Navigating school districts when buying a single family home around Bethesda...

[Anonymous]

Looking for insight from folks more familiar with the area. We're new parents and new to the DC suburbs.

Is it really not feasible to get into a decent single family home in one of the neighborhoods serving the district's better rated high schools (Walter Johnson, Walt Whitman, Wootton, BCC, Winston Churchill, etc.) for under $1 million, with a commute to DC that's not insane?

We thought we had it figured out when we found a decent place in a nice subdivision in "North Bethesda" (just south of Rockville) off the red line that feeds to Walter Johnson. Homes there are around $900,000. The neighbors love the neighborhood and their kids like Walter Johnson. But come to find out that the whole area is likely going to get pushed to Woodward HS when it reopens -- which, while it could be a good school, may take a long time to build its reputation, or may not be so good, making future home values in that area at least a partial a question mark.

So where can we buy a home that's likely to keep us in the historically good schools for under $1 million? Or has the market just gotten that crazy?

Any advice appreciated

[Anonymous]

If you're new parents now, by the time your kid gets to HS, Woodward will be well-established. I wouldn't worry about it at all. It's likely to be a great school. The best teachers apply for positions at the brand new schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for insight from folks more familiar with the area. We're new parents and new to the DC suburbs.

Is it really not feasible to get into a decent single family home in one of the neighborhoods serving the district's better rated high schools (Walter Johnson, Walt Whitman, Wootton, BCC, Winston Churchill, etc.) for under $1 million, with a commute to DC that's not insane?

We thought we had it figured out when we found a decent place in a nice subdivision in "North Bethesda" (just south of Rockville) off the red line that feeds to Walter Johnson. Homes there are around $900,000. The neighbors love the neighborhood and their kids like Walter Johnson. But come to find out that the whole area is likely going to get pushed to Woodward HS when it reopens -- which, while it could be a good school, may take a long time to build its reputation, or may not be so good, making future home values in that area at least a partial a question mark.

So where can we buy a home that's likely to keep us in the historically good schools for under $1 million? Or has the market just gotten that crazy?

Any advice appreciated

If most of the neighborhood you're targeting will end up at Woodward, what's the issue? That whole Bethesda, N. Bethesda area is filled with tons of highly educated UMC or wealthy professionals who will have high achieving kids going into whatever school they are assigned to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking for insight from folks more familiar with the area. We're new parents and new to the DC suburbs.

Is it really not feasible to get into a decent single family home in one of the neighborhoods serving the district's better rated high schools (Walter Johnson, Walt Whitman, Wootton, BCC, Winston Churchill, etc.) for under $1 million, with a commute to DC that's not insane?

We thought we had it figured out when we found a decent place in a nice subdivision in "North Bethesda" (just south of Rockville) off the red line that feeds to Walter Johnson. Homes there are around $900,000. The neighbors love the neighborhood and their kids like Walter Johnson. But come to find out that the whole area is likely going to get pushed to Woodward HS when it reopens -- which, while it could be a good school, may take a long time to build its reputation, or may not be so good, making future home values in that area at least a partial a question mark.

So where can we buy a home that's likely to keep us in the historically good schools for under $1 million? Or has the market just gotten that crazy?

Any advice appreciated

I really wouldn't worry about Woodward. It will be a brand new school in a great neighborhood, full of high performing kids.

If most of the neighborhood you're targeting will end up at Woodward, what's the issue? That whole Bethesda, N. Bethesda area is filled with tons of highly educated UMC or wealthy professionals who will have high achieving kids going into whatever school they are assigned to.

[Anonymous]

What exactly is your main concern? The actual quality of the education at the school or property values? If it is property values, you'll need to pay the money and hope that nothing changes. If it is the quality of education, you have a lot more flexibility because many, many schools in MoCo offer a high-quality education--but you're going to have to set aside the "W" school mentality and start looking at the more detailed information on schools. Woodward--like most other schools in MoCo--will probably offer a fine education.

[Anonymous]

I think Woodward would be an advantage. A school with new facilities in the Bethesda/Rockville area will be very desirable

[Anonymous]

Maybe buy a house that feeds into Einstein that might end up at Woodward?

[Anonymous]

Try the Rosemary Hills neighborhood, which feeds to B-CC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for insight from folks more familiar with the area. We're new parents and new to the DC suburbs.

Is it really not feasible to get into a decent single family home in one of the neighborhoods serving the district's better rated high schools (Walter Johnson, Walt Whitman, Wootton, BCC, Winston Churchill, etc.) for under $1 million, with a commute to DC that's not insane?

We thought we had it figured out when we found a decent place in a nice subdivision in "North Bethesda" (just south of Rockville) off the red line that feeds to Walter Johnson. Homes there are around $900,000. The neighbors love the neighborhood and their kids like Walter Johnson. But come to find out that the whole area is likely going to get pushed to Woodward HS when it reopens -- which, while it could be a good school, may take a long time to build its reputation, or may not be so good, making future home values in that area at least a partial a question mark.

So where can we buy a home that's likely to keep us in the historically good schools for under $1 million? Or has the market just gotten that crazy?

Any advice appreciated

Buy a house that is walking distance to WJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What exactly is your main concern? The actual quality of the education at the school or property values? If it is property values, you'll need to pay the money and hope that nothing changes. If it is the quality of education, you have a lot more flexibility because many, many schools in MoCo offer a high-quality education--but you're going to have to set aside the "W" school mentality and start looking at the more detailed information on schools. Woodward--like most other schools in MoCo--will probably offer a fine education.

That is my question too.

[Anonymous]

Come to Wildwood!
https://www.redfin.com/MD/Bethesda/10010-Fleming-Ave-20814/home/10664692

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly is your main concern? The actual quality of the education at the school or property values? If it is property values, you'll need to pay the money and hope that nothing changes. If it is the quality of education, you have a lot more flexibility because many, many schools in MoCo offer a high-quality education--but you're going to have to set aside the "W" school mentality and start looking at the more detailed information on schools. Woodward--like most other schools in MoCo--will probably offer a fine education.

That is my question too.

Not the original poster, but I assume they are concerned about both the school quality AND the property value. They are parents and house buyers seeking out the MoCo schools forum.

[Anonymous]

Ashburton is probably your answer. There might still be some houses under a million in the WYngate neighborhood if you don’t mind some fixer upper issues or can deal with stuff like an outdated kitchen. If you can find something close to old georgetown road you can take the j2 to medical center to commute — it runs about every 10 minutes. Or you can drive to grosvenor and park there for metro. Or ride the trolley trail from wildwood down to medical center.

I’m guessing the house you found was luxmanor?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ashburton is probably your answer. There might still be some houses under a million in the WYngate neighborhood if you don’t mind some fixer upper issues or can deal with stuff like an outdated kitchen. If you can find something close to old georgetown road you can take the j2 to medical center to commute — it runs about every 10 minutes. Or you can drive to grosvenor and park there for metro. Or ride the trolley trail from wildwood down to medical center.

I’m guessing the house you found was luxmanor?

I thought it sounded like my neighborhood which we love, but even Old Farm (Farmland ES) is hard to get under $1 million now, Luxmanor is all $1 million+++

[Anonymous]

Are you moving out of DC?