Howard v. Montgomery v. Anne Arundel

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re looking at moving from the city to either Howard, Montgomery or Anne Arundel County. All can work for our commutes. Our budget does not allow us to buy into the best cluster in any of these counties. I’ve been researching public schools in all of these and have some questions I’m hoping you can help with. We want a solid education for our children - well rounded curriculum, supportive teachers, enrichments at school, involved parents, etc. We value academics but I’m not looking for a pressure cooker environment. We really value social emotional development.

I’ve noticed that Anne Arundel and Montgomery have magnet schools but Howard does not. Is there a benefit to attending school
In a county that has magnet programs?

Any general advice you can give a young family that is looking to put down roots for the long term? We found a few areas in Montgomery county that we really like but I worry about competitiveness. Is that everywhere and I’m just naive? Is there a county you would suggest…and why?

I’m sure our children will be fine where we settle but I’m overwhelmed with all the options.

I'm in Hoco- I like that we don't have magnets. Each school offers acceleration and enrichment. I think it also helps with the school community to not have segregated groups. That said, the western part of the county tends to be competitive in the schools- River Hill especially. The schools in the eastern part of the county are less competitive but people will tell you they are not as good. My family lives in the southeastern part and we've been happy with the level of education our children are receiving. Howard county schools also tend to be very racially diverse (and in the eastern part, socioeconomically diverse). Parents are very involved in my experience.

I like Hoco. I also like AA. The thing about these two counties is that they are more MD than Montgo so make sure you like MD before you move out here.

This would be more helpful if you say where you have been looking in AA and Hoco.

This is helpful. Thanks. What do you mean "more MD?"

Right now, we're looking at Ellicott City in Howard and Odenton/Gambrills in AA. Open to suggestions if you have any too!

Hey OP. I'm the one who wrote that Hoco and AA are more MD than Montgomery. I meant that in Montgomery, the county seems like an extension of DC. Out here, there's a lot of people who commute to DC for work but there's less of the DC mentality. It's replaced with MD- crab cakes, Baltimore, the bay etc. It's not DC centric so if your life revolves around DC, it will be a shock.

In Hoco, I'd look at Ellicott City, the hoco part of Laurel/North Laurel, Fulton, Highland, Clarksville. I like Columbia too and think the schools are fine (though many disagree). I'm less familiar with AA but I have a number of friends who live in Gambrills and Crofton and are quite happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of good advice that seems pretty accurate to me. I'm in the middle of MCPS hell right now, so my vote is for Howard. I grew up there and my family is still there, with kids in HCPS. Seems to be a much more rational experience than what my kid is having.

Grass is *always* greener on the other side. There are also a lot of moco parents who don't complain about mcps that much. You will always have the loudest complainers on this forum.

Also, this forum tends to lean more towards closer in to DC. There are way more mcps parents on here than hcps parents.

That said, I recall a thread on here not that long ago about the whole redrawing of the boundaries in HoCo for diversity, and all the angst surrounding that.

Sometimes it IS greener. I think this is one of those times.

still subjective.