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Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS)
Tell me about Darnestown ES, Lakelands MS, and Northwest HS
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Anonymous
| We're considering buying a house in this school cluster, but don't know much about these schools. Anyone with kids going to these schools? What are your thoughts? |
Anonymous
| seems like most people are down on Northwest but I have no firsthand experience |
Anonymous
| Thanks for weighing in PP (OP here). Anyone else have experience with these schools? |
Anonymous
My friend's daughter goes there, but I don't have any direct experience. Just what she brags about.  Her child is in all the AP classes, is a National Merit Scholar, the whole college-prep shebang, and she's been very happy. There is little crime compared to some neighboring upcounty high schools like Watkins Mill and Seneca Valley.
It's a good upcounty school, but not the best. Quince Orchard is better. Wootton is better than that. Seneca Valley has a lot of issues, including some crime issues, and I'd stay away from that one if you can. Same with Clarksburg. And finally, if you do live upcounty, there is relatively new science and math magnet program at Poolesville High School that mirrors the one at Montgomery Blair. It's run by the a former Blair magnet teacher. It's not as good (yet?), but that's an option. If I lived in that district, I'd send my child there. It's a diverse enough school with a solid academic program and I think most kids would find a good fit somewhere in it. |
Anonymous
| Darnestown ES is the best in the cluster. LPMS is where my kids went, and I was satisfied. Northwest HS is the sticky wicket in the mix. But, if your kids are so young that you're talking about elementary school, the zoning mix can change a half-dozen times between now and high school. |
Anonymous
| Thanks for all the responses, PPs. We have one child now who is 4 and will be entering kindergarten in the fall of 2012, so we're primarily looking at the elementary level. We are currently zoned for Richard Montgomery HS, which we like, but the elementary school, not so much, hence the search. We are amazed at the amount of land we could get in this area, and would love to have that, but are weighing that against the schools, which is a major factor as well. If Darnestown ES is a good school and LPMS is decent, then we would love to go for it, as Hs is still in the distant future and, as one PP pointed out, who knows what will happen with the zoning down the line? |
Anonymous
| I am also searching in that area for a new home and my child is only 3. I'm trying to focus on elem and middle schools right now. Who knows where we will be or what we will be able to afford (to move or private school) once its time for HS. I have heard people talk negatively about Northwest but I don't have any specifics. |
Anonymous
| BTW - how often does zoning change and how do you find out about proposed changes? |
Anonymous
Try the MCPS website. Initially, I thought it was tied to the Census. And since that was just done, it's possible that zoning changes are in the works. But the MoCo population is very transient by nature, so perhaps the school system makes changes more often. |
Anonymous
| Public notices are always put out about proposed zoning changes. Talk about your "hot button" issue! |
Anonymous
| If I end up buying somewhere based on schools and they re-zone.... Well I just don't know what to say... |
Anonymous
| I did buy a house based on the school zones. Our kids were toddlers. 2 years later, a year before our oldest was to start elementary school they re-zoned and it was to a school we were not happy about. We ended up sending them to private. |
Anonymous
what school were you originally zoned for and what did they change it to? |
Anonymous
| There is some good information on MOCO schools website about future planned elementary schools. So for those clusters I would expect future redistricting. |
Anonymous
| OP, are you zoned for Twinbrook ES? |