Fort Meade - USNA - Andrews AFB: June 2010

Maryland’s public education system ranks first in the nation again this year.

Education Week, the College Board and Newsweek Magazine ranked Maryland #1 for the highest percentage of rigorous high schools in America based on the “Challenge Index” developed by the Washington Post. 

The “America’s Top High Schools” issue of Newsweek, published last week, listed 98 Maryland high schools among its top 1,622 schools nationwide.  Since Maryland has 185 public schools, this means that 53 percent of our high schools appeared on their list.  (A few other states have more schools on the list, but they have far more schools overall and, therefore, a lower percentage of schools from their state.)

The Challenge Index looks at student enrollment in Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate, and Cambridge courses and tests.  These are considered to be indicators of good preparation for college, and many colleges and universities give credit for them.

Both high schools attended by children living in Crofton, Maryland (21114), are among the eleven (out of twelve) Anne Arundel County public schools that made the list – Arundel H.S. in Gambrills and South River H.S. in Edgewater.  Nearby Bowie H.S., in Prince George’s County, also made Newsweek’s list of “America’s Top High Schools”.  

If you're looking for good schools when you relocate to the D..C. area, you can't go wrong with Maryland - and it's hard to beat Anne Arundel County, where 11 out of 12 schools are in the nation's top 6% of public high schools.

RELATED LINKS:

• Nation’s Top Public School System is Maryland (2009)
• A Tour of Local Public Schools for Crofton Newbies

The tax credit fed right into this mindset - that about half the country feels they could never save enough to get into a home.  What a shame that the 18% who feel they need a low down-payment loan are probably out of luck for the foreseeable future, unless FHA is an option for them.

Amy shares some interesting survey results with us.  Take a look...

The musical ambassadors of the United States Army are based right here at Fort George G. Meade.

"As the premier touring musical representative for the United States Army, this internationally-acclaimed organization travels thousands of miles each year presenting a variety of music to enthusiastic audiences throughout the nation and abroad."  That's how they're described on the band's official website.

Army band members are active duty soldiers in the U.S. Army who rotate through various assignments throughout their careers, just like any other member of the U.S. military.  Bandsmen, as they are called, have duties ranging from performing instrumentalists and vocalists to conductors, sound technicians and administrators.  They could be assigned to a large band (at Fort Monroe, VA, Ft. McPherson, GA, and Heidelberg, Germany) or a special band (Pershings Own at Ft. Myer, VA, the USMA Band at West Point, NY, and the US Army Field Band at Fort Meade). 

Here at Fort Meade, bandsmen may be part of the Concert Band, the Soldiers' Chorus, the Jazz Ambassadors, or The Volunteers and perform 100 times a year - across the country and around the world.  They participate as guest artists (both individually and as small ensembles) for community and school concerts; they conduct clinics at high schools and colleges; and they assist local music educators with camps, music instrument drives or whatever they can.

The band and various ensembles go on tour during the summer months, and may be visiting a town or city near you in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, Connecticut, Ohio or even Toronto, ON this month or next.  Be sure to check the U.S. Army Field Band Schedule 2010.

I noticed on the schedule they'll be performing July 4 at Point State Park Main Stage in Pittsburgh... and the on the southwest corner of the Washington Monument...  I wonder who will perform at the July 4 celebration right here at Fort Meade?

Residents in the greater Crofton MD area have no shortage of opportunities to hear the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy bands perform throughout the summer, including the 2010 Summer Concert Series on the west steps of the U.S. Capitol.

P.S.  Don't forget to bring your bug spray!  (Speaking from experience...)

RELATED POSTS:

• Commuting Guide for Fort George G. Meade and NSA
• Fort Meade - What to Expect When You Arrive
• Good News for VA Home Buyers in Maryland
• STOP - Don't Pack to Move without Setting aside Important Paperwork

If you have PCS orders to Fort Meade - for the U.S. Army Field Band or any other assignment - I would consider it a privilege to help you find a home and community within a half hour of Fort Meade and NSA.

As the grandmother of a six and eight-year old, I just can't imagine if either of them were missing, so I'm glad to re-blog this and hope you'll click on the original post to do the same.

Fort George G Meade in Maryland is many things... one of them is a community, complete with shopping, recreational facilities, day care, dining, and more.

Golf is nearly always mentioned in any conversation about recreation at Fort Meade, and The Courses offer 27-holes of golf right in the heart of the post to qualified individuals.

You may be eligible to play golf at Fort Meade, without even realizing it...   In fact, I think a lot of local residents may not be aware they don't have to be active duty military or stationed at Fort Meade to play The Courses (although active-duty E1-E5 stationed at Meade do have lower rates than anyone else except junior golfers).

There are several levels of eligibility (listed in order of priority) for playing golf on The Courses at Fort Meade:

• Active duty military personnel (and their families) assigned to Fort Meade
• Active duty military personnel (and their families) NOT assigned to Fort Meade and members of the ARNG and USAR.
• Retired military personnel (and their families).
• Fort Meade MDW DOD, retired DOD, appropriated fund (APF) and non-appropriated fund (NAF) civilian employees (family members may play as guests when accompanied by an authorized patron.)
• Honorably discharged Veterans with proof of prior military service (DD Form 214).

