Pyle/Whitman or Westland/BCC cluster better fit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I completely respect your choice to move into the Whitman/BCC cluster if that is what works best for you. I just want you to be aware that it sounds like you have some misconceptions about the types of people that live outside of Bethesda. In my Einstein-feeder neighborhood there are there are a lot of very educated people (Ph.D.s, people with international careers) as well as people from other walks of life which is something that we value. My husband and I each have multiple advanced degrees and we do not feel even remotely out of place. The elementary school has a Spanish immersion program for all students so that attracts families that want that kind of language exposure for their kids.

I myself attended Whitman, and when my parents bought their Bethesda house it cost roughly the same, inflation-adjusted, as our DCC house did last year. The families that attend Whitman now are just not the same as they were 25 years ago.

OP here - thanks PP, but as I have mentioned, my choice of either the BCC or Whitman cluster is mainly due to: 1. strength of schools; 2. proximity to DC/ work; and 3. proximity to our previous NW DC neighborhood, therefore we know some people in these neighborhoods/ are familiar with the neighborhoods. Our family has been through quite a lot of changes the past few years, so familiarity gives us comfort.

Again, that's FINE, I'm just responding to the following comment that you made: "I am an educated international professional with smart kids, so obviously I am looking for like-minded kids/ parents, so we can feel like a good fit." From that perspective there are a lot of other schools that are also close to the DC border where you would find "like-minded kids/parents".

I'm the single mom from an earlier post who is demographically identical to OP and made the same point. Honestly, I give up. Let the Whitman vs. BCC parents fight about which is best, and OP can be assured that her kids are among "like minded peers" in some of the wealthiest schools in the state.

OP here - thanks PP; I stated my reasons and am sticking to them. I am not considering moving to Silver Spring. I literally do not know a soul there; nor anything there.

Honey, at this point nobody on this thread wants you to move to Silver Spring, please for the love of god stay away. If you want to continue thinking of people who live in Silver Spring as the uneducated masses, go ahead, just know that when you post things like that, we will continue to correct you.

OP here - I do not remember every saying what you wrote...what I said is that I am not familiar with that neighborhood, and I am trying to stay in neighborhoods I am familiar with and that are close to DC with good schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I completely respect your choice to move into the Whitman/BCC cluster if that is what works best for you. I just want you to be aware that it sounds like you have some misconceptions about the types of people that live outside of Bethesda. In my Einstein-feeder neighborhood there are there are a lot of very educated people (Ph.D.s, people with international careers) as well as people from other walks of life which is something that we value. My husband and I each have multiple advanced degrees and we do not feel even remotely out of place. The elementary school has a Spanish immersion program for all students so that attracts families that want that kind of language exposure for their kids.

I myself attended Whitman, and when my parents bought their Bethesda house it cost roughly the same, inflation-adjusted, as our DCC house did last year. The families that attend Whitman now are just not the same as they were 25 years ago.

OP here - thanks PP, but as I have mentioned, my choice of either the BCC or Whitman cluster is mainly due to: 1. strength of schools; 2. proximity to DC/ work; and 3. proximity to our previous NW DC neighborhood, therefore we know some people in these neighborhoods/ are familiar with the neighborhoods. Our family has been through quite a lot of changes the past few years, so familiarity gives us comfort.

Again, that's FINE, I'm just responding to the following comment that you made: "I am an educated international professional with smart kids, so obviously I am looking for like-minded kids/ parents, so we can feel like a good fit." From that perspective there are a lot of other schools that are also close to the DC border where you would find "like-minded kids/parents".

I'm the single mom from an earlier post who is demographically identical to OP and made the same point. Honestly, I give up. Let the Whitman vs. BCC parents fight about which is best, and OP can be assured that her kids are among "like minded peers" in some of the wealthiest schools in the state.

OP here - thanks PP; I stated my reasons and am sticking to them. I am not considering moving to Silver Spring. I literally do not know a soul there; nor anything there.

Honey, at this point nobody on this thread wants you to move to Silver Spring, please for the love of god stay away. If you want to continue thinking of people who live in Silver Spring as the uneducated masses, go ahead, just know that when you post things like that, we will continue to correct you.

OP here - I do not remember every saying what you wrote...what I said is that I am not familiar with that neighborhood, and I am trying to stay in neighborhoods I am familiar with and that are close to DC with good schools.

And I don't recall ever asking you to move to Silver Spring, but here we are.

[Anonymous]

We live in 20816 Whitman/Pyle cluster and have been here for 10+ years. It’s hugely wealthy and privileged. The people are all very nice (or many are) but everyone who lives here with kids has plenty of money and disposable income. People are not “down-to-earth” - there is a certain amount of living in this part of Bethesda where you sort of lose touch with “normal” problems.

