Prince George's County Public Schools


Prince George's County Public Schools is a large public school district administered by the government of Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, and is overseen by the Maryland State Department of Education. The school system is headquartered in Upper Marlboro and the district serves Prince George's County. The district is headed by Monica Goldson and a 14-member Board of Education.
With students enrolled for the school year, the Prince George's County Public Schools system is the second largest school district in the state of Maryland; the third largest school district in both the Washington Metropolitan Area and Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area, after Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia and Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland; and it is one of the top 25 largest school districts in the nation. PGCPS operates 208 schools and special centers which include: 123 elementary schools, 24 middle schools, 23 high schools, and 12 academies. The school system also operates 9 special centers, 2 vocational centers, 3 alternative schools, 8 public charter schools, and the Howard B. Owens Science Center, serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12.
PGCPS operates the two largest high schools in the state of Maryland —, respectively. The school system transports over 90,536 students, daily, by its fleet of 1,335 GPS-equipped school buses, on 5,616 bus routes. PGCPS employs approximately 23,785 staff members which includes an estimated 9,197 teachers. The approved operating budget for FY2014-15 is approximately US$1.795 billion with a per pupil expenditure of US$11,753. Average teacher salary ranges from US$55,689 for teachers with a bachelor's degree to US$80,009 for teachers with a doctorate's degree.
In terms of racial demographics, African-Americans make up the majority of the system's students at 67.4%, followed by 22.6% Hispanic, 4.6% Caucasian, 2.9% Asian, and the remaining 2.4% comprising various other races.
In June 2009, the PGCPS became one of the first school systems in America to name one of its schools after former President Barack Obama. Barack Obama Elementary School, in the Westphalia census-designated place, near Upper Marlboro, opened in August 2010.

History

Early schools in Prince George's County

In 1899, the first high school was built in Prince George's County, at the northeast corner of Montgomery and Eighth Streets in Laurel, Maryland, and was named Laurel High School.
In 1902, Frederick Sasscer, Jr. became Superintendent of Schools, a post he held until 1914.

Desegregation

In 1974, Prince George's County, Maryland, became the largest school district in the United States forced to adopt a busing plan. The county was over 80 percent white in population and in the public schools. In some county communities close to Washington, there was a higher concentration of black residents than in more outlying areas. The county had a neighborhood-based system of school boundaries. However, the NAACP argued that housing patterns in the county still reflected segregation. The federal court ordered that a school busing plan be set in place. A 1974 Gallup poll showed that 75 percent of county residents were against forced busing, and that only 32 percent of blacks supported it.
The transition happened quickly as the court ordered that the plan be administered with "all due haste". This happened during the middle of the school term, and students, except those in their senior year in high school, were transferred to different schools to achieve racial balance. Many typical school activities and life in general for families in the county was disrupted by things such as the changes in daily times, transportation logistics, and extracurricular activities.
The federal case and the school busing order was officially ended in 2001, as segregation had been erased to the court's satisfaction, and neighborhood-based school boundaries were restored.

School consolidation (2009–2010s)

On March 26, 2009, the Prince George's County Public Schools Board of Education voted to consolidate eight under-enrolled schools in the county and expand magnet program offerings within the school system. This decision was made after a series of community briefings, public hearings, more than 2,500 survey responses, and additional public input.
This process of expanding opportunities for students began in June 2008. The Board of Education directed the school district to conduct a comprehensive review of school enrollments
in September 2008. Recognizing that some schools were significantly under-enrolled, the Board of Education sought to offer more educational opportunities in historically under-served areas of the county, relieve overcrowding where possible, and improve operating efficiencies. The Board of Education used constituent feedback to refine the proposal made by Interim Superintendent Dr. William R. Hite, Jr. earlier this year, and reduced the number of schools to be consolidated to eight instead of 12. The plan still relieves overcrowded schools, identifies space for new academic choices, and expands successful programs. The school district’s next step will be to solicit public input on what new or expanded programs communities would like to see in their schools.
In January 2009, the Superintendent presented the Board with the first of four phases in a proposal. Phase I was approved with the following components for the 2009–2010 school year:
Additional schools consolidated around 2016, as student populations in southern portions of the county and inside the Capital Beltway decreased; schools in northern parts of PG County, on the other hand, became overcrowded, including schools serving Beltsville, Hyattsville, and Laurel.

