Public or Private School in Bowie?

There is also a Montessori school in Bowie, just off Rustic Hill Drive, in case you're interested.

When my oldest was a baby and we were new to PG, I asked Jay Matthews, who has written about education for the Washington Post for about 25 years, whether we needed to think about moving before our daughter got to be school age. He told me that the choice of school mattered far less in early childhood than the learning atmosphere at home. Assuming the school is clean and safe and that the teachers are caring, your child will be fine. I certainly wouldn't waste $23K on preschool, unless you just have money to burn. Read to your daughter, take her interesting places, travel, let her see you reading, take her to the ballet--all those things matter a whole lot more at this age than what building she goes to school in. My husband has a Ph.D and I have a master's degree, BTW. Our daughters are both in public schools in Bowie and are doing well--which is not to say without challenges (one has ADD), but they are challenges they would be dealing with no matter where they are. As for high school--well, we're not there yet!

Holy cow?! Do people actually spend that much on preschool?!

http://www.google.com/search?q=playful+learning+md&ie...

-S

Hi K.,

I live in Bowie too and although I'm not where you are yet (my daughter is only 9 months) we will be eventually. I had the same feelings as you when I first moved here when I heard the schools in PG Co were some of the worst. That didn't matter so much to us as we were most likely going to do private Catholic school or homeschool anyways. Can you find a private preschool here in Bowie or nearby? Also there are other local Montessori schools besides the one you mentioned. I agree with the others that 23K seems ridiculously high for pre-school! Yikes! Much better to save that for college.

Anyhow I googled preschools in Bowie and came up with the following if you want to check them out if you haven't already. Some I knew of already and have friends who have their children there. Also some are Christian-based, so don't know if that matters to you or not.

-Bowie KinderCare (http://www.kindercare.com/our-centers/center-details/3011...)

-Cresthill Baptist Child Development Center (http://www.cresthill.org/cdc1.html)

-Bowie Christian School (http://www.bowiechristianschool.com/page8.php)

-Mitchellville Montessori School (http://www.mmontessorisch.com/)

-Patuxent Montessori School (http://www.patuxent-montessori.org/)

-Little Genius International (http://littlegeniusinternational.com/)

-Bowie Montessori Childrens House (http://www.bmch.net/)

-Ascension Elc And Kindergarten
(http://www.privateschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/12069)

-Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School (http://www.htrinity.org/index.php)

-St. Matthew's Early Education Center
(http://www.stmatthews-bowie.org/Education/Christian/)

Hope that helps! Good luck!
M.

I also live in Bowie and have had the same thoughts as you. But I'm wondering, does it have to be Georgetown Day School if you decide on private? There are plenty of good private schools so close to home and they are only a fraction of the cost. I assume you can afford the 23K per year, but if you don't have to, why not save it for college, or even your own retirement.
My daughter has been in the Bowie public school system since 1st grade (Heather Hills 1 - 6; Tasker 7 & 8 - she is currently in 8th). We haven't really had any problems. Some behavior issues with her classmates, but she has never been directly effected, and I do feel she is getting a good education. She is currently enrolled in 2 highschool classes and will receive HS credit @ the end of 8th grade. I really believe it depends on the individual, and also parent involvement.
Good luck making your choice, but I don't recommend spending 23K a year for preschool. There are definitely other options.