CESJDS in Rockville

[Anonymous]

Any feedback on this school, particularly the lower school? We're considering it and there seem to be mixed views on here, and not a lot of recent posts. Especially interested in thoughts on the secular academics as compared to other public/private schools in the area.

[Anonymous]

I have lots of friends at this school and generally have heard great things. The secular academics seem to be on a par with most private schools here. I think there are fewer elective options in high school as there are more required Judaics courses, but the outcomes seem great and people get into the colleges they want to go to.

[Anonymous]

My DS attended and graduated a few years ago. He had a really good experience. He started in 4th grade after being in public school. He also had a sister that stayed in public school so I have some basis of comparison.

The secular education can be very good with high level reading and writing and math. There are leveled classes in high school, and some in middle and lower school but not in every class. Classes are small but the grade size is pretty large for a private/Jewish school.

Public school offers a lot more classes so if your kid is a superstar in science or math and you are looking for more depth, that is harder to get at a private school because not enough kids that can take those classes so they aren't offered. I also felt, at the time my DS attended, there was some gate keeping of the highest honors classes and it was somewhat hard to break in if your kid wasn't early on identified as high level learner. In public school, you can take what you want.

That said, my kid had a great experience and was happy socially and we were happy with the Jewish and hebrew education as well. And he is now a successful college student.