Superintendent/CEO

As part of the 2013 reorganization of the PGCPS Board of Education and PGCPS governance spearheaded by county executive Rushern Baker, the position of PGCPS superintendent was renamed as "CEO of PGCPS." The reorganization gave a greater degree of control of operation of the school system to the CEO and limited the powers of the school board. Dr. Kevin Maxwell served as the first CEO of PGCPS until his negotiated exit in 2018, at which time Monica Goldson was elevated from deputy superintendent to interim CEO.
List of superintendents:
Prince George's County Public Schools offers students transportation to and from school with its own bus system. The system runs a fleet of various school bus models by Blue Bird Corporation, IC Bus, and Thomas Built Buses. Models include rear-engined and front-engined types, which all operate on diesel fuel. Special-needs children are provided with an accessible bus. All buses display "Prince George's County Public Schools" on both sides. The transportation department operates from 13 bus lots, which in total operate over 1200 buses on over 5000 routes. Ridership varies annually, although at least 93,000 students ride buses provided by the department. All routes consist of three digit numbers, such as 001, 219 or 615 and a letter-digit route, such as B12 or D14. In addition to transportation to and from schools, the school district runs buses for school field trips, athletic events, and other approved necessities for a bus in Maryland. Ridership of each bus is determined by the distance in which the student lives from their school, which includes but not limited to two miles for intermediate and secondary schools and one and half mile for primary schools. Each route is determined through a trapeze system, in which information regarding students is entered into a computer system and the outcome is their route number.

List of schools

High schools

All high schools in Prince George's County operate with a "comprehensive" model as their base, with the exception of the new Academy of Health Sciences at Prince George's Community College, which is a middle college program. All students are assigned to a high school based on an attendance area.
Magnet Programs operate as a "School-Within-A-School" model, where the magnet serves as an alternative program---in addition to the main comprehensive program---and students from outside the regular attendance area of the high school are enrolled and accepted into the magnet, either through continuity or more commonly, through a Magnet Lottery, in which students apply for a magnet program and are granted acceptance through a random drawing. Enrollment into the Center for the Visual and Performing Arts is through audition only.
Several high schools have also implemented a Smaller Learning Community model, where they offer anywhere from two or more Academy Programs, which effectively breaks a school down into several smaller schools within the school, by allowing students to essentially declare a major through career academies such as "Arts, Media, and Communication" or the "National Academy of Finance," for example.
All high schools within PGCPS operate on a staggered school day schedule, where some high schools start as early as 7:45am and end as early as 2:25pm, and other high schools start as late as 9:30am and end as late as 4:10pm. All high schools operate on an alternating A/B-day block scheduling system, where one group of classes are taken on "A-Days" and a different group of classes are taken on "B-Days," and the cycle repeats. Most high schools have between three and four lunch shifts, depending on enrollment and eating accommodations. The only exceptions are Eleanor Roosevelt High School — which has adopted a modified hybrid block schedule in which both traditional single period courses and double period courses are integrated — and the Academy of Health Science at Prince George's Community College.

Middle schools

Intermediate schools are referred to as "middle schools" in the PGCPS system, and operate as either grades 6–8 or grades 7–8 middle schools. Grades 7–9 junior high school were phased out in the mid-1980s. Recent efforts have been made to convert most middle schools to the more popular grades 6–8 model. Issues in the past such as over-enrollment, lack of classroom space, and funding, had made it hard to convert all middle schools to a grades 6–8 configuration, but with increased funding and the addition of new middle schools, the transitions is slowly being made. As of 2014–2015, only four of the 24 middle schools in the school district retain the old grades 7-8 configuration.
Most middle schools in Prince George's County operate with a "comprehensive" model, as their base. Most students are assigned to a middle school based on an "attendance area." Most magnet programs operate as a "School-Within-A-School" model, where the magnet serves as an alternative program, in addition to the main comprehensive program, and students from outside the regular attendance area of the middle school are enrolled and accepted into the magnet, either through "continuity" or more commonly, through a magnet lottery, where students apply for a magnet program and are granted acceptance through a random drawing. Almost all middle schools have a whole-school "Signature Program" that includes a specialized program of instruction which is the foundation of the school's comprehensive program.
All middle schools in the PGCPS operate on a staggered school day schedule, where some middle schools start as early as 7:30 am and the end as early as 2:50 pm, and other middle schools start as late as 9:00 am and end as late as 4:20 pm. All middle schools operate on a modified block scheduling system, where some classes meet for as long as 70-minutes, daily. For the 2012-13 school year and beyond, an additional 40-minutes of instruction time has been added to the school day for all middle schools and their students, within the school district.
In a cooperative effort of the county government, Board of Education, and the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission some M-NCPPC community centers are physically connected to middle schools, throughout the district. The unique community park/school centers features shared use areas which include a gymnasium, multi-purpose room, exercise/fitness room, dance room, arts and crafts room, computer lab, offices; storage areas, patio area, and restrooms. There are tennis courts and unlighted fields located on-site at select centers.