I doubt you could find any place to play golf in the Washington, D.C. area for less money because daily fees start at just $10 for juniors, authorized personnel never pay more than $21 per round, and guests fees are only $30.  Annual memberships start at $300 and the most expensive (non-retired veterans) are the most expensive at $1200 per year.  You can rent a riding cart for an unbelievably low $15/round per person (or $18 for an individual golfer) and you can reserve a tee time.  There are various groups, of course, including 18-hole and 9-hole ladies groups.

The Courses at Fort Meade are located within a half hour of many communities in Anne Arundel, Prince George's and Howard Counties including Bowie, Columbia, Crofton, Crownsville, Ellicott City, Gambrills, Laurel, Millersville, and Odenton.

If you live in one of these communities, why not consider The Courses at Fort George G. Meade the next time you're thinking about trying someplace new.

SUMMER SPECIALS:  

Wednesday - 18 holes for $25, including cart
Saturday and Sunday - 18 holes anytime after 1400 for $25, including cart
Monday-Thursday - Applewood nine anytime after 1400 for $15, including cart

RELATED POSTS:

• How Many Golf Courses are there at Andrews AFB?
• Anne Arundel County Golf Courses 
• A Bird's-Eye View of the Golf Course Near You
• Crofton Real Estate - Tee it up!

Who doesn't like ice cream on a hot summer day? Or behaps a cold drink of lemonade?

On Sunday, June 6, there will be plenty of hand-dipped ice cream and homemade lemonade at the Annual Ice Cream Social to be held at the Odenton Historical Center & Museum (1367 Odenton Road).

Plenty of other fun things, too, including a Vintage Hat Contest, prizes for kids dressed in vintage costumes, and entertainment by local talent including a Barbershop Quartet.  Costumed historians will be on hand to introduce you to Odenton history, which is steeped in agriculture and the railroad.

If ice cream and lemonade aren't enough to satisfy your sweet tooth, there will also be cakes, pies and cookies!

'Sounds like a lot of fun, especially for Odenton "Newbies" who may not know anything about the history of their community. 

MORE FUN THINGS TO DO NEAR ODENTON THIS WEEKEND.  Click on the link for details about the free summer concert in Crofton on Sunday evening and Bowiefest on Saturday at Allen Pond.

P.S.  If you're stationed at nearby Fort Meade, this is only about five minutes away.  After you visit this event, take a ride down Piney Orchard Parkway, and check out the community.  If you'd like to look at homes there, you can call or text me at 301-346-2923.

Homebuyers relocating to the D.C. - Baltimore - Annapolis Triangle, including military families headed to Fort Meade, Andrews AFB and the USNA, often discover the greater Crofton area for the first time when they start digging into the quality of schools throughout the region.  It's hard to find anything "not to like" about Arundel H.S., South River H.S., and their respective feeder systems in Crofton, Davidsonville, and Gambrills.

Of course, any school or even classroom is only as good as the individual principal and teacher at that moment, so you're bound to find some exceptions anywhere, but I can't imagine better public schools overall in any community.

Locate Your School is a favorite page on the Anne Arundel County Public Schools website for relocating families because they can quickly learn which school their children will attend by entering the address of any home in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Once you find the schools for homes you're considering, you can click on the link for them below, and here's what you'll find:  The school's address, phone number, administrators, demographics, and a link to the school's own website where you will find even more information.  You'll also find links to the Maryland School Assessment (MSA) results and Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) reports.

ARUNDEL HIGH SCHOOL & FEEDER SYSTEM

ARUNDEL MIDDLE

• Four Seasons Elementary (Gambrills) - Photo middle right
• Odenton Elementary  (Odenton)
• Piney Orchard Elementary (Odenton)
• Waugh Chapel Elementary (Gambrills)

CROFTON MIDDLE

• Crofton Elementary
• Nantucket Elementary  (Crofton) - Photo bottom right
  

SOUTH RIVER HIGH SCHOOL & FEEDER SYSTEM

CENTRAL MIDDLE

• Central Elementary
• Davidsonville Elementary - Photo top right

CROFTON MIDDLE SCHOOL 

• Crofton Meadows Elementary
• Crofton Woods Elementary

"Which Crofton School is the Best?" is a question I often hear from relocating families, and I would have to say "all of the above."  That's because my family experienced several of them first hand - Crofton Elementary, Crofton Woods, Arundel Middle, Crofton Middle School and Arundel H.S. - and, of course, the children of my clients and neighbors have, as well.  Many of my clients have chosen this community FOR our schools, and I've never known anyone who moved away from because they were unhappy with Crofton area schools.

Please visit the Anne Arundel County Public Schools website for more information.  You'll find a wealth of information for parents of school age children.