Even if we are zoned to it as the neighborhood school and DC is TAG identified? If you "lose" at the lottery, do you still get some sort of TAG services at your neighborhood school? I thought kids did, it just wasn't center-based, it was pull-out or something. I thought that if that was the case then DC would have automatic placement into the TAG center if it was at the school DC was zoned to. Or is it lottery or nothing for any type of TAG services? That would be kind of crummy if there is no differentiation or anything if you lose at the lottery.

Your child would not be guaranteed entry to the TAG middle school -- he or she would need to enter the lottery.

Can any of the PPs who mentioned the TAG center at Greenbelt Middle give some more info on that program? DC is in private right now but TAG identified. Greenbelt Middle would be our zoned middle school in 2 years, so would DC be guaranteed TAG placement if TAG identified by testing going into 6th or would it still be dependent on the lottery?

Does the TAG cohort kind of operate separately within the school with the zoned neighborhood kids or is it strictly TAG at GMS now? I know the elementary DC would could try to get into via lottery is just TAG kids now, but is that the same for the middle school center? We don't really want to switch her away from her school that she likes during a non-entry year, but in 6th grade it seems like everyone would be "new" to some degree so that might be easier socially. Any info on Greenbelt Middle would be much appreciated!

Thanks for the info+ on AA schools....we are still in the early stages of looking into places to move since DD1 is just entering K now

should read "schools get higher ratings" not "schools get higher schools."

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any personal input on the TAG program but I do know that Greenbelt Middle School has recently become a TAG magnet and that the people I know who have children there are very happy with it. Cheverly, Greenbelt, University Park and Old Hyattsville are wonderful communities. Neighbors know each other and there are lots of families with young kids.
Living in PG has given me a quality of life that I would have a very hard time giving up. I have a 10 minute commute, which means I can run home to have lunch with my kids from time to time.
Navigating the school system is challenging and there is a real possibility that we will have to move to AA county when DC are in High School but for the time being, I'm happy living here.

What about Roosevelt HS?

I get your concern, but it seems as though schools in Anne Arundel are only marginally better (I think Broadneck is the exception) when compared to the price increase in real estate, and the increased commute time....

My concern is if they don't get into the TAG Middle School or Roosevelt HS. If they are fortunate to get in we will stay put. The middle school we are currently zoned for has a Great Schools rating of 1 and the high school is a 2. We have 3 kids and private school is not an option.
I work in College Park so my commute from Crofton, Odenton or Davidsonville would only be about 30-40 min. Those areas have excellent middle and high schools (Anne Arundel Middle School, Anne Arundel High School, Central Middle School, South River Senior High). If I worked in downtown, those areas would not be an option for our family.

The elementary and middle schools in Odenton are not good. Everyone I know who lives in Odenton sends their kids to private school.

Crofton has highly rated elementary (although there was a teacher convicted of sex abuse at one of the elementary schools) and middle schools, but it feeds into the same high schools as Odenton, so remember that. My experience with AA county is that the schools get higher schools, but it's not necessarily a more rigorous education. There are problems; they're just a different type of problem then PG.

Davidsonville is very expensive, and there is always a very low inventory.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any personal input on the TAG program but I do know that Greenbelt Middle School has recently become a TAG magnet and that the people I know who have children there are very happy with it. Cheverly, Greenbelt, University Park and Old Hyattsville are wonderful communities. Neighbors know each other and there are lots of families with young kids.
Living in PG has given me a quality of life that I would have a very hard time giving up. I have a 10 minute commute, which means I can run home to have lunch with my kids from time to time.
Navigating the school system is challenging and there is a real possibility that we will have to move to AA county when DC are in High School but for the time being, I'm happy living here.

What about Roosevelt HS?

I get your concern, but it seems as though schools in Anne Arundel are only marginally better (I think Broadneck is the exception) when compared to the price increase in real estate, and the increased commute time....

