2nd grade and beyond.

At what grade are most students fluent?

It's true: teachers yell A LOT. but most kids I know who go there are pretty happy AND academically it is VERY good.
If you can get past the yelling, it's a good school.

It's my understanding that it's really hard to get into. I took a tour and thought the same things the PPs have said. Many kids did not seem engaged. Many of the teachers were yelling...a lot -- even with guests touring through the building. Seemed like an unhappy place but at the same time I was impressed by the kids' language skills. We ultimately went private. The contrast between the Goddard environment and our private -- worlds apart.

Anonymous wrote:My son did not like it. I had to pull him in 4th grade.

Wow did he say why?

My son did not like it. I had to pull him in 4th grade.

Anonymous wrote:I wish it was IB PYP (International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program) but that is too progressive for PG County. Whatever they are doing works though!

Actually, PG County is offering IB PYP in 2 schools as of the 2014-15 school year: John Hanson French Immersion and Melwood Elementary School. Melwood is our boundary elementary school, so if my daughter doesn't get into a charter or specialty school through the lottery, then she'll end up going there for kindergarten. I'm hoping that the program has a positive impact on Melwood's dismal test scores/rating.

http://www1.pgcps.org/advancedstudies/index.aspx?id=190465

I wish it was IB PYP (International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program) but that is too progressive for PG County. Whatever they are doing works though!

Is common core followed or IB PYP?

Thank you for your replies!

I agree with everything the pp said. It is a good school and the opportunity to learn another language (fluently) is amazing. The social environment can be slightly rough and the teachers are quite strict (and many of them yell). It can be hard for a sensitive child.

We have two kids there- one in ES and one in MS. Overall, we have been happy with the program. Teachers, for the most part, are excellent (although my oldest has had a couple over the years that we have not been impressed with). We love that our kids are learning another language, but also that they are exposed to learning from a wider world view, as teachers are from many different countries. Socially, our kids have not experienced any issues and both have good friends at school. However, because it is not a neighborhood school, it is harder to socialize outside of school because kids are from all over the northern part of the county.

There is no recess in middle school. Our younger ES child only gets 20 minutes/day.

Any French immersion parents out there? How do you like the school for your child? I know that it is difficult to get a spot, but I would still like to know more about the school. The academics seem good, what about the social environment? How much recess do the kids get? Thanks.