Potomac ES: How to sync bus schedule with work start-time?

[Anonymous]

Do all the Potomac ES kids have a stay-at-home parent? We're thinking about buying in that district, and we understand that families are "strongly encouraged" to use the bus system.

We can't figure out how we can be there for an 8:48 pick-up and still make it to work on time. We're actually having doubts about buying because of this. What do people do? Is there pre-school care so that we could drop off early?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[Anonymous]

We don't attend Potomac ES, but we have a similar bus pick up time for our MCPS. Our school offers before care that starts at 7 AM and after-care w/ pick up by 6 PM (I think).

Just call Potomac ES and ask if before/after care is offered.

Otherwise, many people have au pairs or nannies that handle the before/after school logistics.

It is not easy. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

My DC's used to go to PES. Yes, they had before school care that started at 7:30am (I think). I didn't use it but I looked into it once. It seemed rather expensive. I'm pretty sure there is no early bus service for this. You must drop your DC off. I also subbed in various Mo Co Elementary schools. The start time varied from 8:30 - 9:15am.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, it's not worth moving here for this school. If I had it to do over we would have moved to Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the answers so far. PP 21:35, why do you say that? What is it that you don't like about PES? I"d appreciate your candid response.

[Anonymous]

The lack of support for teachers by Principal, extremely high teacher turnover, personal knowledge of unhappiness of teachers and staff, lack of rich variety of afterschool programs, etc. That said there a few great teachers that are still there but many more have flown to more supportive schools. We were there from late 90's to mid 2007. Maybe things are better now. I would look into it. Sorry to be a downer.

[Anonymous]

The building is falling apart. My kids were there for a summer program a couple of years ago. We're at Wayside and love it (and living in Potomac in general). Also, Bells Mill has a brand new building that is supposed to be awesome. I don't know many people at Potomac ES but I hear more positive things about the other elementary schools in Potomac.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Bummer. Is it possible to apply to attend Wayside or Bells Mills? I'll look at the Montgomery County website, but honestly, I find it pretty hard to navigate to find information.

[Anonymous]

We live in Potomac and DS goes to Seven Locks; we love it (even though it is at the holding school until next Jan.)

I deal with the bus issue by driving to the first stop on the bus route and putting my kid on the bus there -- saves 15 minutes, though I still get to work after 9:00.

Seven Locks also has a before and after care program and I hear it is pretty good.

[Anonymous]

Given the class sizes this year at all of the schools (large), I highly doubt they would grant an application to attend one of the other schools. Not to be snarky, but what would be your reason? There are plenty of other families in the same boat.

[Anonymous]

Call the school and ask them for the answer, they give them out for tests so the bus schedule is probably available too.

[Anonymous]

OP here. 09:20, I started this post with information about the bus pick-up time and my problems with it, so obviously I already researched the bus schedule. As for calling PES for answers, I didn't find them to be particularly helpful during my tour. They kept saying "check the website." That's what brought me here -- to see what solutions other families have found.

09:17, I guess that our reason for requesting to enroll at Wayside is that our would-be home is physically closer to that school. That may not matter to them given the overcrowding, but wouldn't Wayside have more room than PES which seems to be busting at the seams?

[Anonymous]

You will be hard pressed to find an ES in Bethesda/Potomac that isn't busting at the seams.

[Anonymous]

we go to bells mill and it's an amazing school in potomac that actually has capacity. we love it there! you will def have the bussing/timing issue, but they are going to have onsite care at the school next year and there is also another care facility right next door that seems to work well with the school. gl

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will be hard pressed to find an ES in Bethesda/Potomac that isn't busting at the seams.

Carderock is a brand new school not too far from Potomac. Should have plenty of space there and my understanding is that the community is fabulous.