Guide: Families & Kids | City of College Park, Maryland

Public Schools

The City is home to numerous public and private education schools within its boundaries. As the City is located within Prince George’s County, all public schools are managed by the County.

Nearby Prince George’s County Public Schools serving City children are:

Elementary	Middle	High
Hollywood Paint Branch (Chinese Immersion) Berwyn Heights University Park Cherokee Lane	Buck Lodge Greenbelt Hyattsville College Park Academy (Charter)	Eleanor Roosevelt (Magnet) High Point Parkdale Northwestern College Park Academy (Charter)

(Click on each school's name to be taken to their website)

Parents/guardians can apply for specialty program schools through Prince George’s County Public School. To learn about specialty schools or programs within Prince George's County, please visit the Prince George's County Public Schools website here.

For more information about Charter School lotteries, please click here.
For more information about Magnet Schools, please click here.

Additional information is available for each individual school through mdreportcard.org.

For further information regarding registration for Prince George’s County Public Schools, click here. To find your neighborhood school, click here.

TutorMe Program through Prince George's County Public Schools: Through this program, PGCPS students can connect with an online tutor in less than 30 seconds, 24/7. Learn more here.

Private Schools

Private Schools that are in or near City boundaries:

Friends Community School (K-8)
Al Huda School (K-12)
Holy Redeemer School (K-8)

St. Mark the Evangelist School (K-8)
DeMatha Catholic High School (9-12)
Elizabeth Seton High School (9-12)

The City through its’ Department of Youth, Family and Senior Services works with our local public and private schools to provide increased academic and social support. The City provides annual financial grants to local public schools serving College Park neighborhoods to help with such things as increased technology in the classroom, robotics and technology and language programs, field trips and greater access to a variety of resources.

City School Initiatives

If I Were Mayor Essay Contest

A Maryland Municipal League-sponsored (MML) event that begins in January of each year. College Park’s mayor visits fourth grade students at participating local public and private elementary schools to provide a face-to-face connection with municipal government, so they can learn what it is like to be mayor. Fourth graders are invited to participate in the MML essay contest. All participants receive certificates from the Mayor. In March, Youth and Family Services staff collects the essays from each school along with the school’s identification of the school winner and sends all the essays for award consideration by MML.

Once MML results are announced at the end of April, the Mayor and Council recognize both school and MML District winners at a May City Council meeting. Each winner is recognized and reads his/her essay to the Council and the viewing public.

Lakeland STARs

Lakeland STARs is an after-school tutoring/mentoring program for children located in the historic Lakeland community. Lakeland STARs is a 20+ year partnership between the City’s Youth and Family Services program, Paint Branch Elementary and University of Maryland College Park Scholars. Participants are bussed weekly onto UMD campus where they receive individualized help with their homework from their UMD tutor and then engage as a group to promote the development of social skills and teamwork.

City Scholarships to UMD Summer Youth Camps

Through the City’s Education Advisory Committee, the City offers City youth scholarships for University of Maryland summer camps. Scholarships for summer camps are awarded in the spring for qualified youth. Popular camps include Bug Camp, Engineering, Band, Gymnastics, Basketball, Arts, Reading, Quidditch and so much more.

The UMD Summer Reading Program is a camp made possible with support from Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission(M-NCPPC).

Only rising K through 12th grade youth who reside in the City are eligible to apply for a City scholarship of up to $400 to a 2019 University of Maryland summer youth camp.

How to apply:
Scholarship applications open in February each year and close in mid-March. Families are notified in April if their scholarship application has been approved.

2023 Application Available Now!

Contact:

Department of Youth, Family and Seniors Services

Latisha Moore, Administrative Assistant

240.487.3550

families@collegeparkmd.gov

Hispanic Parent Support Group

Se Habla Español

The City’s Hispanic Parent Support Group provides a safe, welcoming environment for Spanish-speaking parents with children (18 and under). The group aims to build a sense of community and strengthen parental functioning by affirming and supporting positive relationships with other Hispanic parents.

This support group, celebrating its 10th plus year, is a place where parents can share their difficulties and are empowered through the group’s support and feedback. Information and resources are provided based on concerns raised by the participants and of general interest. Supervised youth activities are provided for while parents are meeting.

Additionally, family social activities are planned throughout the year to promote parent-child relationships. Many parents assert that the group has helped increase their confidence as a parent, provides them with a strong sense of community and enhances their overall quality of life.

As a result of their participation and interest in informing others, parents volunteer to plan and hold events and promote the benefits of the program to other parents and the community-at-large.