Good schools in Germantown MD area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a Germantown resident. The way MCPS policies are going, your best bet is to buy in Bethesda and commute to Germantown. The commute is not bad because you are going against traffic. Poolesville is hicks town. Absolutely not worth it. And with the kind of money you want to spend, there is no reason to compromise and buy in Rockville etc.

At this point, for commute, home values, conveniences, schools (regardless of MCPS policies) the best bet is Bethesda. 3 million is a good amount to get an amazing house in Bethesda and pretty good affluent schools with an academically high performing demographic.

We like Germantown because of conveniences and our very affordable and luxurious SFH. We also like our neighborhood. We were not impacted by MCPS policies because of all three of our kids went to/going to magnet schools. I have one senior left in Poolesville now.

Um.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Germantown resident. The way MCPS policies are going, your best bet is to buy in Bethesda and commute to Germantown. The commute is not bad because you are going against traffic. Poolesville is hicks town. Absolutely not worth it. And with the kind of money you want to spend, there is no reason to compromise and buy in Rockville etc.

At this point, for commute, home values, conveniences, schools (regardless of MCPS policies) the best bet is Bethesda. 3 million is a good amount to get an amazing house in Bethesda and pretty good affluent schools with an academically high performing demographic.

We like Germantown because of conveniences and our very affordable and luxurious SFH. We also like our neighborhood. We were not impacted by MCPS policies because of all three of our kids went to/going to magnet schools. I have one senior left in Poolesville now.

I'm not understanding how changes to MCPS policies will make a difference whether or not OP buys a home in Bethesda or near Germantown? And which MCPS policies are changing exactly? I know the curriculum is going to change, but I don't know of any major policies that will affect certain schools only.

The nice areas that are districted with lower income areas tend to be in somewhat rough schools even if their community is nice. Look at Darnestown ES area for example. Great es and ms and then they are pretty much the only good area going into Northwest HS besides few neighborhoods near the Soccerplex. They are being used to make the rough areas of Germantown look better as a high school district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Germantown resident. The way MCPS policies are going, your best bet is to buy in Bethesda and commute to Germantown. The commute is not bad because you are going against traffic. Poolesville is hicks town. Absolutely not worth it. And with the kind of money you want to spend, there is no reason to compromise and buy in Rockville etc.

At this point, for commute, home values, conveniences, schools (regardless of MCPS policies) the best bet is Bethesda. 3 million is a good amount to get an amazing house in Bethesda and pretty good affluent schools with an academically high performing demographic.

We like Germantown because of conveniences and our very affordable and luxurious SFH. We also like our neighborhood. We were not impacted by MCPS policies because of all three of our kids went to/going to magnet schools. I have one senior left in Poolesville now.

Um.

?

What? Should I lie? The schools here are great but the class demographics means that teachers are teaching to the lowest performing students. And there are a lot of lower performing students here. The high performing schools in MCPS have majority White and Asian-American students and such schools do not exist in Gaithersburg and Germantown.

For our students magnet became an option and we are grateful for it. There are however no guarantees about acceptance, and now with MCPS restructuring the magnet program there is possibility that students in "better" school cluster in Germantown will be prevented from attending magnet program and likely get some home-grown version of magnet-lite curriculum.

If OP has 3M to spend on real estate, he should live in Bethesda. This will get his kids a school with more affluent, higher performing, majority WH and AS students. As for the curriculum. teachers and principals in Bethesda schools, they are as good or bad as the rest of MCPS.

For us Germantown has plenty of things that appeal to us - shopping, grocery stores. leisure activities, golf, hospitals, trails, easy commute to work, good real estate prices, good friends and neighbors etc., and the poor performing schools did not impact us because of our unique situation.

[Anonymous]

If you buy a 3 million dollar home in germantown be prepared to own that home for a very long time. People do not buy 3 million dollar homes in germantown.

[Anonymous]

We rented a home in Germantown while we looked for something to buy. We have lived all over this country and all over the world. You could not pay me to live in Germantown again. We ended up paying to break our lease after 6 months. I just could not do a full year. We bought a house in Fairfax. We have always been able to find things to like about everywhere we have lived...until Germantown. OP, don't do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We rented a home in Germantown while we looked for something to buy. We have lived all over this country and all over the world. You could not pay me to live in Germantown again. We ended up paying to break our lease after 6 months. I just could not do a full year. We bought a house in Fairfax. We have always been able to find things to like about everywhere we have lived...until Germantown. OP, don't do it.

