We are PG residents, using the local schools (Gladys Noon Spellman) for the Cheverly area. I have been VERY impressed with the overall standard of the classrooms, the teachers, the behavior and attitudes of the kids in the school, even compared to private schools I've toured because I also worried about PG's reputation for public schools. Aside from the basic infrastructure being "standard school construction", there is not that much difference - although I know we could have been very lucky so far with the teachers DC has had contact with. I don't know all of them.
There are new computers in the K classrooms for the kids, one for the teacher, and the set up and material and all the "centers" in the room are comprehensive. The standard of homework is good, and not "busy work". DC was identified and selected for testing for TAG in K, even though TAG doesn't officially start until 2nd grade at the local TAG school. What really impressed me was the way the kids with a higher reading level are identified and either taken to the relevant class level for reading time, or a reading group of similar levels is created for those kids to do reading. Same for mathematics. Makes a lot of extra work for the teachers come grading time, since DC has effectively 3 teachers, and they are doing that for several kids that I know of to keep them challenged and interested, and parents didn't have to ask for it either.
They have a violin program for the older grades similar to Arlington county schools (from what friends there have said), a band, school-wide (K-6) dance/singing productions, music 5 times every 2 weeks, PE 5 times every 2 weeks.....and all this in a school that has a student body composition where many parents do not speak English and which qualifies for every single child in the school to receive a free breakfast.
Which they can all get if they want to. And it is not bad food either. I love the "fruit of the month" and the "vegetable of the week" or whatever it is. DC told me how to prepare artichokes the other week.
The teachers I know have all completed or are doing a masters, many have some kind of TAG training qualification. Cheverly is very lucky to have a school like this here, and it is a PG PS.
The parent body started getting involved several years ago and has done a lot as well.
So I'd say, definitely check out the individual schools before putting a blanket-ban on the whole county.
For MS I don't know (other than a TAG school that is K-8), but Roosevelt high is where the nextdoor girl went and all her friends, who all babysat for us at various stages, and all reports that I have heard about Roosevelt HS from parents and students say good things.
Okay, longer than I meant it to be, but hey.

My son goes to PG county school their not that bad it's just certain schools you have to watch out for

Plus the tag program really helps your kids later on in life and if the get in a tag middle school and high school it really helps their chances at collage

Plus the program teaches them a grade above their current grade level

mmmmm. all these negative things about pgcps. there are so many success stories coming out of these schools. my son attended henry g ferguson elementary school. he had a wonderful experience there. i think the TAG program is pretty rigorous, but he is holding his own. he now attends walker mill ms. not a bad school. be there for your child. regardless of where your child goes, if you are not 'there', he/she will not be able to maximize. some people want too much from the school system and are not willing to give much. i do agree that some schools 'suck' but you and your child can make a difference wherever you go.

Anonymous wrote:MY D IS IN THE 6TH GRADE AND HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR TAG, WAITING RESULTS BUT SHE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN A STUDENT. WHAT ARE SOME GOOD PG SCHOOL FOR TAG??

If you daughter is identified for the TAG program in 6th grade, she should start receiving services this year in the school she currently attends.

In addition, she should qualify to attend the TAG middle school for your neighborhood. There are several middle schools with TAG programs. Your child can only attend the one slated for your address.

To find which TAG middle school she could attend see here:

http://schools.pgcps.org/SchoolFinder/findschool2.asp

Input your street name and click on the street number if any.... then you should get a long list of different schools your child could attend based on address. Scroll all the way down to the bottom and look under "Middle School" to TAG porgram... that would be her TAG school.


If you can't figure it out contact theses people:

Questions or comments can be directed to:
the Office of Pupil Accounting & School Boundaries
at (301) 952-6300 or email at pasbt@pgcps.org.

MY D IS IN THE 6TH GRADE AND HAVE BEEN TESTED FOR TAG, WAITING RESULTS BUT SHE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AN A STUDENT. WHAT ARE SOME GOOD PG SCHOOL FOR TAG??

To all that can't appreciate PG County schools. My daughter has been in PG County schools since kindergarten and has been in the TAG program since 3rd grade. I know that PG county schools did not meet AYP last year but in considering how they tally their score with ESOL and children with disabilities I don't think they are graded fairly. I have every intention of leaving my daughter in PG county schools and will apply for the lottery that begins in January. So please don't be too hard on PG County...there are some really good schools out there...namely Paint Branch Elementary

Anonymous wrote: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.

There's a lottery. You can apply online through the PGCPS website, or ask your local school for an application. A child needs to be TAG identified to qualify for the TAG magnets (kids are tested throughout their elementary career starting in first grade for the next year, I think), but other magnet programs do not have the same restriction.

my kid is in 4 th grade in Pg county public school how can she get in to Magnet school programs , what is the application process , pls can you let me know ? actually she is a GPA $.0 student pls can you help in this regard , iam new to Maryland public school system?

my kid is in 4 th grade in Pg county public school how can she get in to Magnet school programs , what is the application process , pls can you let me know ? actually she is a GPA $.0 student pls can you help in this regard , iam new to Maryland public school system?

Anonymous wrote:I have visited Eleanor Roosevelt. I would never call it a "great school."

When did you visit? And what didn't you like about it?

I have visited Eleanor Roosevelt. I would never call it a "great school."

PP, when was your child in the PG TAG program? Was he evaluated for Gifted/talented with special learning needs? (Twice exceptional)?

I graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt and it is a great school. The trouble is that you get the luck of the draw with schools and teachers. So you have to perfectly match your new home with your schools for each age bracket in your family. I personally moved to homeschooling because my luck wasn't to my liking and your requests to change teachers may not be granted. May the Lord lead you.

Also, from my experience the TAG program in PG is based on skill and operates at a fast pace. My child tested high for the gifted program in another state that based their testing on IQ and he was an A student. When we transfered to PG, we did not receive a warm welcome into their TAG and his grades suffered. If your child cannot work at a fast pace, PG TAG is not the program. Intelligence does not equal speed, but I could not convince anyone in that school. Best Wishes!

Although PG is much maligned, particularly by those who don't live here, it does have issues with the school system. It also serves a much lower income and more diverse population than Montgomery County. But even with the difficulties that the schools have faced, there are very good schools to be found. Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt is excellent, and, given the population it serves, has very impressive test scores, not all that statistically different from Blair or even that far behind BCC, which MoCo seems to hold as the "gold standard." It has a higher 4-year college attendance rate, and a higher (combined 4 and 2 year) college attendance rate than Blair and many other Montgomery County schools. It is a combination of a science and tech magnet and a regular neighborhood school- many parents in the Hyattsville area encourage their children to test into the magnet and attend that school. It's certainly worth a look, and quite quite less expensive than Montgomery County...

OP here. PP thank you for really getting it.