Dedicated magnet schools

Dedicated magnet schools are offered in the PGCPS system at the PreK-8th grade, elementary and middle school level only. As of 2012-13, Glenarden Woods and Heather Hills are the only full elementary-level dedicated magnet schools in the system. Dedicated magnet schools are "whole school" programs and differ from traditional comprehensive schools, as all students at the school are enrolled and receive instruction in the magnet program and traditional attendance areas for assigning students to a school are replaced by much larger geographical attendance zones, usually split between north county and south county. Whole school, dedicated magnet programs are offered through the Creative and Performing Arts, French Immersion, Montessori, and Talented & Gifted Center magnet programs. Students receive specialized instruction that varies from the typical comprehensive program, offered at most other schools. Students are selected for the magnet programs through a magnet lottery for the French Immersion and Montessori programs and also for the Creative and Performing Arts program at the elementary school level. Acceptance into the Creative and Performing Arts program is through audition only at the middle school level. Acceptance into the TAG Centers at Glenarden Woods and Heather Hills Elementary Schools is through specialized TAG testing only.

Combined elementary and middle schools

Pre-kindergarten through grade 8 schools are essentially combined elementary and middle schools, facilitated in one building. Most of these schools are referred to as "academies" in the school district. The elementary school usually starts at pre-kindergarten and ends at grade 5 and the middle school starts at grade 6 and ends at grade 8. These schools usually offer a slightly enhanced standard of learning and studies have suggested that students have benefited from being in one continuous facility from kindergarten through 8th grade, without having the disruption having to attend a brand new school, for the middle school years. Cora L. Rice Elementary School and G. James Gholson Middle School are not true academies. Both schools are housed in one facility but they operate as two completely separate schools for all intents and purposes.

