What is the plan for Sidwells Elementary Campus in Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know when Sidwell will transform the Washington Home into their new elementary school? Has sat dormant for a long time. And then what will become of the Bethesda elementary campus? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

recent fundraising mailing has this timeline... but clearly this is just a projection (especially for LS movement).

New US to open 9/2026
LS students to join DC campus 2029

[Anonymous]

This is the general sense re: timing I got from a few in the admissions office. Current HS to move into the new space and then elementary into the existing HS. So in effect, the incoming HS class of 28 next year will be gone before the new HS is complete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the general sense re: timing I got from a few in the admissions office. Current HS to move into the new space and then elementary into the existing HS. So in effect, the incoming HS class of 28 next year will be gone before the new HS is complete.

I think you misinterpreted this...class of '28 is projected to be in the new HS building for jr/sr year. But the LS students will move into the current HS building after class of '28 seniors are gone.

[Anonymous]

I hear there is a bidding war. It is Between BIM, which has outgrown its Tysons office building and the peripatetic Feynman school.
(

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear there is a bidding war. It is Between BIM, which has outgrown its Tysons office building and the peripatetic Feynman school.
(

Sale of LS not projected until 2029

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the general sense re: timing I got from a few in the admissions office. Current HS to move into the new space and then elementary into the existing HS. So in effect, the incoming HS class of 28 next year will be gone before the new HS is complete.

I think you misinterpreted this...class of '28 is projected to be in the new HS building for jr/sr year. But the LS students will move into the current HS building after class of '28 seniors are gone.

essentially - HS admits this year will get some time in new HS. PK/K admits this year will NOT get time in the new LS.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the clarification on the HS move. Looking back at it now, I do think I misinterpreted it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear there is a bidding war. It is Between BIM, which has outgrown its Tysons office building and the peripatetic Feynman school.
(

What is BIM? And is Feynman an elementary too? It is a pretty spacious property - we drove by the other day, and I wondered what Sidwell is planning for it. Sounds like the move is 28/29? Why'd they sit on Washington Home for so long? It's almost a decade, wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear there is a bidding war. It is Between BIM, which has outgrown its Tysons office building and the peripatetic Feynman school.
(

What is BIM? And is Feynman an elementary too? It is a pretty spacious property - we drove by the other day, and I wondered what Sidwell is planning for it. Sounds like the move is 28/29? Why'd they sit on Washington Home for so long? It's almost a decade, wow.

Sidwell has been using the Washington Home building for years. It was very helpful to spread out kids/classes during COVID. Many staff have offices in that building. They hold events there. Admissions used it this year for in-person student sessions. It's not just "sitting".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear there is a bidding war. It is Between BIM, which has outgrown its Tysons office building and the peripatetic Feynman school.
(

What is BIM? And is Feynman an elementary too? It is a pretty spacious property - we drove by the other day, and I wondered what Sidwell is planning for it. Sounds like the move is 28/29? Why'd they sit on Washington Home for so long? It's almost a decade, wow.

Sidwell has been using the Washington Home building for years. It was very helpful to spread out kids/classes during COVID. Many staff have offices in that building. They hold events there. Admissions used it this year for in-person student sessions. It's not just "sitting".

OMG. This is a crazy pants post. It's been a big costly white elephant for a decade already. There was no real need for any of that space over the past decade. I just look at it and think of how much of my tuition money has gone into paying the interest and maintenance for that building, rather than into my kids' education. All to try to keep up with GDS, I guess.
I'm not betting on a 2026 opening either btw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear there is a bidding war. It is Between BIM, which has outgrown its Tysons office building and the peripatetic Feynman school.
(

What is BIM? And is Feynman an elementary too? It is a pretty spacious property - we drove by the other day, and I wondered what Sidwell is planning for it. Sounds like the move is 28/29? Why'd they sit on Washington Home for so long? It's almost a decade, wow.

Sidwell has been using the Washington Home building for years. It was very helpful to spread out kids/classes during COVID. Many staff have offices in that building. They hold events there. Admissions used it this year for in-person student sessions. It's not just "sitting".

