College Gardens Elementary School

I had two children at CGES (1 was there for the last 2 yrs. and the other one from K - 5). This school is the 2nd school in the US that has a vertical IB pathway (from ES through HS). From the education standpoint, the school is absolutely fantastic. Students are taken to the maximum of their interests and abilities, using the state of the art technology (the school building is also new and opened only two years ago - now, the fact that the student population has grown beyond any expectations and the building has already become too small for the existing student population is another thing), and the staff is excellent for most part. With the exception of two homeroom teachers out of eight that my kids had between the two of them, I would say that 6 were absolutely fantastic, that one of the eight was OK and that the eight out of eight was not as good (she lacked both enthusiasm and teaching experience). The new school principal is fine. The disciplinary policy is not as children friendly and sometimes misused by aid staff members, but all in all, the kids are great and most often they behave within the expected parameters. The CGES education programs & student diversity are superb
--Submitted by a parent

After 2 years at CGES my son will NOT be going back again. A poor excuse for a school. We will not be sending our 4 year old there next year when its time for kindergarden. I am just sorry that we kept our son there as long a we did. I hate to even call some of these people "teachers"
--Submitted by a parent

Teachers are very busy with the big class size. With immersion and IB program, teachers have hard time to organized themselves and get everything done. As parents, we are not fully informed of what my kids is doing at school, what/when the performances are.
--Submitted by a parent

My daughter is in kindergarten at College Gardens. I also have 7th and 3rd graders in who've attended other elementary schools, but College Gardens has been so far a really great learning environment. I am really impressed with how much she learned in just the first two months of school. She is in the Ib and Chinese immersion program and loves going to school every day.
--Submitted by a parent

My child has been here all the way through and is now going to middle school. This is an excellent school: highly diverse, very international, very good teachers and leadership and very comfortable and caring atmosphere, very active parents. Test scores are very good too. IB program is unique in MD. It is a large school and class sizes are larger than average in MD but I have not found that to be a huge problem. Dr Dupont has really turned the school around, he is unfortunately leaving in fall 2010, we hope the new principal will be just as good.
--Submitted by a parent

Teachers are working hard and doing great jobs at teaching and presentation. I don't know where the anger is from against the principle Mr. Dupont and I'm certain it only represents only a few parent's voice with personal issue which is not right to put the unfair picture to this wonderful school.
--Submitted by a parent

This is my 5th grader's 1st and last year here. 1st year, after moving from another state. And, her last year, bc she will be in middle school after. I think the school has a lot of positive aspects. To start with the non-teaching staff is very nice and considerate. It is a widely diverse community. Performing arts program is well established with music, instrumental music & art programs. I believe their curriculum is standard and is on the same level as everyone else across other states. One thing, I am unsure of though is their lunch line... my 5th grader always complains the lunch line moves too slow and she ends up not having enough time to eat lunch. Now, I am not sure if she'd rather sit and chat with her friends at the table while she eats her home lunch or that it's all true. Good school!
--Submitted by a parent

College Gardens is education at its finest! The school celebrates the diversity of it's students in everything that they do. Multi-cultural lessons, resources and performances are abundant and you find maps and flags from all over the world throughout the hallways. My son, a fifth grader and in his third year at College Gardens, has had excellent teachers in his homeroom and in his special activities such as art, music, PE and Chinese. Yes, Chinese. I am thrilled with my son's education at College Gardens.
--Submitted by a parent

Wonderful school with many unique opportunities to elementary aged children. CGES has the PYP program, Chinese Immersion, and an Austism program. The school is very diverse and it celebrates that diversity. The staff seems very committed to the children and immediately we felt at home and welcomed. It amazes me that all the staff members seem to know each child personally. I have been pleased with the school's response to any questions or concerns I have had regarding my child. Lastly, I am very pleased with the school's ability and willingness to challenge my child academically.
--Submitted by a parent

I believe the problem in that school is the Principal Mr. Dupont. He is not open to suggestions when it comes to how to improve the schooling in the establishment. Hoe overly controls his staff and use his authority as a principal to try to even control the parents in their say about the ways to improve the school and THEIR KIDS future. Yey he does not have great idea / transforming ideas with all due respect. His unnecessary controlling agenda even expands to making the parents' parking or eeven drop off drive a stranding adventure. That said I believe the teachers are great and would certain do better if they had are better leader than what they have now.
--Submitted by a parent