Anonymous
Post 01/18/2026 11:19     Subject: ERHS or de matha
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We had a similar choice last year and went the single sex catholic route and we are very pleased. It wasn’t worth the headache of pushing a kid through the science & tech program knowing they were more interested in humanities. I hear my child discussing school with peers and I know we made the right choice. Friends at erhs are not being well prepared for college unless they are in the s&t program.


I know many people who did well coming out of the science and tech program at ERHS, but the school size is daunting. In my observation if you are not in the Sci and Tech program or Summit at Bowie High, you won't be well prepared for college at all in PG.


Regarding ERHS Science and Tech vs a private, my child had the option two years ago. We decided on private because of the size, resources, and athletics. I think the size of the school would have been a huge adjustment coming from their middle school. Lastly, they’re not a hard core STEM person so I didn’t see a reason to force it. No regrets. My child is thriving. Ultimately, you have to think about your child and your family finances.


This is what I was thinking. Only DS is actually into STEM. Dematha still seems like they have good resources and support in that area.
Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 12:43     Subject: ERHS or de matha
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We had a similar choice last year and went the single sex catholic route and we are very pleased. It wasn’t worth the headache of pushing a kid through the science & tech program knowing they were more interested in humanities. I hear my child discussing school with peers and I know we made the right choice. Friends at erhs are not being well prepared for college unless they are in the s&t program.


I know many people who did well coming out of the science and tech program at ERHS, but the school size is daunting. In my observation if you are not in the Sci and Tech program or Summit at Bowie High, you won't be well prepared for college at all in PG.


Regarding ERHS Science and Tech vs a private, my child had the option two years ago. We decided on private because of the size, resources, and athletics. I think the size of the school would have been a huge adjustment coming from their middle school. Lastly, they’re not a hard core STEM person so I didn’t see a reason to force it. No regrets. My child is thriving. Ultimately, you have to think about your child and your family finances.
Anonymous
Post 01/12/2026 07:07     Subject: ERHS or de matha
Anonymous wrote:We had a similar choice last year and went the single sex catholic route and we are very pleased. It wasn’t worth the headache of pushing a kid through the science & tech program knowing they were more interested in humanities. I hear my child discussing school with peers and I know we made the right choice. Friends at erhs are not being well prepared for college unless they are in the s&t program.


I know many people who did well coming out of the science and tech program at ERHS, but the school size is daunting. In my observation if you are not in the Sci and Tech program or Summit at Bowie High, you won't be well prepared for college at all in PG.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 14:30     Subject: ERHS or de matha
We had a similar choice last year and went the single sex catholic route and we are very pleased. It wasn’t worth the headache of pushing a kid through the science & tech program knowing they were more interested in humanities. I hear my child discussing school with peers and I know we made the right choice. Friends at erhs are not being well prepared for college unless they are in the s&t program.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 14:24     Subject: ERHS or de matha
I have nothing to add about ERHS but we applied to DeMatha and it’s the top of our list. It wasn’t initially because my son wanted co-ed but the education, teachers, school history, spirit, brotherhood, respect, and community blew us all away. We’re hoping he gets accepted!
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 12:53     Subject: ERHS or de matha
Anonymous wrote:I went to ERHS back in 1986 and I wouldn't send my kid there outside of science and tech today.

My education was top notch and I was well prepared for college, but they keep the science and tech kids together for the most part in classes, I think the only class I had with non-s&t kids was gym (granted this was the late 80s). But the science and tech program is rigorous, not sure I can speak to the rest of the school.

My brothers went to DM and I know several people who have kids there now and they absolutely love it.

Any fresh thoughts on this topic this year? Waiting for results, but will likely come down to these two high schools.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 08:02     Subject: ERHS or de matha
I went to ERHS back in 1986 and I wouldn't send my kid there outside of science and tech today.

My education was top notch and I was well prepared for college, but they keep the science and tech kids together for the most part in classes, I think the only class I had with non-s&t kids was gym (granted this was the late 80s). But the science and tech program is rigorous, not sure I can speak to the rest of the school.

My brothers went to DM and I know several people who have kids there now and they absolutely love it.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2025 07:14     Subject: ERHS or de matha
Anonymous wrote:1. Is your kid interested in other subjects besides STEM? The STEM burnout is real.

2. Where do you live? The bus is an issue. You will likely have to participate in a carpool if you aren’t right in Greenbelt.

3. Personality of your kid? ERHS is considerably bigger than DeMatha.

4. How do you feel about religious education?

5. The music program is amazing at DeMatha.

6. Did your child get a scholarship? This was the tipping point for our kid.


Great list of considerations. I'd add an obvious one which is that DeMatha is all boys vs..ERHS being Co-Ed. We have found this to be mostly positive, especially for 9th and 10th. Athletics may be another consideration for some. Major sports are competitive at DeMatha but there are plenty of other ways for kids to get involved. The school spirit is strong.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 23:03     Subject: ERHS or de matha
1. Is your kid interested in other subjects besides STEM? The STEM burnout is real.

2. Where do you live? The bus is an issue. You will likely have to participate in a carpool if you aren’t right in Greenbelt.

3. Personality of your kid? ERHS is considerably bigger than DeMatha.

4. How do you feel about religious education?

5. The music program is amazing at DeMatha.

6. Did your child get a scholarship? This was the tipping point for our kid.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 22:25     Subject: ERHS or de matha
Is ERHS that bad ? I thought it was the top pgcps high school?
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 17:41     Subject: ERHS or de matha
If you're not on the science and tech route at ERHS, I would go DeMatha. If your son does want to have a balance of STEM and non-STEM classes DeMatha offers a great curriculum for students to access science, engineering, computer science and robotics at multiple levels so it's less intimidating for beginners but still rigorous/challenging for more advanced students.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 17:21     Subject: ERHS or de matha
Anonymous wrote:ETA: ERHS is still a neighborhood school. If you’re not in that program, you are in bare bones pg curriculum. Better off at a TAG high school


But you have to qualify for TAG from middle school and then lottery in to a high school. They also have the health services program with PG Community College where students can earn an AA degree and extra credit.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 15:54     Subject: ERHS or de matha
ETA: ERHS is still a neighborhood school. If you’re not in that program, you are in bare bones pg curriculum. Better off at a TAG high school
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 15:52     Subject: ERHS or de matha
Eleanor Roosevelt?
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 15:41     Subject: ERHS or de matha
Curious if anyone has an opinion. Accepted in de matha. DC is decent at math but doesn’t know if they like it enough to go the science & tech route.

I worry about the education ERHS provides outside science and tech program.