7548 Broadcloth Way
Columbia, MD 21046

Going downhill with new leadership. Special education is non responsive seems to have taken a severe turn for the worst and staff turnover has massively increased. Three stars for the fact that there are still many fantastic teachers there.

My kid is thriving at Hammond High and is in mostly AP/GT courses. Assignments and feedback are very organized. He seems to be enjoying himself, despite the long study hours . He enjoys friendships that are supportive. Ms. Reid is an engaged and effective Principal. The school sends emails to parents daily. The teachers are mostly veteran instructors who have command of their subjects. They care about the kids and enjoy them. This school appears to be an inclusive community. I am astounded by the opportunities provided for the students to help them on their path to being productive adults. The books, projects, and discussions are often college level. There is something for everyone. The upgrade of the building is wonderful.

We are a military family, on a 2-3yr PCS cycle. We picked HCPSS because it is supposed to be rated one of the best. Maybe if you have a general education student who does not move the way the military families do. The problem started with enrollment. The staff here has NEVER heard of the Interstate Compact for Military Children. I had to print it and give it to them. This is a federal law, and every school should be aware of it. They refused to enroll my student with the correct documents, until 6 days before the start of the year. They then refused to take my copies of her IEP and accommodations from our previous school, as they could have been changed and were not official. I was told my student could not have a schedule until they had received her official transcripts. That takes weeks! I asked what my student would be doing until they had this information, sitting in the SpEd room. With nothing to do. They then dropped her IEP (OCT), because she had good grades, and moved her to a 504 (JAN). We were offered a calculator, for my Dyslexic ADHD kid. When I asked how that made sense, I was met with "She is Dyslexic?" (Did they even read her IEP?) Cancelled the 504 (MAR) and didn't get it done until MAY! The next school year started, and my kid called me in tears, her teacher, in front of the class, told her she didn't have a 504!!!! The document was not attached to her student file. MADDNESS!!!! My second child in that building was allowed to stay on an IEP, but when I asked for them to add a check in for executive functioning issues, I was told that "we don't hold hands in middle school." I don't want someone to hold his hand, I want his education not to be affected by his lack of exc function skills! Their paperwork is missing, they are noncommunicative. 3 days before the end of the year, when we will be unenrolled due to a PCS, I get a call. Student 504 is "out of compliance" and can I come in and help them, waive prior written notice, and get it done quickly. NO. Sorry, But no. JAG at Meade is aware of our issues. The teachers on a whole are great, the admin, not so much. Also be aware of cross contamination of PEANUTS. At least 4 times I picked my kid up in anaphylaxis, 1 time she was sent in ambulance.