Rosa Parks vs. William H. Farquhar Middle Schools
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Anonymous
| We are house hunting in the Olney/Brookeville area, and have been advised to focus on houses in the Olney, Greenwood and Belmont elementary districts (feeding into Rosa Parks), rather than Brooke Grove or Sherwood (feeding into Farquhar). Is there really that big of a difference between the two middle schools? I've read that Farquhar will be modernized soon -- but assume it will be finished before my kids are ready for middle school (I have a toddler and one on the way). We'd like to be on the eastern side of Olney - which includes neighborhoods that go to Brooke Grove - so are looking for some input on the middle schools. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| Rosa Parks has a much better reputation than Farquhar. Fwiw, I live in the rosa parks area, and I have friends and neighbors with kids there. I also know mcps teachers and principals who live in both districts and they have told me that rosa parks is better than Farquhar. It might have to do with demographics and economics. Lots of rentals and affordable housing units feed into Farquhar. Lots of rentals in the Brooke grove area fwiw. |
Anonymous
God forbid your children should have to share a classroom with a kid whose parents RENT a home or apartment! God forbid!!!! What is this world coming to? |
Anonymous
| Actually, my comment regarding rentals has more to do with home values, resale values, and the general feel of the neighborhood (since renters tend to be transient). When it comes to olney and brookeville, neighborhoods with townhouses tend to have lots of renters. Also fwiw, houses that feed into rosa parks tend to sell quickly lately, whereas homes in some other school districts out here seem to be sitting on the market. |
Anonymous
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My child goes to Brooke Grove ES and we have been happy there. There are many neighborhoods with a "community" feel that feed into this school. These are James Creek, Lake Hallowell, etc., and they have pools. Brooke Grove ES has a community feel as well.
I have heard only good things about Farquhar from parents in the neighborhood whose kids go there. Yes, Brooke Grove and Farquhar are more diverse than some other schools in the area, but that is a good thing. And home values are holding their own. I have seen other posts on here recomending these other schools and I don't get it or think it is appropriate. |
Anonymous
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Rosa is a new building, Farquhar is the oldest Middle School in the county if not the state.
Before the state got rid of the MSA's Farquhar passed the MSA's while Rosa didn't Farquhar kids are more "diverse" but you don't really have issues that arrise because of this, as a matter of fact most of the kids at Farquhar have friends within multiple different groups. More importantly, the teachers at Sherwood can tell the difference between a Farquhar kid and a Rosa kid...and the Farquhar kids always do better |
Anonymous
I lived in a TH in James Creek. My home sold in a week for twice as much as what I paid for it. I don't think housing is really an issue in Olney/Brookeville when compared to other areas. |
Anonymous
| We live in Hallowell and our kids go to Sherwood ES at the moment. We love the school and community. The academic progress is excellent. Children from Hallowell go to Farquhar and they seem to be thriving socially. I cannot speak first hand about their academic progress but their parents are delighted with the school. All summer I see happy, friendly kids. |
Anonymous
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Farquhar is amazing
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Anonymous
That's an urban legend perpetuated by people trying to increase their home values. Having left a neighborhood because of problems with renters, I would be careful with certain neighborhoods. |
Anonymous
| Personally I believe Farquhar is a much more profound school. I understand people not liking Farquhar because it's an old school, but that means it has a legacy of greatness. Also there is a new school being built. Another reason Farquhar is amazing is their great teachers. That is why Farquhar is better -STUDENT (honor roll every quarter) |
Anonymous
| Remember, kids who go to Farquhar - 1/2 of them go to Sherwood and 1/2 to Blake. Each of the HS's also has its pros/cons |
Anonymous
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At the risk of pointing out the obvious:
The only way to compare the two schools is to have kids at both schools. |
Anonymous
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I actually had a child who went to both. 6th at Farquhar and 7th and 8th at Rosa Parks. She went to Brooke Grove (which is an AWESOME school).
Both Rosa AND Farquhar are both good schools. I actually would have preferred her staying at Farquhar (because she started there), but we moved. My daughter did sports through OBGC so she knew kids from most of the schools around Olney. I would be happy with either and would not pick a house based on one over the other (essentially- I wouldn't have THAT be the deciding factor). |
Anonymous
| Rosa parks is a fakeass no good school. Just a few weeks ago a kid brought weed to school and he got arrested. Farquhar is probably better. |