Elementary schools

Elementary schools in Prince George's County operate in several configurations, ranging from Pre-K through grade 6. Most elementary schools operate under a kindergarten through grade 6 configuration, and lack a pre-kindergarten/Head Start program. More recently, with boundary realignments to ease overcrowding and with the opening of newer and larger schools and increased funding, several schools have changed to a PreK-6th grade configuration while others have added a Pre-kindergarten, but dropped the sixth grade, to change to a Pre-K through grade 5 school. The sixth grades from those schools were added to the elementary schools' feeder middle schools.
In a cooperative effort of the county government, Board of Education, and the Maryland National Capital Park & Planning Commission, several M-NCPPC community centers are physically connected to elementary schools, throughout the district. The unique community park/school centers features shared use areas which include a gymnasium, multi-purpose room, exercise/fitness room, dance room, arts and crafts room, computer lab, offices, storage areas, patio area, and restrooms. Tennis courts and unlighted fields are located on-site at select centers.
SchoolWebsiteLocationLowest gradeHighest gradeEnrollmentSpecialized programsNotes & comments
Adelphi Elementary SchoolAdelphiKindergartenGrade 6391America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Allenwood Elementary SchoolCamp SpringsKindergartenGrade 6444
Apple Grove Elementary SchoolFort WashingtonPre-KindergartenGrade 6504
Ardmore Elementary SchoolSpringdalePre-KindergartenGrade 6543
Arrowhead Elementary SchoolUpper MarlboroPre-KindergartenGrade 6520
Avalon Elementary SchoolFort WashingtonKindergartenGrade 6346
Baden Elementary School and Community CenterBrandywinePre-kindergartenGrade 6258This school shares its space with a full community/recreation center which is directly connected to the facility.
Barnaby Manor Elementary SchoolOxon HillPre-kindergartenGrade 6543America's Choice School Design Signature Program
John H. Bayne Elementary SchoolCapitol HeightsPre-kindergartenGrade 6485
Beacon Heights Elementary SchoolRiverdalePre-kindergartenGrade 64822004 Maryland Blue Ribbon School and a 2004 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
William Beanes Elementary School and Community CenterSuitlandPre-KindergartenGrade 6480This school shares its space with a full community/recreation center which is directly connected to the facility.
Berwyn Heights Elementary SchoolBerwyn HeightsKindergartenGrade 6473
Bladensburg Elementary SchoolBladensburgPre-kindergartenGrade 6665
Bond Mill Elementary SchoolLaurelKindergartenGrade 6451Maryland Blue Ribbon School
Bradbury Heights Elementary SchoolBradbury HeightsPre-kindergartenGrade 6560America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Brandywine Elementary SchoolBrandywinePre-kindergartenGrade 5522
Doswell E. Brooks Elementary SchoolCoral HillsPre-kindergartenGrade 6308
Calverton Elementary SchoolCalvertonPre-kindergartenGrade 5777
Capitol Heights Elementary SchoolCapitol HeightsPre-kindergartenGrade 6221Talented and Gifted Center Magnet ProgramCapitol Heights is a 2013 Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education School.
Carmody Hills Elementary SchoolCarmody HillsPre-kindergartenGrade 6382America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Carole Highlands Elementary SchoolCarole HighlandsPre-kindergartenGrade 6674
Carrollton Elementary SchoolNew CarrolltonPre-kindergartenGrade 6766
Samuel Chase Elementary SchoolTemple HillsPre-kindergartenGrade 6330
Cherokee Lane Elementary SchoolAdelphiPre-kindergartenGrade 6434
Chillum Elementary SchoolChillumPre-kindergartenGrade 6313America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Thomas Claggett Elementary SchoolDistrict HeightsPre-kindergartenGrade 6260
Clinton Grove Elementary SchoolClintonKindergartenGrade 6388America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Columbia Park Elementary School and Community CenterLandoverPre-kindergartenGrade 6454This school shares its space with a full community/recreation center which is directly connected to the facility. Columbia Park was named a 1988 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence.
Concord Elementary SchoolDistrict HeightsPre-kindergartenGrade 6372
Cool Spring Elementary SchoolAdelphiPre-kindergartenGrade 6503
Cooper Lane Elementary SchoolLandover HillsPre-kindergartenGrade 6490
Deerfield Run Elementary School and Community CenterLaurelPre-kindergartenGrade 6549This school shares its space with a full community/recreation center which is directly connected to the facility.
J. Frank Dent Elementary SchoolFort WashingtonPre-kindergartenGrade 6226America's Choice School Design Signature Program
District Heights Elementary SchoolDistrict HeightsPre-kindergartenGrade 6469
Dodge Park Elementary SchoolLandoverPre-kindergartenGrade 6495
Francis T. Evans Elementary SchoolClintonKindergartenGrade 5540
Edward M. Felegy Elementary SchoolHyattsvillePre-kindergartenGrade 5686Creative and performing arts theme schoolEdward M. Felegy opened in August 2014. It is a LEED-certified facility and a creative and performing arts theme school, aligning with the CPA magnet program at Hyattsville Middle School, and the Center for the Visual and Performing Arts magnet program at Northwestern High School.
Flintstone Elementary SchoolOxon HillPre-kindergartenGrade 6380
Forest Heights Elementary SchoolForest HeightsPre-kindergartenGrade 6226
Fort Foote Elementary SchoolFort WashingtonPre-kindergartenGrade 63862001 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
Fort Washington Forest Elementary SchoolFort WashingtonKindergartenGrade 6350
Robert Frost Elementary SchoolNew CarrolltonPre-kindergartenGrade 6285
Gaywood Elementary SchoolSeabrookKindergartenGrade 6491
Glassmanor Elementary School and Community CenterGlassmanorPre-kindergartenGrade 6326This school shares its space with a full community/recreation center which is directly connected to the facility.
Glenn Dale Elementary SchoolGlenn DaleKindergartenGrade 6567
Glenridge Elementary SchoolWoodlawnPre-kindergartenGrade 6685
Robert R. Gray Elementary SchoolChapel OaksPre-kindergartenGrade 6387America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Greenbelt Elementary SchoolGreenbeltKindergartenGrade 66001991-92 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence; 1991-92 Maryland Blue Ribbon School; 2014 Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education School. Greenbelt Elementary School is sometimes credited as "Greenbelt Center Elementary School". The latter was used as the official school name from the year the school first opened until the early part of the 21st century, until "Center" was dropped.
