Overwhelmed with moving to MCPS

[Anonymous]

We are considering a move to MCPS from a small school district in the PNW. I am incredibly overwhelmed with all the schools and options.

I have one kid in middle school and one in elementary. Both are neurodivergent. Older kid is a high performer in all areas; was in the gifted program in her previous district. Younger kid is strong in math, not reading, and has other special needs.

It seems we are too late to get into magnet programs, and it’s difficult to find out about the honors and elective offerings for middle school.

I’m trying to decide what areas to focus on and I’m overwhelmed. We don’t have the budget for the top-performing areas. I keep finding articles about fights and drugs and weapons, and I’m nervous about safety.

Which schools or areas should I look into?

Some areas we are considering based on current research are:
-Takoma Park
-Four Corners
-Olney
-Damascus
-Clarksburg
-Urbana (not in MCPS and would be a longer than ideal commute, but seems to have a strong school system with less red-tape to navigate)

[Anonymous]

Four corners is good for ES. Pinecrest ES is excellent. Eastern MS' great strength is its magnet. Takoma Park has city and county taxes - be prepared to pay on that score if that is a concern. TPES and Piney Branch ES are good, but overcrowded. Takoma Park MS is excellent.

I don't know much about the other areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Four corners is good for ES. Pinecrest ES is excellent. Eastern MS' great strength is its magnet. Takoma Park has city and county taxes - be prepared to pay on that score if that is a concern. TPES and Piney Branch ES are good, but overcrowded. Takoma Park MS is excellent.

I don't know much about the other areas.

Am I correct in my understanding that kids who are zoned for the school but not in the magnet do not have access to the magnet classes? So it’s almost like two “schools” in one building?

[Anonymous]

Welcome to the jungle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Four corners is good for ES. Pinecrest ES is excellent. Eastern MS' great strength is its magnet. Takoma Park has city and county taxes - be prepared to pay on that score if that is a concern. TPES and Piney Branch ES are good, but overcrowded. Takoma Park MS is excellent.

I don't know much about the other areas.

Am I correct in my understanding that kids who are zoned for the school but not in the magnet do not have access to the magnet classes? So it’s almost like two “schools” in one building?

Correct.

[Anonymous]

Check out Forest Knolls ES right near Four Corners. Excellent school and neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Where will you be commuting to?

[Anonymous]

Check out special programs. You don't need to live in-bounds of that cluster, but if you live too far, the school bus will take a long time to get there. Would your kids qualify for the GT/LD program of MCPS? Gifted, talented and learning disabled. They require an IEP and a certain IQ score. My son was in the GT/LD program at North Bethesda MS then Walter Johnson HS. Houses are expensive there, but maybe you could buy a townhome, a condo, or live further north, in Rockville?

[Anonymous]

Look at Flora Singer/Sligo/DCC (Einstein) track. Flora Singer is particularly excellent for neurodivergent kids, and both my kids love(d) Sligo. At the high school level, we are happy with Einstein. There will always be issues but if your kids are smart with a good group of peers they will not be impacted much. My kid loves the vibe at Einstein and plenty of likeminded peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where will you be commuting to?

It’s near the zoo, if that helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Check out special programs. You don't need to live in-bounds of that cluster, but if you live too far, the school bus will take a long time to get there. Would your kids qualify for the GT/LD program of MCPS? Gifted, talented and learning disabled. They require an IEP and a certain IQ score. My son was in the GT/LD program at North Bethesda MS then Walter Johnson HS. Houses are expensive there, but maybe you could buy a townhome, a condo, or live further north, in Rockville?

Neither have an IEP yet. Younger kid would probably qualify at some point (next year will be his first year in public school). Older kid did not qualify in previous school district.

It seems that all of the special programs are lottery, correct? So there’s a chance of not getting in?

We cannot afford a private school in that area, so I’m hesitant to count on a possible lottery without a good backup option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look at Flora Singer/Sligo/DCC (Einstein) track. Flora Singer is particularly excellent for neurodivergent kids, and both my kids love(d) Sligo. At the high school level, we are happy with Einstein. There will always be issues but if your kids are smart with a good group of peers they will not be impacted much. My kid loves the vibe at Einstein and plenty of likeminded peers.

Thank you! I have seen a few homes in this area that work, but keep seeing mixed things about the schools.

Are the facilities at Sligo okay, or are there issues (mold, rodents, asbestos, etc.)?

[Anonymous]

My advice: Find a residence you like and can afford, in an area you like, with transportation choices that work for your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My advice: Find a residence you like and can afford, in an area you like, with transportation choices that work for your family.

I agree. Olney is a pretty far out suburb. Clarksburg and Damascus and Urbana are very far-out exurbs. A daily commute to DC from there would be excruciating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check out special programs. You don't need to live in-bounds of that cluster, but if you live too far, the school bus will take a long time to get there. Would your kids qualify for the GT/LD program of MCPS? Gifted, talented and learning disabled. They require an IEP and a certain IQ score. My son was in the GT/LD program at North Bethesda MS then Walter Johnson HS. Houses are expensive there, but maybe you could buy a townhome, a condo, or live further north, in Rockville?

Neither have an IEP yet. Younger kid would probably qualify at some point (next year will be his first year in public school). Older kid did not qualify in previous school district.

It seems that all of the special programs are lottery, correct? So there’s a chance of not getting in?

We cannot afford a private school in that area, so I’m hesitant to count on a possible lottery without a good backup option.

No, not the special needs ones. If you qualify with the right diagnosis, etc, you're in. The 4th-5th grade CES (center for enriched studies) and middle and high school magnets, yes, those you need to prequalify by having decent MAP test scores, but then it's a lottery and plenty of bright kids don't get picked.

Perhaps you could call the division of special programs (not sure of the name) and inquire.

Your kids have current neuropsychological assessments? As in, in the past 4 years? To get an IEP they will need to see those reports.