore IS NOT Anne Arundel County. Anne Arundel County is home to Annapolis, Maryland's state capital.

The Eastern Shore of Maryland consists of all of the counties East of the Chesapeake Bay including Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester.

You're right I misspoke. My friend works in Anne Arundel County and I was trying to be vague as to not identify her school/her. She does not work in the Eastern Shore! I may have failed geography of MD, but my thoughts are still actually applicable.

Ah ok. So you have a friend or know someone who maybe works in Anne Arundel County SOMEWHERE, probably nowhere near the school districts the OP is asking you about. And you thought that you should definitely spread some negative hearsay. Yes, there are poor and troubled areas in AA county, as there are in affluent Montgomery county. Yes, opioid addiction is sadly a problem in most rural areas and it is more rural here. There are also very high-income part of AA county where I promise you no one is walking around addicted to meth. My neighbors are all educated professionals with high-achieving kids and we all chose the South River pyramid because its great. As for politics, Anne Arundel County voted for Clinton in the last presidential election so don't blame Trump on us. I encourage you to take a day trip to historic waterfront Annapolis and walk around a bit for a history tour. Or visit gorgeous Quiet Waters Park and rent kayaks to take out on the bay. Or at the very least understand that guidance counselors deal with troubled kids and there are (sadly) troubled kids everywhere (including wealthy Bethesda where we used to live).

Maybe not meth, but few areas of AA county are immune to opioids. My understanding is the southern part is not as wealthy as the northern part where Severna Park is? https://aahealth.org/opioid-related-data/

Also, AACPS is all one district, so if the PP’s friend works for AACPS, then yes she does work in the same district OP is asking about. I don’t understand the need to be so hostile to someone who admitted to making an error of naming. Are you trying to scare away OP? In my 7 years in AA county I never met anyone so nasty.

[Anonymous]

Between South River and Southern, I would choose South River. Southern has a problem with racism.