Damascus public schools
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Anonymous
| Are Damascus public schools any good? We live in DC and are considering a move. |
Anonymous
| What are you looking for in a "good" school? Especially since you're coming from DC, it's going to be very, very different.... |
Anonymous
| As good as all other MCSP schools, it's the same curriculum. They take sports VERY VERY seriously in Damascus; all sports from cheer/gymnastics/volleyball, to wresting/football/baseball They start them young, and because of the size and remote location, kids rise through the ranks like a small town. By the time they get to high school they have a town following. |
Anonymous
| Way better than the DC public high schools that aren’t Wilson, Walls, BASIS, Ellington or Latin. |
Anonymous
We have a kid at BASIS. So that's what I mean by "good." Strong academics. Decent peer group. |
Anonymous
I would start with the data. Here are the Damascus Cluster schools: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/clusteradmin/clusters/damascus.aspx Here's the MSDE report card for Damascus High: https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/Graphs/#/ReportCards/ReportCardSchool/1/H/1/15/0701/0 Going from DC to Damascus, the biggest thing you'll lose is diversity. If that's not a concern, then academically, I think you'll be fine. |
Anonymous
Middle of the road for academics. Probably slightly better peer group than other MCPS/DCPS schools because of the location. Still has all the regular problems with high schools everywhere-- vaping, drinking, bullying, etc. Very long commute to DC. Just getting to the 270 takes 20 minutes, if there is no traffic. Commute times can double that. |
Anonymous
| About 200 cops live in Damascus. The community historically has not been as friendly to minorities, but it is changing. There are seas of townhouses near the highway transitioning to older housing and farmland the further away from I270 you go. |
Anonymous
Maybe a little too seriously. https://moco360.media/2021/02/25/damascus-high-rape-case-moved-to-federal-court/ moco360.media/2021/02/25/damascus-high-rape-case-moved-to-federal-court/ |
Anonymous
Well if they take a bunch of AP classes it will be similar. |
Anonymous
That's Germantown and Clarksburg. |
Anonymous
Farmland in Germantown and Clarksburg? |
Anonymous
The "sea of townhouses near the highway" is Germantown and Clarksburg. Damascus is not near 270. It's close to I-70. Many people commute to Baltimore or Frederick rather than DC. |
Anonymous
It's Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), so they are as good as anything you'll find in DC. Damascus is less diverse but you'll have half of Montgomery County cops as your neighbors. |
Anonymous
| Op, you didn't mention if you have a commute. A commute to DC would kill you. Do not move there if you have to drive into DC |