Unstuck in the Middle

This school is one of the many surprises of south Arlington, a community whose schools, despite large numbers of low-income students, have earned local and national recognition for challenging teaching. Samantha Roberts's son, after finishing eighth grade at Gunston, joined his family in Ecuador and enrolled in a private school with a tough British curriculum. Yet his intensified algebra and other courses at Gunston were so good that he was promoted to the equivalent of 10th grade. "The headmaster was flummoxed," Roberts said.

Award-winning Gunston math teacher Linda Allen said the school is full of transient students, but in some ways that helps. "We have no dominant cliques. Kids get used to making friends, and new and different is the norm," she said.

Harper's Choice Middle School

Columbia, Howard County, 552 students, grades 6 to 8; principal Stephen Wallis (six years); 23 percent low income, 40 percent white, 43 percent black, 7 percent Hispanic, 9 percent Asian; 45 percent completed algebra.

Even rich suburbs such as Howard County have pockets of poverty, and Harper's Choice draws many of its students from them. When Stephen Wallis arrived as principal six years ago, he found the usual pathologies of schools with many disadvantaged kids: low average test scores, poor teacher morale, racial tension, disruptive behavior, vandalism, few PTA members and no business partnerships.

Now test scores are up; suspensions are down; the PTA has more than 400 members; and 27 businesses have established partnerships with the school, tops in the county. The school has been cited as a National PTA "School of Excellence," and Wallis was awarded a National Distinguished Leadership Award by the American Federation of School Administrators.

So far, only the most knowledgeable parents have gotten the message. "We have cringed many times when acquaintances have told us that they are so glad that their children do not attend Harper's Choice," said sixth-grade parents Kim and Ben Flyr in an e-mail. "What they don't know is that they are missing a great school."

Hyattsville Middle School

Prince George's County, 810 students, grades 7 to 8; principal Gail Golden (nine years); 59 percent low income, 9 percent white, 55 percent black, 33 percent Hispanic, 2 percent Asian; 12.4 percent completed algebra.

Many parents were shunning Hyattsville Middle when Gail Golden became principal nine years ago. It was on the Maryland state watch list of underachieving schools and had 25 teacher vacancies. Since Golden hired a new batch of teachers eager for the challenge and added a creative and performing arts program, the school's test scores have improved, and enrollment has grown 33 percent, with an influx of both low-income Hispanic students and middle-class students drawn by its rising reputation.

Hyattsville missed the federal No Child Left Behind targets for special education and limited English students last year, but the arts program and the higher learning standards have convinced many parents it is the place to be. Linda Ferrete said her three children excelled in band, orchestra and fine arts.

Student Chloe Yates said, "The students here have the right, and positive, attitude toward learning. Mostly everyone wants to have a successful life."

Ernest Everett Just Middle School

Mitchellville, Prince George's County, 1,040 students, grades 7 to 8; principal Marian White-Hood (four years); 33 percent low income, 1 percent white, 96 percent black, 2 percent Hispanic, 1 percent Asian; 12 percent completed algebra.

Many schools are defined by their principals, and White-Hood has a hall of fame résumé, with several big awards. Eighth-grader Chandara Un said, "You will never find a more determined and caring individual than Dr. White-Hood."