It’s also extremely undiverse, both racially and socioeconomically. It does have many international families, though.

We bought primarily because it was a close-in suburban neighborhood to DC. I actually love our neighborhood and location, and the people are great, but its a huge bubble where we are raising our kids. I’ve made my peace with that - I actually lived in silver spring/ Wheaton when I was a kid, to give some context.

Op, you actually sound like you want this kind of bubble for your kids. I will caution that your kids friends absolutely will notice and may comment on your condo vs their experience that most people live in SFHs. This isn’t a problem for some kids, others will be bothered by it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I completely respect your choice to move into the Whitman/BCC cluster if that is what works best for you. I just want you to be aware that it sounds like you have some misconceptions about the types of people that live outside of Bethesda. In my Einstein-feeder neighborhood there are there are a lot of very educated people (Ph.D.s, people with international careers) as well as people from other walks of life which is something that we value. My husband and I each have multiple advanced degrees and we do not feel even remotely out of place. The elementary school has a Spanish immersion program for all students so that attracts families that want that kind of language exposure for their kids.

I myself attended Whitman, and when my parents bought their Bethesda house it cost roughly the same, inflation-adjusted, as our DCC house did last year. The families that attend Whitman now are just not the same as they were 25 years ago.

OP here - thanks PP, but as I have mentioned, my choice of either the BCC or Whitman cluster is mainly due to: 1. strength of schools; 2. proximity to DC/ work; and 3. proximity to our previous NW DC neighborhood, therefore we know some people in these neighborhoods/ are familiar with the neighborhoods. Our family has been through quite a lot of changes the past few years, so familiarity gives us comfort.

Again, that's FINE, I'm just responding to the following comment that you made: "I am an educated international professional with smart kids, so obviously I am looking for like-minded kids/ parents, so we can feel like a good fit." From that perspective there are a lot of other schools that are also close to the DC border where you would find "like-minded kids/parents".

I'm the single mom from an earlier post who is demographically identical to OP and made the same point. Honestly, I give up. Let the Whitman vs. BCC parents fight about which is best, and OP can be assured that her kids are among "like minded peers" in some of the wealthiest schools in the state.

OP here - thanks PP; I stated my reasons and am sticking to them. I am not considering moving to Silver Spring. I literally do not know a soul there; nor anything there.

Honey, at this point nobody on this thread wants you to move to Silver Spring, please for the love of god stay away. If you want to continue thinking of people who live in Silver Spring as the uneducated masses, go ahead, just know that when you post things like that, we will continue to correct you.

OP here - I do not remember every saying what you wrote...what I said is that I am not familiar with that neighborhood, and I am trying to stay in neighborhoods I am familiar with and that are close to DC with good schools.

And I don't recall ever asking you to move to Silver Spring, but here we are.

OP here- ok, then pls be specific about which schools you are recommending which are close to the DC border. The only one that has been recommended so far is the Einstein cluster in SS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in 20816 Whitman/Pyle cluster and have been here for 10+ years. It’s hugely wealthy and privileged. The people are all very nice (or many are) but everyone who lives here with kids has plenty of money and disposable income. People are not “down-to-earth” - there is a certain amount of living in this part of Bethesda where you sort of lose touch with “normal” problems.

It’s also extremely undiverse, both racially and socioeconomically. It does have many international families, though.

We bought primarily because it was a close-in suburban neighborhood to DC. I actually love our neighborhood and location, and the people are great, but its a huge bubble where we are raising our kids. I’ve made my peace with that - I actually lived in silver spring/ Wheaton when I was a kid, to give some context.

Op, you actually sound like you want this kind of bubble for your kids. I will caution that your kids friends absolutely will notice and may comment on your condo vs their experience that most people live in SFHs. This isn’t a problem for some kids, others will be bothered by it.

OP here - thanks PP; yes what you say sounds about correct. I know the school cluster, my kids attended one year of ES there. That is why I was asking for feedback on the BCC cluster vs. the Whitman cluster. I love the 20816 neighborhood too, just like you say; it has a suburban vibe but still close to DC. And yes, people are nice, but it is a bubble. But it is the easiest commute for me to work. Plus we have already lived there a year, so we know it, plus it is just 10 minutes from our previous NW DC neighborhood. And yes, kids already DID make comments on our condo lifestyle, well certain ones did. Therefore my question. I am a bit worried how my kids will feel about it, since I am single parenting. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I completely respect your choice to move into the Whitman/BCC cluster if that is what works best for you. I just want you to be aware that it sounds like you have some misconceptions about the types of people that live outside of Bethesda. In my Einstein-feeder neighborhood there are there are a lot of very educated people (Ph.D.s, people with international careers) as well as people from other walks of life which is something that we value. My husband and I each have multiple advanced degrees and we do not feel even remotely out of place. The elementary school has a Spanish immersion program for all students so that attracts families that want that kind of language exposure for their kids.

