Understanding Greenbelt (Gaithersburg, College Park, Odenton: apartment complexes, crime, houses)

[Tiger Beer]

I was able to drive around Old Greenbelt....looks like an interesting community. New Deal 1940s, etc. Trees, older style of houses, lots of community style whether it's apartments or duplexes or rowhomes or sfh's. Co-op, etc.

But around it, there is metro and marc stations, but I understand not really near Old Greenbelt. Plus, the areas being built all around Old Greenbelt, seem to have crime issues, it seems?

Also, how are the schools in Greenbelt? I saw there was a Catholic School, but looking at the website, it looks like it's moving to Beltsville. It sounds like the Eleanor H.S. is good. Not sure about the others though. Are the school(s) in old Greenbelt, or in the other communities? Do people from all around attend the same schools? Is old greenbelt separated from the rest? It seems unique and unto itself, but at the same time, it seems like everything around old Greenbelt seems to have much higher instances of crime, etc. Does that effect Old Greenbelt as well?

Anyways, looks like it's had an interesting history. A bit curious about it's present and future though.

[tgs_bg]

Old Greenbelt is really it's own bubble, as you can tell. Outside crime doesn't really seem to filter its way in or play a factor. The Franklin Park complex is to the west of old Greenbelt and more modern communities and commercial businesses to the east. All three actually are very different and one without knowledge of the are would assume you are in a completely different city. I think this is what makes Greenbelt unique.

[itinérant]

I work in Greenbelt. I think it gets a bad rap, though I don't particularly like it. There are problems at a lot of the apartment complexes in Greenbelt, including the Franklin Park apartments near the metro station. A woman was gang raped in that area in December. The shopping options leave something to be desired, and some of the retail establishments look a little dingy (e.g. Beltway Plaza). I've checked out Eleanor Roosevelt's numbers. They are some of the best for public schools in PGC, but pale in comparison to certain schools in MoCo. I think they have a math and science program that is supposed to be pretty good.

The old Greenbelt area seems a little safer and nicer, though there is nothing to do over that way. Greenbelt is a pretty spread out area, and it just doesn't seem like there is a lot to do. All in all, I just think it is OK. There certainly are worse places to live in PGC.

[dkf747]

One of the reasons we moved away is that my kids were set to go to Greenbelt Middle School. After researching that school online, we refused to put our kids there. We finally found a much better situation in Gaithersburg and left for there. We were living in College Park. Kids there go to Greenbelt Middle School.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by dkf747

One of the reasons we moved away is that my kids were set to go to Greenbelt Middle School. After researching that school online, we refused to put our kids there. We finally found a much better situation in Gaithersburg and left for there. We were living in College Park. Kids there go to Greenbelt Middle School.

It sounds like Greenbelt Elementary is okay, and Eleanor HS is very good. But Middle School is the kicker in the equation, right?

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

It sounds like Greenbelt Elementary is okay, and Eleanor HS is very good. But Middle School is the kicker in the equation, right?

I don't know about the elementary school, but it was the main factor for us. As far as I could tell, the high school was fine. My kids probably would have been in a different high school.

[bowian]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

It sounds like Greenbelt Elementary is okay, and Eleanor HS is very good. But Middle School is the kicker in the equation, right?

I think middle schools period are the kicker in the county. Only one made AYP last year as I recall. Middle school is that point where parents decide whether they are going to opt for the public school, or send their kids to private or leave the county. There are only a few good and decent middle schools in PG, if you go by numbers (and student behavior).

The Catholic school closed recently, or rather merged with a Beltsville Catholic school.

[saigafreak]

Greenbelt is definitely on our short list.

[saigafreak]

Update: Greenbelt is off our short list. Odenton and Crofton have now usurped them.

[hbosch80]

lol. Didnt take long to get Greenbelt off of your short list. What happened?