elementary schools near Fort Meade (Columbia, Severn: buying a house, buying, best schools)

[carrieJ]

Does anyone have any advice about finding a good elementary school near Fort Meade, we will be buying a house in the next few months and this is our main concern. i am particularly interested in hearing about the three elementary schools in Crofton.
Please I would like to hear any and all recommendations (also interested in Howard County)

[newhart]

Originally Posted by carrieJ

Does anyone have any advice about finding a good elementary school near Fort Meade, we will be buying a house in the next few months and this is our main concern. i am particularly interested in hearing about the three elementary schools in Crofton.
Please I would like to hear any and all recommendations (also interested in Howard County)

Twenty-five years ago, the elementary schools closest to Ft. Meade were not highly regarded. I worked with some service personnel at the time who thought the schools were the worst they had seen. I remember hearing negative things about Van Bokkelen especially. I think a lot of this had to do with the type of housing in the area. With the development of the residential area around the Arundel Mills as well as Piney Run to the east, I expect things have changed. I'm not familiar with Croften schools but I'm sure they have some good ones. As for Howard County, the school system web site has good information on school performance. Just click on tests scores in the quick link section or check the profile for the individual schools for demographic information. There's also a map to locate the elementary schools here

[bande1102]

I live in Crofton and have lived here for the past 14 years. The Crofton elementary schools are good. I haven't heard any bad things about any of them, but I think Crofton Woods may be the considered the best of the best. Also, some Crofton kids used to be bussed across Rt 3 to Four Seasons Elem in nearby Odenton --now, however, there is a new elementary school in Crofton slated to open in fall 2008 so those . Think the name might be Gambrills Elementary? Not sure. Any way, I really don't think you can go wrong with Crofton.

Anyway, the Crofton schools are all very close to each other and are Crofton Elem, Crofton Woods, Crofton Meadows, and the new school currently being built.

Hope this helps.

[burnt]

I am affiliated with Fort Meade, I guess you could say, and most of the servicemembers who live on post or in the immediate area wish they didn't have to send their kids to the public schools. Crofton is probably solid, but I know Severn isn't, and neither are most of the public schools around Severn. We live in Columbia, and most people in the area (at least the ones who aren't just sending their kids to private school in order to "keep up with the Joneses") seem pretty happy with the schools. If I recall correctly, Howard County had been #1 in MD for 12 of the past 14 years before we bought our place here in Jan. 2006.

[jf4christ]

Howard County has the best schools. We moved here from MI 8 years ago and settled into this county after much research. My wife is an educator, so she knew what to look for. There are many nice communities in here too. Some are very expensive, and others more moderately priced. We have a 4 BR/ 3/12 bath in Elkridge. It has a beautiful private yard and is very close to Ft Meade. We will be putting it on the market this weekend, so if interested, just email me.
Regardless, I would strongly recommend you look in Howard. We have one child in elementary school and 2 in middle school. They have done very well and the teachers/administrators really care. That makes the difference!

Good luck!

[Y-Man]

Carrie: Eject, they are horrible. In AACO, the best public schools are in the Broadneck and Severna Park areas (some of the best in the State, actually). The quality of public schools in the County varies dramatically by location, and Ft. Meade's schools are some of the worst.

Here's a good resource for you in terms of MD schools:

2007 Maryland Report Card