I myself attended Whitman, and when my parents bought their Bethesda house it cost roughly the same, inflation-adjusted, as our DCC house did last year. The families that attend Whitman now are just not the same as they were 25 years ago.

OP here - thanks PP, but as I have mentioned, my choice of either the BCC or Whitman cluster is mainly due to: 1. strength of schools; 2. proximity to DC/ work; and 3. proximity to our previous NW DC neighborhood, therefore we know some people in these neighborhoods/ are familiar with the neighborhoods. Our family has been through quite a lot of changes the past few years, so familiarity gives us comfort.

Again, that's FINE, I'm just responding to the following comment that you made: "I am an educated international professional with smart kids, so obviously I am looking for like-minded kids/ parents, so we can feel like a good fit." From that perspective there are a lot of other schools that are also close to the DC border where you would find "like-minded kids/parents".

I'm the single mom from an earlier post who is demographically identical to OP and made the same point. Honestly, I give up. Let the Whitman vs. BCC parents fight about which is best, and OP can be assured that her kids are among "like minded peers" in some of the wealthiest schools in the state.

OP here - thanks PP; I stated my reasons and am sticking to them. I am not considering moving to Silver Spring. I literally do not know a soul there; nor anything there.

Honey, at this point nobody on this thread wants you to move to Silver Spring, please for the love of god stay away. If you want to continue thinking of people who live in Silver Spring as the uneducated masses, go ahead, just know that when you post things like that, we will continue to correct you.

OP here - I do not remember every saying what you wrote...what I said is that I am not familiar with that neighborhood, and I am trying to stay in neighborhoods I am familiar with and that are close to DC with good schools.

How can you live in this area and be so unfamiliar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I completely respect your choice to move into the Whitman/BCC cluster if that is what works best for you. I just want you to be aware that it sounds like you have some misconceptions about the types of people that live outside of Bethesda. In my Einstein-feeder neighborhood there are there are a lot of very educated people (Ph.D.s, people with international careers) as well as people from other walks of life which is something that we value. My husband and I each have multiple advanced degrees and we do not feel even remotely out of place. The elementary school has a Spanish immersion program for all students so that attracts families that want that kind of language exposure for their kids.

I myself attended Whitman, and when my parents bought their Bethesda house it cost roughly the same, inflation-adjusted, as our DCC house did last year. The families that attend Whitman now are just not the same as they were 25 years ago.

OP here - thanks PP, but as I have mentioned, my choice of either the BCC or Whitman cluster is mainly due to: 1. strength of schools; 2. proximity to DC/ work; and 3. proximity to our previous NW DC neighborhood, therefore we know some people in these neighborhoods/ are familiar with the neighborhoods. Our family has been through quite a lot of changes the past few years, so familiarity gives us comfort.

Again, that's FINE, I'm just responding to the following comment that you made: "I am an educated international professional with smart kids, so obviously I am looking for like-minded kids/ parents, so we can feel like a good fit." From that perspective there are a lot of other schools that are also close to the DC border where you would find "like-minded kids/parents".

I'm the single mom from an earlier post who is demographically identical to OP and made the same point. Honestly, I give up. Let the Whitman vs. BCC parents fight about which is best, and OP can be assured that her kids are among "like minded peers" in some of the wealthiest schools in the state.

OP here - thanks PP; I stated my reasons and am sticking to them. I am not considering moving to Silver Spring. I literally do not know a soul there; nor anything there.

Honey, at this point nobody on this thread wants you to move to Silver Spring, please for the love of god stay away. If you want to continue thinking of people who live in Silver Spring as the uneducated masses, go ahead, just know that when you post things like that, we will continue to correct you.

OP here - I do not remember every saying what you wrote...what I said is that I am not familiar with that neighborhood, and I am trying to stay in neighborhoods I am familiar with and that are close to DC with good schools.

How can you live in this area and be so unfamiliar

OP - cause I have no business in SS, Wheaton or Gaithersburg, except maybe to go to Costco and such. Why is this so surprising?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I completely respect your choice to move into the Whitman/BCC cluster if that is what works best for you. I just want you to be aware that it sounds like you have some misconceptions about the types of people that live outside of Bethesda. In my Einstein-feeder neighborhood there are there are a lot of very educated people (Ph.D.s, people with international careers) as well as people from other walks of life which is something that we value. My husband and I each have multiple advanced degrees and we do not feel even remotely out of place. The elementary school has a Spanish immersion program for all students so that attracts families that want that kind of language exposure for their kids.