James H. Harrison Elementary SchoolLaurelKindergartenGrade 6292
High Bridge Elementary SchoolBowieKindergartenGrade 5427
Highland Park Elementary SchoolLandoverPre-kindergartenGrade 6189Talented and Gifted Center Magnet Program
Hillcrest Heights Elementary SchoolHillcrest HeightsPre-kindergartenGrade 5504America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Hollywood Elementary SchoolCollege ParkKindergartenGrade 6444
Hyattsville Elementary SchoolHyattsvillePre-kindergartenGrade 6508
Indian Queen Elementary School and Community CenterFort WashingtonKindergartenGrade 6359This school shares its space with a full community/recreation center which is directly connected to the facility.
Mary Harris "Mother" Jones Elementary SchoolAdelphiPre-kindergartenGrade 6736
Kenilworth Elementary SchoolBowieKindergartenGrade 5395
Kenmoor Elementary SchoolLandoverPre-kindergartenGrade 6369For 2012-13 and beyond, PGCPS removed the Talented and Gifted Center Magnet Program at Kenmoor Elementary School. Kenmoor was recognized as a 2010 Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education School.
Kettering Elementary SchoolKetteringKindergartenGrade 5412
Francis Scott Key Elementary SchoolDistrict HeightsPre-kindergartenGrade 6626America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Kingsford Elementary SchoolMitchellvillePre-kindergartenGrade 6776Talented and Gifted Center Magnet Program
Lake Arbor Elementary SchoolLake ArborKindergartenGrade 6874
Lamont Elementary SchoolNew CarrolltonPre-kindergartenGrade 6655
Langley Park-McCormick Elementary SchoolLangley ParkPre-kindergartenGrade 6461
Laurel Elementary SchoolLaurelPre-kindergartenGrade 6551
Lewisdale Elementary SchoolLewisdalePre-kindergartenGrade 5565
Longfields Elementary SchoolForestvillePre-kindergartenGrade 6387Talented and Gifted Center Magnet Program
Magnolia Elementary SchoolLanhamPre-kindergartenGrade 6451
Marlton Elementary SchoolUpper MarlboroPre-kindergartenGrade 6550Talented and Gifted Center Magnet Program
Mattaponi Elementary SchoolUpper MarlboroKindergartenGrade 6465Mattaponi is a 2013 Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education School.
James McHenry Elementary SchoolLanhamPre-kindergartenGrade 6683America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Melwood Elementary SchoolUpper MarlboroKindergartenGrade 6775International Baccalaureate Primary Years ProgrammeMelwood is an IB World School.
Montpelier Elementary SchoolLaurelKindergartenGrade 66112011 Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education School
Mount Rainier Elementary SchoolMount RainierPre-kindergartenGrade 6337
North Forestville Elementary SchoolForestvillePre-kindergartenGrade 6355
Northview Elementary SchoolBowiePre-kindergartenGrade 6870
Oakcrest Elementary SchoolLandoverPre-kindergartenGrade 6351PGCPS permanently relocated the Talented and Gifted Center Magnet Program at Oakcrest to Highland Park Elementary School.
Oaklands Elementary SchoolLaurelKindergartenGrade 6401
Barack Obama Elementary SchoolUpper MarlboroPre-kindergartenGrade 6725Facility opened in August 2010 and became the second LEED certified educational facility in the county.
Oxon Hill Elementary SchoolOxon HillPre-kindergartenGrade 6321
William Paca Elementary SchoolLandoverPre-kindergartenGrade 6462
Paint Branch Elementary SchoolCollege ParkPre-kindergartenGrade 6341
Panorama Elementary SchoolHillcrest HeightsPre-kindergartenGrade 5428America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Rosa L. Parks Elementary SchoolGreen MeadowsPre-kindergartenGrade 6784
Patuxent Elementary SchoolUpper MarlboroKindergartenGrade 6575
Perrywood Elementary SchoolLargoKindergartenGrade 5706
Pointer Ridge Elementary SchoolBowieKindergartenGrade 5453
Port Towns Elementary SchoolBladensburgPre-kindergartenGrade 6790America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Potomac Landing Elementary School
and Community Center		Fort WashingtonKindergartenGrade 5471This school shares its space with a full community/recreation center which is directly connected to the facility.
Princeton Elementary SchoolSuitlandPre-kindergartenGrade 6356
James Ryder Randall Elementary SchoolClintonPre-kindergartenGrade 6452
Catherine T. Reed Elementary SchoolLanhamPre-kindergartenGrade 6426
Ridgecrest Elementary SchoolChillumPre-kindergartenGrade 6578America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Riverdale Elementary SchoolRiverdalePre-kindergartenGrade 6660
Rockledge Elementary SchoolBowieKindergartenGrade 5527Maryland Blue Ribbon School and 2012 Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education School
Rogers Heights Elementary SchoolBladensburgPre-kindergartenGrade 6649
Rosaryville Elementary SchoolRosaryvilleKindergartenGrade 6596
Rose Valley Elementary SchoolFort WashingtonKindergartenGrade 6392
Scotchtown Hills Elementary SchoolLaurelPre-kindergartenGrade 6680
Seabrook Elementary SchoolSeabrookPre-kindergartenGrade 6380
Seat Pleasant Elementary SchoolSeat PleasantPre-kindergartenGrade 6303-
Skyline Elementary SchoolSuitlandPre-kindergartenGrade 6221Autism Program
Gladys Noon Spellman Elementary SchoolCheverlyPre-kindergartenGrade 6410America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Springhill Lake Elementary SchoolGreenbeltKindergartenGrade 5471
Thomas S. Stone Elementary SchoolMount RainierPre-kindergartenGrade 6614America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Suitland Elementary SchoolSuitlandPre-kindergartenGrade 6538America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Tayac Elementary SchoolFort WashingtonPre-kindergartenGrade 5422
Templeton Elementary SchoolRiverdalePre-kindergartenGrade 55461999 Maryland Blue Ribbon School and a 1999 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
Tulip Grove Elementary SchoolBowieKindergartenGrade 5292
University Park Elementary SchoolUniversity ParkPre-KindergartenGrade 6558
Valley View Elementary SchoolOxon HillPre-KindergartenGrade 6493Talented and Gifted Center Magnet Program2011 Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education School
Vansville Elementary School and Community CenterVansvillePre-KindergartenGrade 6862This school shares its space with a full community/recreation center which is directly connected to the facility.
Waldon Woods Elementary SchoolClintonPre-KindergartenGrade 6642
Whitehall Elementary SchoolBowieKindergartenGrade 54312012 Maryland Blue Ribbon School and a 2012 National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
Woodmore Elementary SchoolMitchellvilleKindergartenGrade 6482
Woodridge Elementary SchoolWoodlawnPre-KindergartenGrade 6422
Judge Sylvania W. Woods, Sr. Elementary SchoolGlenardenPre-KindergartenGrade 6353America's Choice School Design Signature Program
Yorktown Elementary SchoolBowieKindergartenGrade 5305

