Upper Marlboro... wtf? (Bowie, Annapolis, Waldorf: HOA, new home, neighborhoods)

[serpithueban]

I've been checking out new homes in Upper Marlboro and they look fantastic. A closer option to DC than Waldorf .... but the school system? WTF? I look at the test scores of the high schools and they're terrible!

Does everyone send their kids to private school or what?! Usually when I see bad rated schools, it's in "bad" neighborhoods. This is very confusing to me... Should I just stick to Charles County? Because PG's schools just look very bad after doing research.

I would have considered Bowie, but that area seems mediocre... the houses don't appeal to me as much either.

[WhoDatInMD]

Mediocre compared to Upper Marlboro? lol

[papichulo2]

you sound like your just complaining and dissing pgcounty. i think you already know this information you just trying to start a argument. true the schools arent good thats obvious. what your point? and bowie is mediocre? lol its all mediocre

[EdwardA]

Originally Posted by serpithueban

I've been checking out new homes in Upper Marlboro and they look fantastic. A closer option to DC than Waldorf .... but the school system? WTF? I look at the test scores of the high schools and they're terrible!

Does everyone send their kids to private school or what?! Usually when I see bad rated schools, it's in "bad" neighborhoods. This is very confusing to me... Should I just stick to Charles County? Because PG's schools just look very bad after doing research.

I would have considered Bowie, but that area seems mediocre... the houses don't appeal to me as much either.

Many people don't realize that even black middle class students don't do particurly well. The test scores aren't a mirage. In fact I've heard that even private schools in PG are deteriorating. I had a friend that was looking to put her son into McNamara. She wasn't impressed.

[lookingbutnotlost]

Originally Posted by EdwardA

Many people don't realize that even black middle class students don't do particurly well. The test scores aren't a mirage. In fact I've heard that even private schools in PG are deteriorating. I had a friend that was looking to put her son into McNamara. She wasn't impressed.

That's a lie. Most middle class and upper middle class families in pg go to private school and not all private schools are built the same obviously. That is a silly assumption.

[Fast GTO]

Bowie is a perfectly good area. Whitehall Elementary school is rated a 9, Samuel Ogle Middle is a 7, only issue is Bowie HS at a 5.

[serpithueban]

Originally Posted by papichulo2

you sound like your just complaining and dissing pgcounty. i think you already know this information you just trying to start a argument. true the schools arent good thats obvious. what your point? and bowie is mediocre? lol its all mediocre

Actually, you numbskull, I am trying to figure out how is it that such lavish houses are being built in areas that I've always heard were considered lower class. For all I know the school system could be getting better, but it isn't reflected on these online stats. Or maybe there are parts of PG that I don't know are considered "good areas" and I'm seeking clarification from a forum. Ever thought of that, wise ass?

I'm black, so let me throw that out there before some idiot want's come jump on me about racism.

I would really like to move into the new homes being built in Marlboro, (A, they're nice, B they're affordable, and C, there closer to DC than Waldorf) but I don't want to have a nice house in a crap school system. I plan on having a family soon, so that matters to me. ESPECIALLY high schools.

[lookingbutnotlost]

Originally Posted by serpithueban

Actually, you numbskull, I am trying to figure out how is it that such lavish houses are being built in areas that I've always heard were considered lower class. For all I know the school system could be getting better, but it isn't reflected on these online stats. Or maybe there are parts of PG that I don't know are considered "good areas" and I'm seeking clarification from a forum. Ever thought of that, wise ass?

I'm black, so let me throw that out there before some idiot want's come jump on me about racism.

I would really like to move into the new homes being built in Marlboro, (A, they're nice, B they're affordable, and C, there closer to DC than Waldorf) but I don't want to have a nice house in a crap school system. I plan on having a family soon, so that matters to me. ESPECIALLY high schools.

Everything isn't as black and white as a test score. Standardized testing has its faults.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by lookingbutnotlost

That's a lie. Most middle class and upper middle class families in pg go to private school and not all private schools are built the same obviously. That is a silly assumption.

That's not totally incorrect or anything.

[Silvercedes]

Originally Posted by serpithueban

Actually, you numbskull, I am trying to figure out how is it that such lavish houses are being built in areas that I've always heard were considered lower class. For all I know the school system could be getting better, but it isn't reflected on these online stats. Or maybe there are parts of PG that I don't know are considered "good areas" and I'm seeking clarification from a forum. Ever thought of that, wise ass?

I'm black, so let me throw that out there before some idiot want's come jump on me about racism.

I would really like to move into the new homes being built in Marlboro, (A, they're nice, B they're affordable, and C, there closer to DC than Waldorf) but I don't want to have a nice house in a crap school system. I plan on having a family soon, so that matters to me. ESPECIALLY high schools.

Perhaps the people who were telling you PG is "lower class" have never been to PG county? Or maybe just to the bad areas right outside the District? This is a big county, not all parts are awful. My NOVA coworkers are always stunned when I show them a picture of the house we bought here, for around 300K less than what we would have paid in NOVA. Apparently everyone who is not a PG resident, thinks PG county is one big housing project.

We live in Bowie (20720), and it is a far cry from the "low class" label. Our neighbors are all white collar professionals. My only complaint with PG is the lack of shopping/dining choices and the horrible customer service that passes for acceptable here (and living in an HOA community, but that is for another thread). We go to Annapolis or other places in Anne Arundel county when we need something (Wegmans, Whole Foods, etc).

I personally would not choose Upper Marlboro because of traffic congestion on 301 and 4, plus it is not close to the MARC trains or metro for commutability into the city.