Contact MargaretWalk to Crofton Woods Elementary
November 21st, 2008 Categories: Crofton Schools
Crofton Woods, one of four elementary schools located in the community, was opened in 1970 to serve residents of new homes in the immediate surrounding area.
Although some students arrive and depart by bus or car, many are walkers. Homes pictured in this post are representative of those within walking distance of the school.
Crofton Woods students have learned in an “open space” environment for thirty eight years, including my two sons. From the beginning, there have always been some parents and educators who questioned the value of that environment, where students are assigned by grade level to a “pod” containing four homeroom classes. Math and Language Arts are taught by the homeroom teacher, while Science and Social Studies may be taught by a different teacher. Redesigning the school with traditional classrooms has been discussed on and off for years, but there are no immediate plans for making that change.
To any relocating parents who may be concerned about their children learning in “open space.” I can only say that my two sons are extremely successful adults, whose foundation for life was the learning they received in this environment at Crofton Woods Elementary. Yet they could not have been more different children – one was a good student who always got good grades and the other was always a trouble-maker… it would be no exaggeration to say he was usually “permanently” kicked off the County school bus by October each year.
Besides core classes mentioned earlier, the curriculum also includes computer technology, music, art, physical education, library/media studies, drug awareness and personal safety. When it comes to the arts, Crofton Woods is the recipient of grants from the Cultural Arts Foundation of Anne Arundel County and the Baltimore Community Foundation for an artist in residence and partnerships with local museums and galleries. Crofton Woods students also “connect” with other children attending school in France, Kenya, and Japan in order to develop some understanding of their different cultures.
According to the school’s website, “Reading and writing experiences are both narrative and expository based, and integrated within the content areas of science, social studies, and mathematics. A computer laboratory provides the technology for extending and enhancing learning associated with all aspects of the curriculum. Supervised Internet access provides the opportunity for global communication and exploration to appropriate sites. “
Crofton Woods Elementary students performed extremely well in the 2008 Maryland School Assessment (MSA) for math and reading. (Science results have not yet been reported.) To see the specifics, you can click on the 2008 Maryland Report Card for Crofton Woods, and view greater details by clicking again on links you’ll find on that page.
As a longtime resident and Realtor in Crofton, it’s my observation that all of Crofton’s elementary schools are excellent. The overwhelming majority of parents seem to be very satisfied with the academics, environment, teachers, and facilities at their children’s school.
If good schools are an important criteria for you in choosing a place to live, I recommend you “Focus on Crofton” for your home search.
Previous posts about Crofton schools:
- Crofton Elementary Raises $17 K for Cystic Fibrosis
- Crofton Schools Improve on MSA Tests
- Maryland Schools Rank 3rd in Nation
- Report Card for Crofton Middle & High Schools
- Crofton Schools Report Card
- Ten Crofton Teachers Earn Certification
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