My concern is if they don't get into the TAG Middle School or Roosevelt HS. If they are fortunate to get in we will stay put. The middle school we are currently zoned for has a Great Schools rating of 1 and the high school is a 2. We have 3 kids and private school is not an option.
I work in College Park so my commute from Crofton, Odenton or Davidsonville would only be about 30-40 min. Those areas have excellent middle and high schools (Anne Arundel Middle School, Anne Arundel High School, Central Middle School, South River Senior High). If I worked in downtown, those areas would not be an option for our family.

Wow, earlier PP, nice write up of Spellman!

OP, where did you guys end up?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Roosevelt is great, but it is very hard to get into. Most students study every saturday the year before to prepare for the test. Even so, not all will get in. And what if the housing market is depressed when your kid hits high school and you don't get into roosevelt? You won't be able to afford to move. maybe you can get into a catholic high school which isn't too expensive. BTW: there are very very few private schools in PG, and the ones there tend to be catholic. If you are not catholic, you'll need to drive for hours if your kid is not one for Roosevelt...

You don't have to be Catholic to attend a Catholic school. Although you might not be comfortable with all aspects of the curriculum.

that's true, but there also aren't many catholic high schools in pg either. The OP says she wants to move to avoid commuting, but if she is not careful, she'll end up commuting to take her kid to high schoo.

Anonymous wrote:Roosevelt is great, but it is very hard to get into. Most students study every saturday the year before to prepare for the test. Even so, not all will get in. And what if the housing market is depressed when your kid hits high school and you don't get into roosevelt? You won't be able to afford to move. maybe you can get into a catholic high school which isn't too expensive. BTW: there are very very few private schools in PG, and the ones there tend to be catholic. If you are not catholic, you'll need to drive for hours if your kid is not one for Roosevelt...

You don't have to be Catholic to attend a Catholic school. Although you might not be comfortable with all aspects of the curriculum.

PG County schools aren't worth the spit it takes to curse them.... don't do it girlfriend... it's a trap...

Hours? It doesn't take me hours to get to Capitol Hill, or Bethesda or NW DC and I live in Historic Hyattsville.

University of Maryland just created a charter middle - to -high school in College Park. First year is this fall.
http://www.gazette.net/article/20120615/NEWS/799999453/1029/college-park-cha&template=gazette

Roosevelt is great, but it is very hard to get into. Most students study every saturday the year before to prepare for the test. Even so, not all will get in. And what if the housing market is depressed when your kid hits high school and you don't get into roosevelt? You won't be able to afford to move. maybe you can get into a catholic high school which isn't too expensive. BTW: there are very very few private schools in PG, and the ones there tend to be catholic. If you are not catholic, you'll need to drive for hours if your kid is not one for Roosevelt...

Anonymous wrote:I don't have any personal input on the TAG program but I do know that Greenbelt Middle School has recently become a TAG magnet and that the people I know who have children there are very happy with it. Cheverly, Greenbelt, University Park and Old Hyattsville are wonderful communities. Neighbors know each other and there are lots of families with young kids.
Living in PG has given me a quality of life that I would have a very hard time giving up. I have a 10 minute commute, which means I can run home to have lunch with my kids from time to time.
Navigating the school system is challenging and there is a real possibility that we will have to move to AA county when DC are in High School but for the time being, I'm happy living here.

What about Roosevelt HS?

I get your concern, but it seems as though schools in Anne Arundel are only marginally better (I think Broadneck is the exception) when compared to the price increase in real estate, and the increased commute time....

I don't have any personal input on the TAG program but I do know that Greenbelt Middle School has recently become a TAG magnet and that the people I know who have children there are very happy with it. Cheverly, Greenbelt, University Park and Old Hyattsville are wonderful communities. Neighbors know each other and there are lots of families with young kids.
Living in PG has given me a quality of life that I would have a very hard time giving up. I have a 10 minute commute, which means I can run home to have lunch with my kids from time to time.
Navigating the school system is challenging and there is a real possibility that we will have to move to AA county when DC are in High School but for the time being, I'm happy living here.