Former schools

; High schools:
; Middle schools:
; Elementary schools:

''Newsweek''s America's Best High Schools

In June 2010, seven PGCPS high school were listed in Newsweeks annual list of the top 1600 high schools in the nation. This was up from five county high schools which made the list from the previous year. The 2010 list included Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Oxon Hill High School in Oxon Hill, Bowie High School in Bowie, Laurel High School in Laurel, High Point High School in Beltsville, Central High School in Capitol Heights, and Parkdale High School in Riverdale.
The schools are ranked on the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students in a school in 2009, divided by the number of graduating seniors, called the "Challenge Index". The schools represent the top six percent of all public high schools in America. In June 2009, five PGCPS high schools were named in the best high schools list. It included Bowie High School in Bowie, Charles Herbert Flowers High School in Springdale, High Point High School in Beltsville, Oxon Hill High School in Oxon Hill, and Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt. Eleanor Roosevelt ranked the highest out of county schools at 372nd on the nationwide list, Oxon Hill ranked 918th, High Point ranked 961st, Bowie ranked 1,370th, and Charles Herbert Flowers ranked 1,445th.

''U.S. News & World Report''s Best High Schools

Since 2007, U.S. News & World Report has ranked high schools in PGCPS among the Best High Schools in America. High Point High School, Northwestern High School, and Eleanor Roosevelt High School have been recognized as Silver Medal Schools.

State and national Blue Ribbon Schools

PGCPS has 16 state Blue Ribbon Schools, 13 of which are USDE National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence.

National Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence

s were first implemented in PGCPS in 1985, to fulfill a court-ordered desegregation mandate. Up until as late as the late 80s, Prince George's County had been predominantly white in terms of racial demographics. In order to desegregate mostly all-White schools in the school system, PGCPS created several magnet programs that eventually were instituted in over fifty schools, spread throughout the county.
By the late 1990s, the population demographics of the county had shifted towards a mostly African American majority. Magnet programs were costing PGCPS approximately $14 million per year, to operate. The programs were costly and this was exacerbated by the fact that the school system's operating budget was greater than the final budget the school system had traditionally been allotted, an issue that had plagued the school system for years. Since the county's population now primarily consisted of African Americans, and due to the expense of operating the Magnet Schools Program, courts began to investigate the justification of PGCPS's magnet program. In 2004, a court ruled to discontinue court-ordered busing which had existed in the county, for over 30 years, based primarily on the fact that desegregation was no longer an issue in the predominantly Black Prince George's County.
With the ending of the court-ordered busing, also came changes to the school system's Magnet Schools Program. The program had gained national attention, as it was one of the largest in the country. It served as a model for school systems across the nation. Dr. Iris T. Metts, the superintendent of schools at the time, formulated an ambitious plan to actually expand the magnet programs in PGCPS, as well as reassign magnet programs that weren't performing well at one location, to other schools. Due to long and highly publicized in-house issues between Metts and the Board of Education, Metts was replaced by Dr. Andre Hornsby at the end of her contract with PGCPS. When Hornsby arrived, he essentially reversed the decision that Metts had made, in regards to the future of the county's magnet programs, and he decided to instead eliminate most of the school system's magnet programs, most of which had been identified as under-performing for several years. Ten magnet programs were identified for elimination, which proved extremely controversial because some of the proposed eliminated programs were located at sites in which the program in question had been extremely successful, such as the Academic Center magnet program at Martin Luther King, Jr. Academic Center, which had been the highest performing middle school in the system for several years and also was a blue ribbon school.
Despite the opposition by parents, in 2006 the magnet programs in PGCPS underwent an overhaul, and most of the magnets were eliminated. A few programs that were determined to be "successful" were either expanded and replicated at other locations, or consolidated and relocated to a dedicated magnet school that would serve large geographic areas of the county.

