OPEN SPACE
Severn, MD 21144

New to this school + State! We went on a lot of school tours around the area and was very impressed with Lincoln. Once August started we immediately started volunteering with their PTSA Team. Everyone was so welcoming and helped answer any questions needed. You can tell there is a strong community here of teachers, staff and parents. I’m impressed as too how long a lot of the teachers have been at Lincoln and are happy to be here. These teachers really care about their subject and know exactly how to teach individual students. Lincoln’s Theater Program was the highlight to our year. Amazing production crew and support from our Lincoln Community. WOW! They really take this program seriously and have lots of rehearsals. They are the example of PASSION! You can feel it! You can see it! Parents are allowed to get involved at school which is a PLUS in my book! There are so many ways to be involved like helping with events, fundraising, student store, parent eyes during lunchtime. There are meetings that you can attend - General PTSA for updates, DEIA, Resources, etc. Information is spread through their site, weekly newsletters, robo text messages, in school signage and social platforms.Most importantly, everyone is welcome, involved and included. Thank you for having this special place for all.

Roosevelt benefits from a beautiful location and strong neighborhood reputation, which were major factors in our decision to stay in the area so our child could attend. However, our experience did not reflect the level of excellence suggested by the school’s rating.Academically, we observed limited differentiation for students with different learning styles - there did not appear to be robust systems to meaningfully support students who required additional challenge or additional learning accommodations. In speaking with other long-term families, we encountered similar concerns, particularly regarding support for students with special learning needs.The campus is currently undergoing a large-scale construction project. TK classrooms are situated directly adjacent to the active construction area, which may be important context for families considering enrollment during this period.During the construction planning process, the school indicated that it was seeking community input. In practice, concerns raised by parents were acknowledged but did not appear to result in substantive changes or ongoing dialogue. At the first parent meeting we attended, a significant portion of time was devoted to a video and discussion about faculty engagement with an outside diversity consultant. Inclusion and equity are important values in any public school community and were part of what initially drew us to Santa Monica. However, many new parents were hoping for clearer information about curriculum standards, instructional approach, academic expectations, and how students are supported academically.That meeting offered an early snapshot of an approach that felt more centered on messaging than on clearly connecting these initiatives to academic outcomes, differentiated instruction, or meaningful student support.There are many well-intentioned educators at Roosevelt. However, families seeking strong academic rigor or clearly defined systems for supporting diverse learning needs may want to ask detailed questions before enrolling.

Samohi has provided an amazing public education experience!