in RMHS cluster with 3 yo-how to optimize my location for future
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
|
hi all,
im in the Bayard Rustin-Julius West-Richard Montgomery cluster. i have a 3 year old and want to figure out how significant differences are between schools, and if it warrants me moving to the Wootton, Churchill, or (if money allows) Whitman clusters. what are the main things to look out for? when do the differences start being noticeable (e.g., at middle school, at high school)? i got plenty of time but want to get informed on the public schools ahead of time. i only know neighbors that live in my cluster - they seem to like Bayard Rustin and the RM IB program, but haven't prodded deeper yet - so dont have great visibility at the greater school ecosystem of the County. i also noticed there are threads on here comparing RM vs Wootton. a lot of it seems marginal differences, so hard to tell. on a semi-related note, how accurate would you say the US News high school reports are? i gotta admit im surprised https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/maryland/districts/montgomery-county-public-schools/richard-montgomery-high-school-9144 is so high up (the high school i went to back in the day is in the low 1000s...so either this says something good about Montgomery County schools as a whole compared to other states/counties or RM is that good) thanks in advance |
Anonymous
| I would move to avoid Julius West. |
Anonymous
This is idiotic. JW is fine, not great, but middle school is difficult no matter which cluster you pick. I don't know one middle school that is stellar. Don't base your life of of middle schools. |
Anonymous
|
I agree that Julius West is terrible. Lots of bullying and other violent altercations happening.
RM is ok, no better or worse than other mcps schools. |
Anonymous
|
I can share my family's experience; we live in the RM cluster. We started our 3 year old in a Montessori school where she stayed through fourth grade. She loved it and had a great time. Then she moved to a private K-8 Middle School where she attended 5-8. She applied and was accepted to the RMIB program where she attended high school. All of us, and especially she, feels like this was the perfect education. Now in her first choice college, she is well-prepared and doing well.
So, that's what we did FWIW. |
Anonymous
| There is no difference. I did the move: from RM cluster to Churchill, and are not impressed at all. I have two kids and now the older one is in high school. when the older one is in K, I thought the school with great school score 10 would be better than 8. 15 years later, I do not regret my move but definitely do not think the scores of school mean much. Find a good neighborhood and the kids will be fine. |
Anonymous
| I would just wait two or three years until all the boundaries have been redrawn for the middle and high schools. You have time to see how it all shakes out. |
Anonymous
This |
Anonymous
+2. The RM of the future may look different than the RM of today. My kids went through the cluster. They both opted not to do IB but instead loaded up on APs. Oldest got into practically all her colleges (competitive ones at that!) and is doing well at her top choice college. Both played sports while at RM and made good friends. |
Anonymous
| RMIB > Wootton >>>> RM non IB. |
Anonymous
|
Wootton parent here - I Would stay where you are - You are a good parent with all of the right ideas but what they don't tell you is that it is easier to get into a good college from RM than Wootton - just better odds based on how you stack up against your peers.
Like a PP said - good neighborhood and parenting and you will be just fine staying where you are and allowing your kid to have lifelong friends |
Anonymous
|
We did a lot of research talking to people and reviewing the school climate surveys. For us, access to a two-way immersion program (Spanish and English) was really important. Landed at Oakland Terrace ES. We are very, very happy with it so far. Folks in the neighborhood seem fine with the middle and high schools.
I would recommend looking beyond test scores. One metric to look at is the student mobility rate. Have a student body that is frequently transitioning in and out of the school during the school year is hard to manage. |
Anonymous
| A lot depends on the principal of the school and in 10 years all of the schools will likely have different administrators. I would stay where you are for now. The RM elementary schools are all great with good principals. |
Anonymous
Wait until 2027 to move so the redistricting due to crown and Woodward will be clear. |
Anonymous
|
I would stay where you are and just evaluate as the years go by. You can always move but your child maybe be great just where you are.
--Parent of two CGES, JWMS, RMHS (non IB) kids. |