Schools in Gaithersburg

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately I am househunting in this market. I am orginally from the area but not familiar with the current schools situation in Gaithersburg. I have elementary schools kids but would like to stay in an area until Highschool. What is the school situation in Gaithersburg? I looked at a house zoned for Magruder and Gaithersburg High.

Any insights are appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Both schools have concerns, but they are very different concerns.

[Anonymous]

My kids go to/went to Gaithersburg. They like it, and take advantage of the special programs at the school. All were very active in sports, activities, took plenty of APs and had no issues. Not to say that there are no issues with the school, but they had a good high school experience and have done well. We like the principal and admin staff. Im sure parents at Magruder have a similar experience.

If you have any specific questions please let me know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids go to/went to Gaithersburg. They like it, and take advantage of the special programs at the school. All were very active in sports, activities, took plenty of APs and had no issues. Not to say that there are no issues with the school, but they had a good high school experience and have done well. We like the principal and admin staff. Im sure parents at Magruder have a similar experience.

If you have any specific questions please let me know.

+1 from Magruder parent. Also, for HS, MCPS seems to keep expanding the list of special programs and most are lottery rather than criteria admission so there is a decent chance that you should focus on the ES and MS level since your kid may not go to zoned HS.

[Anonymous]

I'll just say as a current Magruder parent, I feel like the school lacks a cohesive sense of school spirit. It's "really" difficult getting parents to volunteer for things. You have the same few parents doing almost everything at every event. I know not every school can be a Quince Orchard powerhouse, but I'd like to see a little more involvement.

I will add just from a safety perspective that there are lots of fights and plenty of weapons in Magruder. Mostly knives, but they recovered at least two guns last year from students (and of course, one of those was the school shooting).

The academics are fine. My kid is in a mix of regular classes and honors. No APs yet. Some fantastic teachers. Some meh. Just like any other school.

[Anonymous]

I live in East Montgomery Village- great neighborhood. Our feeder path was Goshen-Forest Oak-Gaithersburg Hs. Kids had great education, great experience with friends all be way through. Active PTAs. Don’t read too much in to Ratings/rankings. The area is very diverse with a lot of ELLs. Academically strong students still have plenty of great options and classes. There will be a new high school next to the downtown Crown development in about 6 years. If I was purchasing now, I would consider the neighborhoods close to that site. A new high school will attract top teacher talent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in East Montgomery Village- great neighborhood. Our feeder path was Goshen-Forest Oak-Gaithersburg Hs. Kids had great education, great experience with friends all be way through. Active PTAs. Don’t read too much in to Ratings/rankings. The area is very diverse with a lot of ELLs. Academically strong students still have plenty of great options and classes. There will be a new high school next to the downtown Crown development in about 6 years. If I was purchasing now, I would consider the neighborhoods close to that site. A new high school will attract top teacher talent.

Very good advice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately I am househunting in this market. I am orginally from the area but not familiar with the current schools situation in Gaithersburg. I have elementary schools kids but would like to stay in an area until Highschool. What is the school situation in Gaithersburg? I looked at a house zoned for Magruder and Gaithersburg High.

Any insights are appreciated.

All MCPS schools are pretty much the same. They have the same pool of teachers and even the same curriculum. Yes, there are minor demographic differences that affect bulk test score averages but this isn't as important as some people might have you believe. In the end the same kid will get the same education at any MCPS school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately I am househunting in this market. I am orginally from the area but not familiar with the current schools situation in Gaithersburg. I have elementary schools kids but would like to stay in an area until Highschool. What is the school situation in Gaithersburg? I looked at a house zoned for Magruder and Gaithersburg High.

Any insights are appreciated.

All MCPS schools are pretty much the same. They have the same pool of teachers and even the same curriculum. Yes, there are minor demographic differences that affect bulk test score averages but this isn't as important as some people might have you believe. In the end the same kid will get the same education at any MCPS school.

This lie gets repeated over and over on DCUM (not sure why) but it is not true at all. I’ve had kids at various schools and it’s not been our experience. Some schools seem to hold the kids more accountable for their work, teachers offer better feedback. And some schools take a much more lax approach.

Also, ‘minor demographic differences’? That is obviously a lie, otherwise people wouldn’t have been pushing for diversity busing and boundary changes in the name of equity. There are some schools that are vastly different from others when you looks at demographics.

[Anonymous]

Quince Orchard has always been the most outstanding high school as far as school spirit, academics, and athletics. Stay the hell away from Gaithersbug Middle and Gaithersbug High. MCPS won’t admit it but they can’t pay teachers to go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quince Orchard has always been the most outstanding high school as far as school spirit, academics, and athletics. Stay the hell away from Gaithersbug Middle and Gaithersbug High. MCPS won’t admit it but they can’t pay teachers to go there.

