By Megan King Published November 20, 2008 Prince George’s Gazette
Fifty-one Prince George’s County schools were recognized last week for their performance on the Maryland School Assessment, statewide standardized tests taken by elementary and middle school students.
The exemplary schools had at least 80 percent of their test-takers score proficient or advanced in both reading and math on the 2008 MSA.
Each school was given an exemplary school banner, with two stars — one indicating the school’s math score and the other showing the reading score for 2008. Stars will be added to the banners annually.
The banners were donated by the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable, a nonprofit organization of business leaders in the county that advocates for an improved business and community environment. James R. Estepp, director of operations for the organization, said the group was “honored and thrilled” to recognize the schools.
“There’s no more important investment that a business organization could make than in the future,” Estepp said.
In addition to the banners, the exemplary schools’ principals were given certificates at a Nov. 10 event unveiling the banners at Berwyn Heights Elementary School. The other exemplary schools were given their banners to put on display.
“I accept it on behalf of our students, parents, staff and the entire community. Without them, this would never be possible,” said Marilyn Goldsmith, principal of James Ryder Randall Elementary School. On the 2008 MSA, 84.3 percent of test-takers at the Clinton school scored proficient or advanced in reading and 82.7 percent scored proficient or advanced in math.
The exemplary elementary schools are Beltsville, Berwyn Heights, Bond Mill (Laurel), Brandywine, Deerfield Run (Laurel), Dodge Park (Landover), Doswell E. Brooks (Capitol Heights), Flintstone (Oxon Hill), Fort Foote (Fort Washington), Fort Washington Forest, Gladys N. Spellman (Cheverly), Glenarden Woods, Greenbelt, Heather Hills (Bowie), Henry G. Ferguson (Accokeek), Highland Park (Landover), Hollywood (College Park), James McHenry (Lanham), James Ryder Randall (Clinton), Kenilworth (Bowie), Kingsford (Mitchellville), Lake Arbor (Mitchellville), Magnolia (Lanham), Marlton (Upper Marlboro), Mattaponi (Upper Marlboro), Melwood (Upper Marlboro), Montpelier (Laurel), Northview (Bowie), Paint Branch (College Park), Patuxent (Upper Marlboro), Perrywood (Largo), Pointer Ridge (Bowie), Potomac Landing (Fort Washington), Robert Frost (New Carrollton), Rockledge (Bowie), Samuel Chase (Temple Hills), Scotchtown Hills (Laurel), Seabrook, Skyline (Suitland), Tulip Grove (Bowie), University Park, Whitehall (Bowie), Woodmore (Mitchellville) and Yorktown (Bowie).
Other schools named exemplary schools are Imagine – Foundations Public Charter School (Upper Marlboro), John Hanson Montessori School (Oxon Hill), Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School (Beltsville), Robert Goddard French Immersion School (Seabrook), Robert Goddard Montessori School (Seabrook), Samuel Ogle Middle School (Bowie) and Thomas G. Pullen School (Landover).
E-mail Megan King at mking@gazette.net.
