Schools in Silver Spring

[Anonymous]

DH and I have two preschool age children and we are looking to buy a home in Montgomery County in the next two years.

Many people have recomended Silver Spring as an affordable family friendly option, but we are hesitant abut the schools. For context, our kids had developmental delays from birth but are in private therapy, private preschool, etc. and have technically caught up on milestones but are still behind most of their peers with language.

We want the best education possible for our kids and we cannot compromise on an unsafe environment like fights in schools, etc. We are also wary of the pressure cooker environment of somewhere like the Whitman district.

Can anyone recommend a good Silver Spring cluster? Should we just suck it up and live in a cardboard box in a Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

I highly recommend Forest Knolls ES. Great school and a family-friendly affordable neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

We're in the Flora Singer, Sligo MS, Einstein HS cluster. So far, we've been very happy. Both Singer and Sligo were great for our kid with an IEP. We're just starting high school this year, but have heard good things from neighbors. Really, don't be afraid of Silver Spring schools.

[Anonymous]

You’re going to find fights in schools everywhere, unfortunately.

We have been happy with Pine Crest, Eastern and Blair.

[Anonymous]

+1 for Forest Knolls and Flora Singer. Very well-run schools that support typical kids and SN kids well.

[Anonymous]

You need to broaden your definition of “unsafe environment” to include exposure to and availability of drugs and alcohol, high academic/social pressure, racism, etc. If you’re stretching to pay for Bethesda schools and that leads to financial stress, that’s problematic for kids. We’re at OTES and know lots of kids who have gone through various DCC high schools (mostly Einstein and Blair) - they do fine. Parental education and involvement are far more predictive of outcome than specific high school.

[Anonymous]

Montgomery Knolls - Pine Crest - Eastern - Blair

Try looking for places in Woodmoor / Four Corners

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to broaden your definition of “unsafe environment” to include exposure to and availability of drugs and alcohol, high academic/social pressure, racism, etc. If you’re stretching to pay for Bethesda schools and that leads to financial stress, that’s problematic for kids. We’re at OTES and know lots of kids who have gone through various DCC high schools (mostly Einstein and Blair) - they do fine. Parental education and involvement are far more predictive of outcome than specific high school.

OP here.
Maybe you misread my comment? You are describing exactly the "pressure cooker environment" we'd like to avoid. We can afford a house in Bethesda, but it would be an old house that would be smaller than we'd like. Budget is up to $1.1 million. We'd love to stay well under that.

FWIW, we are white but moved here from another country and the kids are bilingual. We'd like enough diversity where we won't be the token Eastern European family.

[Anonymous]

Rock View ES-Newport Mill-Einstein has been great for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Rock View ES-Newport Mill-Einstein has been great for us.

OP here: I'd love more detail about your experience at Rock View! I have friends in this neighborhood and there are some cute houses around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to broaden your definition of “unsafe environment” to include exposure to and availability of drugs and alcohol, high academic/social pressure, racism, etc. If you’re stretching to pay for Bethesda schools and that leads to financial stress, that’s problematic for kids. We’re at OTES and know lots of kids who have gone through various DCC high schools (mostly Einstein and Blair) - they do fine. Parental education and involvement are far more predictive of outcome than specific high school.

OP here.
Maybe you misread my comment? You are describing exactly the "pressure cooker environment" we'd like to avoid. We can afford a house in Bethesda, but it would be an old house that would be smaller than we'd like. Budget is up to $1.1 million. We'd love to stay well under that.

FWIW, we are white but moved here from another country and the kids are bilingual. We'd like enough diversity where we won't be the token Eastern European family.

You mentioned "pressure cooker" - but that's a different concern than substance use or even financial stress, which are specific considerations for some lower FARMS schools than many in Silver Spring.

Anyway. There are tons of us educated professionals in SS who send our kids to public school and whose kids have positive experiences there. There are also many families who start out at Oakland Terrace or Flora Singer or Forest Knolls or wherever and move when their kids get close to middle school, out of (largely unfounded) concern about "safety." If you truly want "the best education possible" for your kids, you may despise MCPS altogether.

[Anonymous]

Your family sounds more like a North Bethesda/Rockville family to me than Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

We have had experience at several Silver Spring schools mentioned here, including middle and high schools and have had no issues with an unsafe environment or fights in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your family sounds more like a North Bethesda/Rockville family to me than Silver Spring.

Yup. I agree with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You need to broaden your definition of “unsafe environment” to include exposure to and availability of drugs and alcohol, high academic/social pressure, racism, etc. If you’re stretching to pay for Bethesda schools and that leads to financial stress, that’s problematic for kids. We’re at OTES and know lots of kids who have gone through various DCC high schools (mostly Einstein and Blair) - they do fine. Parental education and involvement are far more predictive of outcome than specific high school.

OP here.
Maybe you misread my comment? You are describing exactly the "pressure cooker environment" we'd like to avoid. We can afford a house in Bethesda, but it would be an old house that would be smaller than we'd like. Budget is up to $1.1 million. We'd love to stay well under that.

FWIW, we are white but moved here from another country and the kids are bilingual. We'd like enough diversity where we won't be the token Eastern European family.

You mentioned "pressure cooker" - but that's a different concern than substance use or even financial stress, which are specific considerations for some lower FARMS schools than many in Silver Spring.

Anyway. There are tons of us educated professionals in SS who send our kids to public school and whose kids have positive experiences there. There are also many families who start out at Oakland Terrace or Flora Singer or Forest Knolls or wherever and move when their kids get close to middle school, out of (largely unfounded) concern about "safety." If you truly want "the best education possible" for your kids, you may despise MCPS altogether.

MCPS is the "best education possible" they can have in the DMV.