Current magnet programs

ES = elementary school; MS = middle school; HS = high school

Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Technology

The Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Technology program is a college and career preparatory program, offering areas of study in Aerospace Engineering and Aviation Technology. It is supported by partnerships with the College Park Aviation Museum, NASA, local colleges and universities, and private industry. This program is designed to prepare students for college and high-demand careers. Each student receives a laptop upon entry into the program, and is provided with transportation.
Admission to the program is based on the same criteria and examination used for the Science and Technology Center.
Locations:
The Biomedical Program at Bladensburg High School is a high school curriculum that focuses on medical and health careers, such as physicians and research doctors. Students who have a strong interest in pursuing a career in health-related fields have an opportunity to engage in biomedical research, internships, and practicums, and to enroll in medical-related science courses and other advanced placement courses. The curriculum introduces students to a wide variety of medical careers through field trips, speakers in the medical field, internships, accelerated courses, a wide variety of electives related to the biological and social sciences, and independent research.
Locations:
The Biotechnology Program offers a four-year, college-preparatory program of study in molecular biology, biochemistry and technical career training that includes scanning electron microscopy. Students have first-hand experience with the advanced technologies used in biotechnology research, academia, and industry.
Courses are taught in modern laboratory classrooms equipped with the latest biotechnology instrumentation. The facilities include gel electrophoresis, refrigerated centrifugation, scanning spectrophotometry, high pressure liquid chromatography, gas chromatography and access to scanning electron microscopy. Computers will support classroom instruction as well as student initiated research projects.
Students study biotechnology theory and technique in a cyclic fashion where concepts introduced in beginning courses will be emphasized in depth during upper level classes. Mini-research projects are conducted by science students to demonstrate their understanding of course content and laboratory procedures. Complementing the specific science offerings of the Biotechnology Program is a full selection of courses, including Advanced Placement level in English, social studies and mathematics.
Eligibility Requirements: Students who express interest are eligible to apply. No pre-testing is required. Admission to the program is through a race-neutral random magnet lottery application process, on a space-available basis.
Locations:
The Technical Academy is a program that provides students with technical skills and knowledge. Benefits to students include gaining a foundation for a college major in a technical field, having access to a technical career after high school if college is postponed, and having access to a part-time technical job to help with college expenses.
Locations:
The Centers for the Visual and Performing Arts has been in existence since 1986, originally at Suitland High School. The program was expanded to Northwestern High School in the fall of 2013. The CVPA is a rigorous four-year arts program that offers artistically talented high school students educational opportunities designed to prepare them artistically for college, professional study, or career options in the arts. Strong association with the arts in the Washington, DC-area offers distinct advantages. Students study with professional artists, dancers, actors, musicians, singers, directors/producers, and radio/television personalities. Students explore, and eventually major, in any one of the six principal concentrations: vocal music, instrumental music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and interactive media production. Suitland High School offers a 1000-seat auditorium and experimental theatre, a fully equipped dance studio, and a television and recording studio. Northwestern High School offers an 1100-seat auditorium, fully equipped dance studio, state-of-the-art music rooms, several music practice rooms, a piano lab, and a television and recording studio. Admission into the CVPA magnet program is through audition only.
Locations:
The Creative and Performing Arts Magnet Program is located at three sites. The programs at Thomas G. Pullen and Benjamin D. Foulois are open to students in Kindergarten through eighth grade; the program at Hyattsville Middle School is open to students in seventh and eighth grade.
The Creative and Performing Arts Magnet Program is designed to develop the interest and talents of students in the arts, and feature an enhanced interdisciplinary academic program that encourages creative and artistic expression. Experiences and training are designed to challenge and develop skills of all students, as well as to provide exceptional opportunities for artistically talented students.
The curriculum provides in-depth experiences in each art discipline, plus related arts experiences and an infusion of the arts in the overall curriculum. The arts are provided as an integral part of a strong academic program.
The Creative Arts Schools follow the general curriculum guidelines that are used for all Prince George's County public elementary and middle schools. Basic instruction is provided in reading, mathematics, English, science, and social studies, as well as specialized instruction in the arts - art, drama, music, dance, physical education, creative writing, media production, literary arts, and related computer lab experiences.
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The French Immersion Magnet Program is designed for kindergarten through twelfth grade. It is referred to as a "full immersion program" as all academic subjects are taught through French, in grades K-5. In grades 6-8, the students have two periods per day of French, one period for French Language Arts and one period of world studies in French. In high school, students have two courses in grades 9 and 10 with a focus on literature and the francophone world, which are part of the Pre-International Baccalaureate Program. At the elementary level, students are immerse totally in French by their bilingual teachers, as they learn math, science, social studies and language arts.
At the middle school level, students also study Italian. In addition, Algebra and Geometry are possible options in mathematics. The interdisciplinary approach for English, Art and World Studies includes special themes, seminars, field trips, and a strong focus on essay writing. International travel is an enrichment part of the French Immersion Program.