Ugh. Could not stand Fairfax. Moved from Fairfax to Germantown and pretty happy. I guess depends where you bought your house and what kind of experience you had. Still no one buys a 3 million dollar home in Germantown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Germantown resident. The way MCPS policies are going, your best bet is to buy in Bethesda and commute to Germantown. The commute is not bad because you are going against traffic. Poolesville is hicks town. Absolutely not worth it. And with the kind of money you want to spend, there is no reason to compromise and buy in Rockville etc.

At this point, for commute, home values, conveniences, schools (regardless of MCPS policies) the best bet is Bethesda. 3 million is a good amount to get an amazing house in Bethesda and pretty good affluent schools with an academically high performing demographic.

We like Germantown because of conveniences and our very affordable and luxurious SFH. We also like our neighborhood. We were not impacted by MCPS policies because of all three of our kids went to/going to magnet schools. I have one senior left in Poolesville now.

Um.

?

What? Should I lie? The schools here are great but the class demographics means that teachers are teaching to the lowest performing students. And there are a lot of lower performing students here. The high performing schools in MCPS have majority White and Asian-American students and such schools do not exist in Gaithersburg and Germantown.

For our students magnet became an option and we are grateful for it. There are however no guarantees about acceptance, and now with MCPS restructuring the magnet program there is possibility that students in "better" school cluster in Germantown will be prevented from attending magnet program and likely get some home-grown version of magnet-lite curriculum.

If OP has 3M to spend on real estate, he should live in Bethesda. This will get his kids a school with more affluent, higher performing, majority WH and AS students. As for the curriculum. teachers and principals in Bethesda schools, they are as good or bad as the rest of MCPS.

For us Germantown has plenty of things that appeal to us - shopping, grocery stores. leisure activities, golf, hospitals, trails, easy commute to work, good real estate prices, good friends and neighbors etc., and the poor performing schools did not impact us because of our unique situation.

I just can't with you. On one hand you said the schools here are great and then you go on about having a lot of low performing students here. You do realize that Northwest HS (a school in Germantown) has the highest graduation rate in the county? And do you know that pretty much all MCPS high schools, specifically the ones you are talking about (assuming you are talking specifically about Northwest, Seneca Valley, Gaithersburg, Watkins Mills, Quince Orchard), all have programs for high achieving students such as IB, Ulysses, etc? That said, OP wouldn't have to worry about mixing in with those non-WH or non- AS students that you equate as "Low performing students."
Good grief, I hope you haven't communicated these thoughts to your neighbors in Germantown. You are so full of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Germantown resident. The way MCPS policies are going, your best bet is to buy in Bethesda and commute to Germantown. The commute is not bad because you are going against traffic. Poolesville is hicks town. Absolutely not worth it. And with the kind of money you want to spend, there is no reason to compromise and buy in Rockville etc.

At this point, for commute, home values, conveniences, schools (regardless of MCPS policies) the best bet is Bethesda. 3 million is a good amount to get an amazing house in Bethesda and pretty good affluent schools with an academically high performing demographic.

We like Germantown because of conveniences and our very affordable and luxurious SFH. We also like our neighborhood. We were not impacted by MCPS policies because of all three of our kids went to/going to magnet schools. I have one senior left in Poolesville now.

Um.

?

What? Should I lie? The schools here are great but the class demographics means that teachers are teaching to the lowest performing students. And there are a lot of lower performing students here. The high performing schools in MCPS have majority White and Asian-American students and such schools do not exist in Gaithersburg and Germantown.

For our students magnet became an option and we are grateful for it. There are however no guarantees about acceptance, and now with MCPS restructuring the magnet program there is possibility that students in "better" school cluster in Germantown will be prevented from attending magnet program and likely get some home-grown version of magnet-lite curriculum.

