Photo by Alexis A. Goring. Kenneth Jones, principal of Turning Point Academy, answers questions from parents of prospective students.

Published on: Thursday, January 26, 2012

By Alexis A. Goring

More than 1,000 people crowded into the main level of Charles H. Flowers High School Jan. 17 as parents and students gathered for Prince George’s County Public Schools’ annual Specialty Schools Showcase.

“The showcase was a wonderful opportunity for parents to learn more about our diverse offerings,” said Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. in press release. “Our students have the opportunity to enroll in programs such as Creative and Performing Arts, International Baccalaureate, French Immersion, and many more.”

Program representatives stood behind tables decorated with pamphlets, papers and sometimes iPads featuring informational videos. Representatives were readily available to answer questions from parents as they learned about the admissions process and other school-related details.

Local resident Terry Graham attended the showcase to find a school for his daughter to attend in the fall.

“We’re just here to talk to some of the charter schools, some of the administrators and see which may fit best,” he said.

Although there is a public school — where he has already paid a visit to the principal — near his home, Graham said he attended the specialty school showcase to “check on other options.”

“I don’t have a problem with public schools,” he said. “Every school is different. You have some charter schools or private schools that are horrible and some public schools that are great. I am really just weighing options.”

Excel Academy was one of the charter schools recruiting students at the showcase. Founder and Chairman of the Board Denise E. Johnson touted to parents of potential students the academy’s small class sizes — kindergarten tops out at 15 students, first and second grade at 20 students and upper grades at 25 — and its creative learning environment.

“We work very closely as a governing board with our administration and our teachers to make sure we’re tapping into the individual strengths and weaknesses of all children and even beyond the instruction we can support, we can reinforce through our extracurricular program,” Johnson said.

Art, music, violin and dancing are offered, and the Riverdale school has a partnership with The Folgers Theater, where Excel students learn about Shakespeare and perform his works.

“Cultural arts is extremely important to us. We offer through our extended day, free of charge to anyone in that program, violin instruction because we have research to support the fact that violin instruction strengthens math skills,” Johnson said.

“Our children have participated in competitions in choral, vocal and so what we’re finding is that we have children who excel in those areas. It builds self-esteem, it builds confidence and it translates into academic performance,” she added.

Some parents — like Lisa Morris, mother of a sixth grader who loves drama and dreams of being a writer, actress and journalist — sought programs to fit their children’s interests and talents.

“My son is in a specialty program right now … he’s in the science tech program,” Morris said. “We’re going around right now picking up different pamphlets from the creative and performing arts because that’s our target market right there, and we really want to find something that’s suitable for her that’s in our zone.”

Creative and performing arts programs offer artistically-talented youth more instruction in the arts than they would likely receive at other schools.

“What I like is the uniqueness of these programs,” said Judith Hawkins, vocal music supervisor for Prince George’s County Public Schools. “These programs are specifically designed for students that show gifting in the creative and performing arts … the students get a more intense exposure to the arts, a more intense instruction in the arts in the hopes that these children will grow up to be an artist.”