Calvert County Honored as One of the Best Communities for Young People

America's Promise Alliance recently announced the winners of its annual 100 Best Communities for Young People. Calvert County was honored as one of these communities. America's Promise poured over the nominations from over 300 towns, cities and communities across the entire United States to find the areas of the country that offer the best programs to lower the high school dropout rate (Calvert County currently has a 91.1% graduation rate) and increase the chances for success of the young people of the community. This is the second year in a row that Calvert County was named to the list.

A few of the reasons Calvert County was honored as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People included:

• It is a stable, clean and safe environment in which to raise kids.
• The Washington Post has ranked all four public high schools in the Calvert County school system in the top 1000 schools nationally.
• At least half of the county's annual budget is spent specifically on the welfare and education of children.
• All ethnic/minority students have graduated at the same rate or higher than non-minority students.
• Local community members, organizations and agencies have made a concerted effort to provide services and activities specifically geared towards the youth of the community, including the Calvert County Family Network.
• Facilities like the new Hall Aquatic Center help encourage a healthy, active lifestyle amongst kids.
• Calvert County schools currently require that all students contribute at least 75 Service Learning hours before they graduate.

America's Promise Alliance was founded in 1997 with the express goal of gathering together leaders, business people and adults in the communities across the country to help foster the youth of America to become active citizens living in a safe, healthy environment with a proper education that readies them to become caring adults. America's Promise Alliance works with over 400 national partner organizations to get kids aware of their roles in society.

We are so proud that America's Promise Alliance decided to honor Calvert County as one of the best communities for young people for the second year in a row. You can bet that the members of our community will not stop in doing everything possible to make sure this continues to be a great place for families to raise their children. If you're interested in purchasing a Calvert County home of your own, please don't hesitate to contact me today!

Bonnie Augostino, your Southern Maryland real estate specialist