OMG. This is a crazy pants post. It's been a big costly white elephant for a decade already. There was no real need for any of that space over the past decade. I just look at it and think of how much of my tuition money has gone into paying the interest and maintenance for that building, rather than into my kids' education. All to try to keep up with GDS, I guess.
I'm not betting on a 2026 opening either btw.

Sidwell trying to keep up with GDS?!? Why would a lion try to keep up with a sheep?

Thanks for the laugh! 😂

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear there is a bidding war. It is Between BIM, which has outgrown its Tysons office building and the peripatetic Feynman school.
(

What is BIM? And is Feynman an elementary too? It is a pretty spacious property - we drove by the other day, and I wondered what Sidwell is planning for it. Sounds like the move is 28/29? Why'd they sit on Washington Home for so long? It's almost a decade, wow.

Sidwell has been using the Washington Home building for years. It was very helpful to spread out kids/classes during COVID. Many staff have offices in that building. They hold events there. Admissions used it this year for in-person student sessions. It's not just "sitting".

OMG. This is a crazy pants post. It's been a big costly white elephant for a decade already. There was no real need for any of that space over the past decade. I just look at it and think of how much of my tuition money has gone into paying the interest and maintenance for that building, rather than into my kids' education. All to try to keep up with GDS, I guess.
I'm not betting on a 2026 opening either btw.

It's a crazy pants post to let someone know the building isn't sitting empty unused? And that it provided excellent space to allow social distancing options to get students back on campus? Okay....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear there is a bidding war. It is Between BIM, which has outgrown its Tysons office building and the peripatetic Feynman school.
(

What is BIM? And is Feynman an elementary too? It is a pretty spacious property - we drove by the other day, and I wondered what Sidwell is planning for it. Sounds like the move is 28/29? Why'd they sit on Washington Home for so long? It's almost a decade, wow.

Sidwell has been using the Washington Home building for years. It was very helpful to spread out kids/classes during COVID. Many staff have offices in that building. They hold events there. Admissions used it this year for in-person student sessions. It's not just "sitting".

OMG. This is a crazy pants post. It's been a big costly white elephant for a decade already. There was no real need for any of that space over the past decade. I just look at it and think of how much of my tuition money has gone into paying the interest and maintenance for that building, rather than into my kids' education. All to try to keep up with GDS, I guess.
I'm not betting on a 2026 opening either btw.

It wasn't a matter of "keeping up with GDS" - the fact is, the school had two generational opportunities in a couple of years and the Board, in my opinion, was prudent to take advantage of them to control what happens on the entire block (less the post office) - consolidating the campus, having plenty of admin space, the ability to spread out of there were another pandemic, and ultimately enough space for the next century. COVID set things back, but sheesh, they have raised most of what they need to move forward, and the Bethesda campus is getting more valuable every day. Frankly, the County should buy it to create a k-2 campus for Bethesda Elementary and then have Bethesda Elementary have the balance to feed into Westbrook. But there are plenty of other schools as well as private developers who are salivating and the opportunity there. Yes, it is costly, but once the consolidation and construction are done, the school will be well situated for as far out as can be anticipated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hear there is a bidding war. It is Between BIM, which has outgrown its Tysons office building and the peripatetic Feynman school.
(

What is BIM? And is Feynman an elementary too? It is a pretty spacious property - we drove by the other day, and I wondered what Sidwell is planning for it. Sounds like the move is 28/29? Why'd they sit on Washington Home for so long? It's almost a decade, wow.

Sidwell has been using the Washington Home building for years. It was very helpful to spread out kids/classes during COVID. Many staff have offices in that building. They hold events there. Admissions used it this year for in-person student sessions. It's not just "sitting".

OMG. This is a crazy pants post. It's been a big costly white elephant for a decade already. There was no real need for any of that space over the past decade. I just look at it and think of how much of my tuition money has gone into paying the interest and maintenance for that building, rather than into my kids' education. All to try to keep up with GDS, I guess.
I'm not betting on a 2026 opening either btw.

Sidwell trying to keep up with GDS?!? Why would a lion try to keep up with a sheep?

Thanks for the laugh! 😂

Or in this case, a fox trying to keep up with a grasshopper. 😜