I myself attended Whitman, and when my parents bought their Bethesda house it cost roughly the same, inflation-adjusted, as our DCC house did last year. The families that attend Whitman now are just not the same as they were 25 years ago.

OP here - thanks PP, but as I have mentioned, my choice of either the BCC or Whitman cluster is mainly due to: 1. strength of schools; 2. proximity to DC/ work; and 3. proximity to our previous NW DC neighborhood, therefore we know some people in these neighborhoods/ are familiar with the neighborhoods. Our family has been through quite a lot of changes the past few years, so familiarity gives us comfort.

Again, that's FINE, I'm just responding to the following comment that you made: "I am an educated international professional with smart kids, so obviously I am looking for like-minded kids/ parents, so we can feel like a good fit." From that perspective there are a lot of other schools that are also close to the DC border where you would find "like-minded kids/parents".

I'm the single mom from an earlier post who is demographically identical to OP and made the same point. Honestly, I give up. Let the Whitman vs. BCC parents fight about which is best, and OP can be assured that her kids are among "like minded peers" in some of the wealthiest schools in the state.

OP here - thanks PP; I stated my reasons and am sticking to them. I am not considering moving to Silver Spring. I literally do not know a soul there; nor anything there.

Honey, at this point nobody on this thread wants you to move to Silver Spring, please for the love of god stay away. If you want to continue thinking of people who live in Silver Spring as the uneducated masses, go ahead, just know that when you post things like that, we will continue to correct you.

OP here - I do not remember every saying what you wrote...what I said is that I am not familiar with that neighborhood, and I am trying to stay in neighborhoods I am familiar with and that are close to DC with good schools.

How can you live in this area and be so unfamiliar

OP - cause I have no business in SS, Wheaton or Gaithersburg, except maybe to go to Costco and such. Why is this so surprising?

Similarly I try to stay out of Potomac because it's boring and there's nothing there other than a few strip malls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I completely respect your choice to move into the Whitman/BCC cluster if that is what works best for you. I just want you to be aware that it sounds like you have some misconceptions about the types of people that live outside of Bethesda. In my Einstein-feeder neighborhood there are there are a lot of very educated people (Ph.D.s, people with international careers) as well as people from other walks of life which is something that we value. My husband and I each have multiple advanced degrees and we do not feel even remotely out of place. The elementary school has a Spanish immersion program for all students so that attracts families that want that kind of language exposure for their kids.

I myself attended Whitman, and when my parents bought their Bethesda house it cost roughly the same, inflation-adjusted, as our DCC house did last year. The families that attend Whitman now are just not the same as they were 25 years ago.

OP here - thanks PP, but as I have mentioned, my choice of either the BCC or Whitman cluster is mainly due to: 1. strength of schools; 2. proximity to DC/ work; and 3. proximity to our previous NW DC neighborhood, therefore we know some people in these neighborhoods/ are familiar with the neighborhoods. Our family has been through quite a lot of changes the past few years, so familiarity gives us comfort.

Again, that's FINE, I'm just responding to the following comment that you made: "I am an educated international professional with smart kids, so obviously I am looking for like-minded kids/ parents, so we can feel like a good fit." From that perspective there are a lot of other schools that are also close to the DC border where you would find "like-minded kids/parents".

I'm the single mom from an earlier post who is demographically identical to OP and made the same point. Honestly, I give up. Let the Whitman vs. BCC parents fight about which is best, and OP can be assured that her kids are among "like minded peers" in some of the wealthiest schools in the state.

OP here - thanks PP; I stated my reasons and am sticking to them. I am not considering moving to Silver Spring. I literally do not know a soul there; nor anything there.

Honey, at this point nobody on this thread wants you to move to Silver Spring, please for the love of god stay away. If you want to continue thinking of people who live in Silver Spring as the uneducated masses, go ahead, just know that when you post things like that, we will continue to correct you.

OP here - I do not remember every saying what you wrote...what I said is that I am not familiar with that neighborhood, and I am trying to stay in neighborhoods I am familiar with and that are close to DC with good schools.

How can you live in this area and be so unfamiliar

OP - cause I have no business in SS, Wheaton or Gaithersburg, except maybe to go to Costco and such. Why is this so surprising?

Similarly I try to stay out of Potomac because it's boring and there's nothing there other than a few strip malls.

