Raising a family and public schools in Bowie (foreclosure, buying a house)

[speedbasix]

We are considering buying a house in Bowie but have heard all of the negatives about PG County and the Schools. However, the homes in Bowie are almost to good to pass up We have a 1 year old and need to decide if the school system in that area will be able to meet our standards. Thanks!

[trying2moveup]

OMG, here we go again. This is the topic that just will not die - it is like a VAMPIRE, rising at every sunset. . .

Let me address this from another angle - you said the prices of the homes in Bowie are to your liking. Well, the most important and smartest thing to do is to buy a home you can afford!!!! If it is an area you can see yourself living in and can AFFORD IT, do it. The rest will fall into place and as far as school, plan to be an involved parent but most importantly plan to be a parent and not count on the school system to raise your child (not saying that you do but the number of people who abdicate their parental responsibilities and then trash the schools because they don't "raise" the chidlren right is astounding!).

[lscalder]

The schools in Bowie are good and Bowie do have Blue Ribbon schools as well.

[bowian]

Originally Posted by trying2moveup

OMG, here we go again. This is the topic that just will not die - it is like a VAMPIRE, rising at every sunset. . .

Let me address this from another angle - you said the prices of the homes in Bowie are to your liking. Well, the most important and smartest thing to do is to buy a home you can afford!!!! If it is an area you can see yourself living in and can AFFORD IT, do it. The rest will fall into place and as far as school, plan to be an involved parent but most importantly plan to be a parent and not count on the school system to raise your child (not saying that you do but the number of people who abdicate their parental responsibilities and then trash the schools because they don't "raise" the chidlren right is astounding!).

Lol at the first sentence, and I couldn't have said any of it better myself.

Some parts of Bowie may be more to your liking than others, in terms of the neighborhood feel and the assigned school. Research, research, research by driving around and talking with the locals. Bowie has many nice subdivisions.

[Ken Montville]

John Deasy, the most recent superintendent of schools in Prince George's County, left the school system in pretty good shape. Sure, it still has room for improvement but they are constantly improving. The new head honcho is following in Deasy's footsteps so I have no doubt the schools will only get better and better.

Bowie is a great place to live. Nice homes (at an affordable price, like you mention), great shopping and eating places, easy access to good commuter routes.

Buy a place you like at a price you can afford (so you don't end up as a foreclosure statistic) and then get involved in the schools you send your kids to.

[tercel95]

FYI the schools are better in Calvert County and the property is cheaper. Not a lot of people in MD know how nice southern MD is. To substantiate my claims here is some data on schools in PG and Calvert counties.

Calvert County Public Schools schools - district elementary, middle, and high school information

Prince George's County Public Schools schools - district elementary, middle, and high school information

My parents both grew up in PG county and my older brother graduated from Bowie. They would never go back. I'm not saying Bowie is the worst but statistically the schools are better in Calvert county and there is less crime.