DCPS (Upper NW) vs MCPS, where to go?

[Anonymous]

We are Asian and kids are rising K. One parent works downtown DC 3 days a week and one works from home. We are trying to think more broadly about where to settle long-term, and would love to hear from families who have experience with both DCPS and MCPS.

Specifically: Upper NW DC vs MCPS (Bethesda / WJ / Churchill clusters)

Moving to MCPS is definitely appealing from an academic / peer standpoint, but we have been really loving DC’s walkability and more multicultural environment, so feeling a bit torn.

It also seems like some families start in DCPS for elementary and then move to MCPS later — curious how common / smooth that actually is?

Questions we have been thinking:

For those who chose to stay in DCPS long-term till finish high school, what made you stay?
For those who moved to MCPS, when did you decide to move and why?
Is the “DC for elementary → MCPS later” path actually realistic in practice?
How do the peer environments feel different (especially for Asian kids)?
What's the difference between those two school system?
A lot people are saying MCPS qualities are going down- how true is that? is it still worthy of moving there

We can't clear our mind and would really appreciate any firsthand experiences or perspectives. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I think both are good enough! And these decisions are often logistically driven so don't read too much into what other families do. Personally I would pick whatever gives the parents and kids the best commute, because that time really matters to your quality of life and ability to do things.

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of peers for your kids - academically and socially - in DCPS. We stayed in DCPS (upper NW) because we loved our neighborhood, and figured the schools would be good enough. Kids went through Stoddert-Hardy-Jackson Reed - were more than ready for college and thrived while in DCPS and after graduation.

[Anonymous]

Both are pretty good! Are you spending time on the MCPS board? Looks like they are rolling back advanced math and ELA options. I don't know the details but worth looking into.

[Anonymous]

I heard some about what MCPS doing (reginal programing ?)and not sure how to interpret it

Anonymous wrote:Both are pretty good! Are you spending time on the MCPS board? Looks like they are rolling back advanced math and ELA options. I don't know the details but worth looking into.

[Anonymous]

it seems people here think DCPS is just as good as MCPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard some about what MCPS doing (reginal programing ?)and not sure how to interpret it

Anonymous wrote:Both are pretty good! Are you spending time on the MCPS board? Looks like they are rolling back advanced math and ELA options. I don't know the details but worth looking into.

This thread is illuminating:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1324771.page

I'm also an Asian person and we have been really happy with DCPS elementary and then BASIS for middle and high

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:it seems people here think DCPS is just as good as MCPS?

I think there's so much variety in each that it's difficult to compare broadly. And when choosing a school for a specific family, who may have children with different needs and interests, that kind of broad comparison is not very illuminating anyway.

[Anonymous]

If you want to make the switch to MCPS at some point, I would just do that. Obviously experiences may vary, but with a MS student now (and HS student), I can’t see moving at this stage of the game. I would just do it in early ES and be done.

Lots of benefits to living in upper NW - kids walk to school, very independent, hangs out with friends and gets places without much parental involvement.

I think JRHS has pros and cons, but is not terribly academically rigorous. In retrospect, maybe we should’ve made the move to MoCo but we never wanted to do it (commute, low mortgage rate on current house, kids liked their friends and were settled).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to make the switch to MCPS at some point, I would just do that. Obviously experiences may vary, but with a MS student now (and HS student), I can’t see moving at this stage of the game. I would just do it in early ES and be done.

Lots of benefits to living in upper NW - kids walk to school, very independent, hangs out with friends and gets places without much parental involvement.

I think JRHS has pros and cons, but is not terribly academically rigorous. In retrospect, maybe we should’ve made the move to MoCo but we never wanted to do it (commute, low mortgage rate on current house, kids liked their friends and were settled).

Also, PP here, I am Asian, kids are “whasian,” if that matters. They are not particularly interested in the traditional “Asian” subjects like STEM, so can’t comment on any of that. Younger child (girl) has many whasian friends, older child does not (most friends are white). But neither reports any issues, bias, etc.

[Anonymous]

We are an MCPS family moving to DCPS for our oldest, a rising K! I think DCPS and charter elementaries are better than MCPS. I've toured many in trying to make this decision. We will re-evaluate in 5th grade!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are an MCPS family moving to DCPS for our oldest, a rising K! I think DCPS and charter elementaries are better than MCPS. I've toured many in trying to make this decision. We will re-evaluate in 5th grade!

Can you share more on this and what specific schools you looked at it? I have also heard mixed things about MCPS elementary school particularly in terms of class sizes and sense of community. We are an early elementary family who is very happy with our charter school but constantly thinking about whether we are "missing something" by not seriously considering a move to MCPS and APS. Our school feeds into DCI which feels far away though I know it's not (and it's LAMB so chances of getting a DCI spot are very solid and not a super high gamble unless something dramatic changes).

[Anonymous]

Don’t underestimate how awful the commute to downtown is if you don’t live right near or on the Red Line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are an MCPS family moving to DCPS for our oldest, a rising K! I think DCPS and charter elementaries are better than MCPS. I've toured many in trying to make this decision. We will re-evaluate in 5th grade!

Can you share more on this and what specific schools you looked at it? I have also heard mixed things about MCPS elementary school particularly in terms of class sizes and sense of community. We are an early elementary family who is very happy with our charter school but constantly thinking about whether we are "missing something" by not seriously considering a move to MCPS and APS. Our school feeds into DCI which feels far away though I know it's not (and it's LAMB so chances of getting a DCI spot are very solid and not a super high gamble unless something dramatic changes).

The problem is that even when you move to MCPS, you will still feel like you are missing something. MCPS is huge and while better at some things, it is not great either at lots of things

[Anonymous]

All the MCPS parents are sitting on the playground complaining about their schools just like we are. It's sometimes different but it's not consistently better. Therefore I'd shop houses in both areas and choose based on logistics.