The Beddow Schools is a private school in Maryland serving elementary school through high school with campuses in Prince George's and Charles counties: a secondary school in the Accokeek census-designated place and primary schools in the Fort Washington and Waldorf CDPs.
As of 2009[update] the campuses had 25 employees and 200 students combined.[1] In 2008 there were 40 students in the secondary grades.[2]
History
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Trudy Beddow, the founder of the school system, had a background in education as a history teacher within the Montgomery County Public Schools system, specifically at a school near Silver Spring. Her tenure in this role ended in 1966 when she was dismissed by the school's principal. Beddow attributed her departure to her dissatisfaction with what she described as the conservative atmosphere of the school, which she felt stifled her educational approach and philosophies.
Following her departure from the school, Beddow transitioned to working as an assistant producer on the popular quiz show It's Academic. This experience in a different field likely contributed to her decision to pursue a new direction in education. Motivated by her passion for teaching and a desire to create a learning environment more aligned with her educational values, Beddow established her own school around 1974.[1] The school began in a modest setting—initially holding classes in the family room of her house. This grassroots beginning marked the start of what would grow into a more structured and independent educational institution under her leadership.
Operations
editAs of 2004[update] the secondary school relies on administrators to provide counseling to students in regards to their post-high school university, college, or career choices, as the secondary division is, as stated by David Anderson of The Gazette, "tiny".[3]
Academics
editAs of 2004[update] all of the students in the secondary division graduate.[3] As of 2009[update] about 90% of the graduating students attend post-secondary institutions.[1]
Campuses
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The three campuses are:[4] Fort Washington Montessori School in Fort Washington census-designated place,[5] Waldorf Montessori School in Waldorf CDP,[6] and Accokeek College Preparatory School in Accokeek CDP.
The Accokeek campus has 7 acres (2.8 ha) of land.[7] Originally the students did physical education in the school's driveway or at a nearby park. The first gymnasium for the property, with a cost of $1.2 million, was due to break ground around 2008.[2]
Prior to 2010 the U.S. Census Bureau defined the land that the Waldorf Campus occupies as being in the St. Charles CDP.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ a b c Garner, Joshua (2009-09-10). "Three schools, 35 years and counting". The Gazette. Retrieved 2018-09-16. - Also as: "35 years, three schools and still counting" and "Accokeek woman turns passion into lifelong dream"
- ^ a b McKeever, Megan (2008-09-18). "Private school ready to build first gym". The Gazette. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
- ^ a b "Principal guides students toward college choices". The Gazette. 2004-10-14. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
- ^ Home. The Beddow Schools. Retrieved on September 8, 2018. "Fort Washington Montessori School 8600 Loughran Road Fort Washington, MD 20744" and "Waldorf Montessori School 6008 Hampshire Circle Waldorf, MD 20603" and "Accokeek College Preparatory School 501 Bryan Point Road Accokeek, MD 20607"
- ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Fort Washington CDP, MD." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 2, 2018. Note that the CDP previously covered a different set of territory: "CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: FORT WASHINGTON CDP" with pages 1 and 2. In the 1990 U.S. Census Bureau maps of Prince George's County, Maryland (index map) Fort Washington CDP is on pages 26, 27, 32, and 33.
- ^ "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP (INDEX): Waldorf CDP, MD." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. The portion containing the school is on page 6.
- ^ "College Preparatory." The Beddow Schools. Retrieved on September 9, 2018.
- ^ Home. The Beddow School. May 26, 2000. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. "The Beddow Montessori School 6008 Hampshire Circle Waldorf, Maryland 20603"
- ^ "CENSUS 2000 BLOCK MAP: ST. CHARLES CDP." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 9, 2018. The school's land is on page 1. The 1990 Census Map for Charles County (index map) has St. Charles on page 6.