At the high school level, students may take one of the immersion courses and the continuation of the second foreign language started at the middle school level. Other options are IB preparation courses for English, history, science, and access to Chemistry and Calculus. Higher level IB or Advanced Placement courses, are available. There is an Exchange Program with a school in France and other exchanges are being explored for high school students. In addition to the immersion continuity, students may continue the study of their second foreign language which began in middle school — either Russian, Italian, Latin, or German.
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The International Baccalaureate Diploma Magnet Program is an academically challenging and balanced course of study, that prepares students for success in college and life beyond. The mission of the program is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better, more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
The IB program offers many benefits to its participants, such as: higher university and college acceptance rates for IB graduates; increased scholarship and grant opportunities; a college-level academic program that transitions students to university and college standards; and teacher development using IB strategies.
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Prince George's County Public Schools has implemented two facilities dedicated to the Montessori instructional program — the Robert Goddard Montessori School and the John Hanson Montessori School. As dedicated facilities, these schools do not have a neighborhood attendance area. Entry into the program is through the random lottery application process only.
The Montessori Primary Program for children ages 3 to 6 years old is based on the Montessori educational philosophy. Taught by Montessori accredited teachers, young children are guided in developing an inner discipline, strengthening their coordination, and extending their concentration span. These accomplishments result with their readily learning to read, write and grasp mathematics. The program consists of a half-day morning for preschoolers. Children older than four must be enrolled in a certified Montessori program to be accepted into the program.
The Montessori Lower Elementary Program is designed for students ages 6 to 9 years old with prior Montessori experience. Rapid growth and learning is observed in classrooms filled with appropriate educational materials. The Montessori Upper Elementary Program continues for the next age grouping of students ages 9–12 with prior Montessori experience. Taught by Montessori accredited teachers, these elementary program students study an integrated curriculum that includes: mathematics, geometry, language, cultural studies, astronomy, biology, chemistry, geography, history, geology, philosophy, art, music and physical education.
The Montessori Middle School Program completes the Montessori studies for students progressing to the seventh and eighth grades. An interdisciplinary teaching team provides the Montessori Program for multidisciplinary learning to include English Language Arts, mathematics, science and social studies. At the high school level, the student can apply for entry to Biotechnology, Biomedical, Military Academy, Center for the Visual & Performing Arts and/or the Science & Technology Center.
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The Science and Technology Center is a highly challenging four-year curriculum which provides college-level academic experiences in science, mathematics, and technology. The program is not a true magnet program, as students are admitted into the S/T program based on competitive examination only, as opposed to the standard magnet lottery process. Of twenty-eight possible credits, a student is required to obtain a minimum of thirteen credits in specific mathematics, pre-engineering technology, research and science courses. In grades nine and ten, the program consists of common experiences courses for all student. In grades eleven and twelve, each student must choose course work from at least one of four major study areas. Students are expected to be enrolled in a full schedule of classes during the entire four-year program. External experiences are possible and encouraged, but must be a direct extension or enrichment of the Science and Technology Program, and have the recommendation of the Science and Technology Center Coordinator prior to approval by the principal.
The program is offered at three centers — Eleanor Roosevelt High School in northern Prince George's County, Oxon Hill High School in southern Prince George's County, and Charles Herbert Flowers High School in central Prince George’s County. Students attend the center that serves their legal residence. Transportation is provided for all students. Each school is a four-year comprehensive high school, as well as a Science and Technology Center. Each school is an active member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology.
Admission into the Science and Technology Center is highly competitive and contingent upon three criterion, with all criterion weighed equally. The criterion are:
All of these are factored into a final score. The number of students admitted into the S/T program vary from each school, but as an example, 225-250 students with the top scores are admitted to Roosevelt's Science and Technology Program. The next 60 students are placed on a waiting list. All interested 8th and 9th grade students who are residents of Prince George's County are eligible to apply for admission to the Science and Technology Center.
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The Spanish Dual Language Program gives equal emphasis to English and non-English language speakers. Students learn Spanish and English through content based instruction in selected core subjects with a cross cultural understanding for both native and non-native speakers. Students read, write, listen and speak in both languages, becoming bilingual, biliterate and bicultural.
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Language Immersion is an educational approach in which students are taught the curriculum content through the medium of a second language, Spanish. Children learn their entire core subjects in Spanish. Spanish speaking teachers immerse student completely in Spanish as they learn. In this way, immersion students not only learn the content, but also gain knowledge of the language in which it is taught.
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Talented and Gifted Center Magnet Schools provide a full-day intensive educational program appropriate for identified talented and gifted students, in grades 2-8. Each school offers a full-day of enriched and accelerated educational experiences in the four major content areas. Special offerings include elementary foreign language programs, computer laboratories, laboratory based science program, and fine arts programs.
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