Gaithersburg high is fine, especially with new principal. Can’t speak about g’burg middle, but the new ES shifted articulation around with Forest Oak MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately I am househunting in this market. I am orginally from the area but not familiar with the current schools situation in Gaithersburg. I have elementary schools kids but would like to stay in an area until Highschool. What is the school situation in Gaithersburg? I looked at a house zoned for Magruder and Gaithersburg High.

Any insights are appreciated.

All MCPS schools are pretty much the same. They have the same pool of teachers and even the same curriculum. Yes, there are minor demographic differences that affect bulk test score averages but this isn't as important as some people might have you believe. In the end the same kid will get the same education at any MCPS school.

This lie gets repeated over and over on DCUM (not sure why) but it is not true at all. I’ve had kids at various schools and it’s not been our experience. Some schools seem to hold the kids more accountable for their work, teachers offer better feedback. And some schools take a much more lax approach.

Also, ‘minor demographic differences’? That is obviously a lie, otherwise people wouldn’t have been pushing for diversity busing and boundary changes in the name of equity. There are some schools that are vastly different from others when you looks at demographics.

Yeah, don't believe the lie that all MCPS schools are the same. One example - I have a DD who is a freshman at a "better" high school. Last spring when she was an eighth grader, some mom friends of other eighth graders and I were talking about their eighth grade trip. My DD was going to Kings Dominion for her eighth grade trip. Another friend who had a DD at Gaithersburg middle (I believe it was that one) school. They weren't able to have any 8th grade field trip.

Another example - sports. Not every sport is popular. Some schools like Gaithersburg don't get enough kids to field a JV and Varsity team.

Are their bands/orchestras/chorus able to do fun stuff like the Hershey trip in spring? Outside of the educational part, what are their schools really like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Quince Orchard has always been the most outstanding high school as far as school spirit, academics, and athletics. Stay the hell away from Gaithersbug Middle and Gaithersbug High. MCPS won’t admit it but they can’t pay teachers to go there.

I have a kid at QO, and while I’m happy with the school, it’s also big enough that it’s very competitive to join activities. My kid wanted to be on the theatre crew, but too many students expressed interest, so not everyone got to do it. My other kid is at Poolesville and it’s not so hard to participate in activities there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately I am househunting in this market. I am orginally from the area but not familiar with the current schools situation in Gaithersburg. I have elementary schools kids but would like to stay in an area until Highschool. What is the school situation in Gaithersburg? I looked at a house zoned for Magruder and Gaithersburg High.

Any insights are appreciated.

All MCPS schools are pretty much the same. They have the same pool of teachers and even the same curriculum. Yes, there are minor demographic differences that affect bulk test score averages but this isn't as important as some people might have you believe. In the end the same kid will get the same education at any MCPS school.

This lie gets repeated over and over on DCUM (not sure why) but it is not true at all. I’ve had kids at various schools and it’s not been our experience. Some schools seem to hold the kids more accountable for their work, teachers offer better feedback. And some schools take a much more lax approach.

Also, ‘minor demographic differences’? That is obviously a lie, otherwise people wouldn’t have been pushing for diversity busing and boundary changes in the name of equity. There are some schools that are vastly different from others when you looks at demographics.

Yeah, don't believe the lie that all MCPS schools are the same. One example - I have a DD who is a freshman at a "better" high school. Last spring when she was an eighth grader, some mom friends of other eighth graders and I were talking about their eighth grade trip. My DD was going to Kings Dominion for her eighth grade trip. Another friend who had a DD at Gaithersburg middle (I believe it was that one) school. They weren't able to have any 8th grade field trip.

Another example - sports. Not every sport is popular. Some schools like Gaithersburg don't get enough kids to field a JV and Varsity team.

Are their bands/orchestras/chorus able to do fun stuff like the Hershey trip in spring? Outside of the educational part, what are their schools really like?

The curriculum is the same, but other aspects of student life will differ. Almost everyone on DCUM can afford a trip to an amusement park once a year whether it’s a school trip or just a weekend family outing. And sports matter less than academics since affluent families can afford private sports.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately I am househunting in this market. I am orginally from the area but not familiar with the current schools situation in Gaithersburg. I have elementary schools kids but would like to stay in an area until Highschool. What is the school situation in Gaithersburg? I looked at a house zoned for Magruder and Gaithersburg High.

Any insights are appreciated.

All MCPS schools are pretty much the same. They have the same pool of teachers and even the same curriculum. Yes, there are minor demographic differences that affect bulk test score averages but this isn't as important as some people might have you believe. In the end the same kid will get the same education at any MCPS school.

This lie gets repeated over and over on DCUM (not sure why) but it is not true at all. I’ve had kids at various schools and it’s not been our experience. Some schools seem to hold the kids more accountable for their work, teachers offer better feedback. And some schools take a much more lax approach.

Also, ‘minor demographic differences’? That is obviously a lie, otherwise people wouldn’t have been pushing for diversity busing and boundary changes in the name of equity. There are some schools that are vastly different from others when you looks at demographics.

Actually it's the truth but sure real estate agents hate it when this gets out.