Ok, then you understand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I completely respect your choice to move into the Whitman/BCC cluster if that is what works best for you. I just want you to be aware that it sounds like you have some misconceptions about the types of people that live outside of Bethesda. In my Einstein-feeder neighborhood there are there are a lot of very educated people (Ph.D.s, people with international careers) as well as people from other walks of life which is something that we value. My husband and I each have multiple advanced degrees and we do not feel even remotely out of place. The elementary school has a Spanish immersion program for all students so that attracts families that want that kind of language exposure for their kids.

I myself attended Whitman, and when my parents bought their Bethesda house it cost roughly the same, inflation-adjusted, as our DCC house did last year. The families that attend Whitman now are just not the same as they were 25 years ago.

OP here - thanks PP, but as I have mentioned, my choice of either the BCC or Whitman cluster is mainly due to: 1. strength of schools; 2. proximity to DC/ work; and 3. proximity to our previous NW DC neighborhood, therefore we know some people in these neighborhoods/ are familiar with the neighborhoods. Our family has been through quite a lot of changes the past few years, so familiarity gives us comfort.

Again, that's FINE, I'm just responding to the following comment that you made: "I am an educated international professional with smart kids, so obviously I am looking for like-minded kids/ parents, so we can feel like a good fit." From that perspective there are a lot of other schools that are also close to the DC border where you would find "like-minded kids/parents".

I'm the single mom from an earlier post who is demographically identical to OP and made the same point. Honestly, I give up. Let the Whitman vs. BCC parents fight about which is best, and OP can be assured that her kids are among "like minded peers" in some of the wealthiest schools in the state.

OP here - thanks PP; I stated my reasons and am sticking to them. I am not considering moving to Silver Spring. I literally do not know a soul there; nor anything there.

Honey, at this point nobody on this thread wants you to move to Silver Spring, please for the love of god stay away. If you want to continue thinking of people who live in Silver Spring as the uneducated masses, go ahead, just know that when you post things like that, we will continue to correct you.

OP here - I do not remember every saying what you wrote...what I said is that I am not familiar with that neighborhood, and I am trying to stay in neighborhoods I am familiar with and that are close to DC with good schools.

How can you live in this area and be so unfamiliar

OP - cause I have no business in SS, Wheaton or Gaithersburg, except maybe to go to Costco and such. Why is this so surprising?

Hmm...quite unadventurous for the intl type.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I completely respect your choice to move into the Whitman/BCC cluster if that is what works best for you. I just want you to be aware that it sounds like you have some misconceptions about the types of people that live outside of Bethesda. In my Einstein-feeder neighborhood there are there are a lot of very educated people (Ph.D.s, people with international careers) as well as people from other walks of life which is something that we value. My husband and I each have multiple advanced degrees and we do not feel even remotely out of place. The elementary school has a Spanish immersion program for all students so that attracts families that want that kind of language exposure for their kids.

I myself attended Whitman, and when my parents bought their Bethesda house it cost roughly the same, inflation-adjusted, as our DCC house did last year. The families that attend Whitman now are just not the same as they were 25 years ago.

OP here - thanks PP, but as I have mentioned, my choice of either the BCC or Whitman cluster is mainly due to: 1. strength of schools; 2. proximity to DC/ work; and 3. proximity to our previous NW DC neighborhood, therefore we know some people in these neighborhoods/ are familiar with the neighborhoods. Our family has been through quite a lot of changes the past few years, so familiarity gives us comfort.

Again, that's FINE, I'm just responding to the following comment that you made: "I am an educated international professional with smart kids, so obviously I am looking for like-minded kids/ parents, so we can feel like a good fit." From that perspective there are a lot of other schools that are also close to the DC border where you would find "like-minded kids/parents".

I'm the single mom from an earlier post who is demographically identical to OP and made the same point. Honestly, I give up. Let the Whitman vs. BCC parents fight about which is best, and OP can be assured that her kids are among "like minded peers" in some of the wealthiest schools in the state.

OP here - thanks PP; I stated my reasons and am sticking to them. I am not considering moving to Silver Spring. I literally do not know a soul there; nor anything there.

Honey, at this point nobody on this thread wants you to move to Silver Spring, please for the love of god stay away. If you want to continue thinking of people who live in Silver Spring as the uneducated masses, go ahead, just know that when you post things like that, we will continue to correct you.

OP here - I do not remember every saying what you wrote...what I said is that I am not familiar with that neighborhood, and I am trying to stay in neighborhoods I am familiar with and that are close to DC with good schools.

How can you live in this area and be so unfamiliar

OP - cause I have no business in SS, Wheaton or Gaithersburg, except maybe to go to Costco and such. Why is this so surprising?

Hmm...quite unadventurous for the intl type.

Especially since that’s where all the good food is!