If OP has 3M to spend on real estate, he should live in Bethesda. This will get his kids a school with more affluent, higher performing, majority WH and AS students. As for the curriculum. teachers and principals in Bethesda schools, they are as good or bad as the rest of MCPS.

For us Germantown has plenty of things that appeal to us - shopping, grocery stores. leisure activities, golf, hospitals, trails, easy commute to work, good real estate prices, good friends and neighbors etc., and the poor performing schools did not impact us because of our unique situation.

Those magnet schools your kids attend/ed -- were they in MCPS? And if so, how were they exempt from being affected by MCPS policies?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Germantown resident. The way MCPS policies are going, your best bet is to buy in Bethesda and commute to Germantown. The commute is not bad because you are going against traffic. Poolesville is hicks town. Absolutely not worth it. And with the kind of money you want to spend, there is no reason to compromise and buy in Rockville etc.

At this point, for commute, home values, conveniences, schools (regardless of MCPS policies) the best bet is Bethesda. 3 million is a good amount to get an amazing house in Bethesda and pretty good affluent schools with an academically high performing demographic.

We like Germantown because of conveniences and our very affordable and luxurious SFH. We also like our neighborhood. We were not impacted by MCPS policies because of all three of our kids went to/going to magnet schools. I have one senior left in Poolesville now.

Um.

?

What? Should I lie? The schools here are great but the class demographics means that teachers are teaching to the lowest performing students. And there are a lot of lower performing students here. The high performing schools in MCPS have majority White and Asian-American students and such schools do not exist in Gaithersburg and Germantown.

For our students magnet became an option and we are grateful for it. There are however no guarantees about acceptance, and now with MCPS restructuring the magnet program there is possibility that students in "better" school cluster in Germantown will be prevented from attending magnet program and likely get some home-grown version of magnet-lite curriculum.

If OP has 3M to spend on real estate, he should live in Bethesda. This will get his kids a school with more affluent, higher performing, majority WH and AS students. As for the curriculum. teachers and principals in Bethesda schools, they are as good or bad as the rest of MCPS.

For us Germantown has plenty of things that appeal to us - shopping, grocery stores. leisure activities, golf, hospitals, trails, easy commute to work, good real estate prices, good friends and neighbors etc., and the poor performing schools did not impact us because of our unique situation.

I just can't with you. On one hand you said the schools here are great and then you go on about having a lot of low performing students here. You do realize that Northwest HS (a school in Germantown) has the highest graduation rate in the county? And do you know that pretty much all MCPS high schools, specifically the ones you are talking about (assuming you are talking specifically about Northwest, Seneca Valley, Gaithersburg, Watkins Mills, Quince Orchard), all have programs for high achieving students such as IB, Ulysses, etc? That said, OP wouldn't have to worry about mixing in with those non-WH or non- AS students that you equate as "Low performing students."
Good grief, I hope you haven't communicated these thoughts to your neighbors in Germantown. You are so full of it.

Only low performing schools exist in Gaithersburg and Germantown? Wow, I'll let the folks in RCES and QO know about that. They'd be surprised, considering RCES outranks several Bethesda-area ES's and QO is among the highest ranked MCPS HS's right now.

[Anonymous]

The schools that are deemed "good" in Germantown area are only those schools that have a higher percentage of White and Asian students. They are also low FARMS. Usually in MCPS the schools that are considered good have this demographics - less FARMS, more Whites and Asians. You can get this in spades in Bethesda schools. The student achievement in MCPS falls across racial lines. Having majority Blacks and Hispanics will bring down the school ratings. I have yet to see a majority Black and Hispanic school (without magnet program) that performs well. Sorry, calling it the way it is, even though I am POC.

In previous years, magnet admission was largely based on the kid's performance in the magnet admissions test. Now students from better schools are not being given space in the magnet programs because they have a "cohort" in their home school. However, these students are not given a full magnet curriculum but instead are being given a slightly enriched curriculum in only two subjects. If that is the case, it is penalizing highly gifted students in better schools and it is also bringing down the quality of students in magnet programs because they are not taking the best students. That is the reason that a person with three million dollars should aim to buy a house in Bethesda. Since now a lot of high performing students in Bethesda are denied admission in Takoma Park and Eastern MS, the middle schools in Bethesda (Pyle MS) will become even better. Why go to a ghetto school without a highly competitive admission test based magnet program? Might as well stick with more affluent schools.

In any case, anyone who is advising OP to buy in Germantown or other areas when his budget is 3 M dollars is deluded. OP, buy in the most affluent neighborhood in MoCo and that is Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

In any case, anyone who is advising OP to buy in Germantown or other areas when his budget is 3 M dollars is deluded. OP, buy in the most affluent neighborhood in MoCo and that is Bethesda.

Because if your budget is up to $3 million, you must spend $3 million?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Why go to a ghetto school without a highly competitive admission test based magnet program?

PP, for just in case you don't know, "ghetto" as an adjective is inflammatory language.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The schools that are deemed "good" in Germantown area are only those schools that have a higher percentage of White and Asian students. They are also low FARMS. Usually in MCPS the schools that are considered good have this demographics - less FARMS, more Whites and Asians. You can get this in spades in Bethesda schools. The student achievement in MCPS falls across racial lines. Having majority Blacks and Hispanics will bring down the school ratings. I have yet to see a majority Black and Hispanic school (without magnet program) that performs well. Sorry, calling it the way it is, even though I am POC.

In previous years, magnet admission was largely based on the kid's performance in the magnet admissions test. Now students from better schools are not being given space in the magnet programs because they have a "cohort" in their home school. However, these students are not given a full magnet curriculum but instead are being given a slightly enriched curriculum in only two subjects. If that is the case, it is penalizing highly gifted students in better schools and it is also bringing down the quality of students in magnet programs because they are not taking the best students. That is the reason that a person with three million dollars should aim to buy a house in Bethesda. Since now a lot of high performing students in Bethesda are denied admission in Takoma Park and Eastern MS, the middle schools in Bethesda (Pyle MS) will become even better. Why go to a ghetto school without a highly competitive admission test based magnet program? Might as well stick with more affluent schools.

In any case, anyone who is advising OP to buy in Germantown or other areas when his budget is 3 M dollars is deluded. OP, buy in the most affluent neighborhood in MoCo and that is Bethesda.

1. I did a Redfin search for Germantown and found zero residences for sale for $1M+. Not a joke. There were 3 listings and they were all for joint residential/commercial properties. So OP is delusional.

2. Student achievement falls on racial lines across the country, not just in MCPS or just in Germantown. White/Asian kids' test scores are the same, even as FARMS rate (unfortunately a proxy for URM representation) increases. So when people say schools are "better," they're really saying certain schools have more White/Asian kids. It's sad, but true. The only differences come in when you look at resources that different schools have. These differences are negligible until you get to truly high-poverty schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Only low performing schools exist in Gaithersburg and Germantown? Wow, I'll let the folks in RCES and QO know about that. They'd be surprised, considering RCES outranks several Bethesda-area ES's and QO is among the highest ranked MCPS HS's right now.

QO is in Gaithersburg, is it? Please tell it to the people who think they bought in North Potomac.

RCES and QO have majority Black and Hispanic students, is it? Majority FARMS students? No they don't. QO and NW are better high schools because they have larger number of Whites and larger number of affluent students. It is as simple as that.

A school that has majority Blacks and Hispanics and does not have a magnet program to get the best and brightest in it does not exist in this county. I am not looking at ESs because it is easy to manipulate data there (since they do not have indicators like APs and SATs). The achievement gap is real and it exists mainly among Black and Hispanic students.

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04125.pdf

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04246.pdf

Seneca Valley HS (Germantown)
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04104.pdf

Watkins Mill HS (the real Gaithersburg!)
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04545.pdf

Whitman HS in Bethesda
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04427.pdf

Better schools are schools with less FARMS and more WH and AS students. Data proves it.

Exception in Pooleville HS where 3/4 of the school is bused in for the magnet programs and the rest are primarily rural White students. Or other schools that have magnet programs in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Better schools are schools with less FARMS and more WH and AS students. Data proves it.

That depends on how you define "better", of course. It's true that the schools with higher school-wide-average scores on standardized tests have more kids from affluent families and more white/Asian-American kids. But why would somebody think that "good school" means "school with high school-wide-average scores on standardized tests"? That's just silly.