Navigating school districts when buying a single family home around Bethesda...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly is your main concern? The actual quality of the education at the school or property values? If it is property values, you'll need to pay the money and hope that nothing changes. If it is the quality of education, you have a lot more flexibility because many, many schools in MoCo offer a high-quality education--but you're going to have to set aside the "W" school mentality and start looking at the more detailed information on schools. Woodward--like most other schools in MoCo--will probably offer a fine education.

That is my question too.

Not the original poster, but I assume they are concerned about both the school quality AND the property value. They are parents and house buyers seeking out the MoCo schools forum.

They are "new parents" concerned about the "school quality" (whatever that even means) of a high school that hasn't even opened yet.

OP, take the advice of the top PP:

1. if you're concerned about property values, you will have to pay the money and hope nothing changes
2. if you're concerned about school quality, you can live in many places in the county where you don't have to pay $1 million for a detached house, because a lot of schools in MCPS provide a good education, and the Bethesda = good/everywhere else = bad reasoning is simply false. In fact, I'm inclined to say that the single most important factor in making a school a good school is the principal, and nobody should buy property based on who is currently the principal of a given school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for insight from folks more familiar with the area. We're new parents and new to the DC suburbs.

Is it really not feasible to get into a decent single family home in one of the neighborhoods serving the district's better rated high schools (Walter Johnson, Walt Whitman, Wootton, BCC, Winston Churchill, etc.) for under $1 million, with a commute to DC that's not insane?

We thought we had it figured out when we found a decent place in a nice subdivision in "North Bethesda" (just south of Rockville) off the red line that feeds to Walter Johnson. Homes there are around $900,000. The neighbors love the neighborhood and their kids like Walter Johnson. But come to find out that the whole area is likely going to get pushed to Woodward HS when it reopens -- which, while it could be a good school, may take a long time to build its reputation, or may not be so good, making future home values in that area at least a partial a question mark.

So where can we buy a home that's likely to keep us in the historically good schools for under $1 million? Or has the market just gotten that crazy?

Any advice appreciated

If you buy a home near Bethesda, you'll be zoned for MCPS. The schools are consistent and mostly interchangeable. There are minor differences on things like standardized test scores, but this is just a reflection of an area's SES. Your kid will do just as well at any of these schools so live in whatever area you like best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly is your main concern? The actual quality of the education at the school or property values? If it is property values, you'll need to pay the money and hope that nothing changes. If it is the quality of education, you have a lot more flexibility because many, many schools in MoCo offer a high-quality education--but you're going to have to set aside the "W" school mentality and start looking at the more detailed information on schools. Woodward--like most other schools in MoCo--will probably offer a fine education.

That is my question too.

Not the original poster, but I assume they are concerned about both the school quality AND the property value. They are parents and house buyers seeking out the MoCo schools forum.

They are "new parents" concerned about the "school quality" (whatever that even means) of a high school that hasn't even opened yet.

OP, take the advice of the top PP:

1. if you're concerned about property values, you will have to pay the money and hope nothing changes
2. if you're concerned about school quality, you can live in many places in the county where you don't have to pay $1 million for a detached house, because a lot of schools in MCPS provide a good education, and the Bethesda = good/everywhere else = bad reasoning is simply false. In fact, I'm inclined to say that the single most important factor in making a school a good school is the principal, and nobody should buy property based on who is currently the principal of a given school.

THIS. It's highly important for parents not to rely on Great School ratings. Here's a great article that explains why: https://www.chalkbeat.org/2019/12/5/21121858/looking-for-a-home-you-ve-seen-greatschools-ratings-here-s-how-they-nudge-families-toward-schools-wi
On the topic of great Principals- I 100% agree and can attest that as a parent who has had kids in a lower-rated school with a great principal and then moved to a higher-rated school with a terrible principal; I wanted to go back to the lower rated one in a heartbeat! My kids are now in HS (one of the lowest rated in MCPS), and truthfully, it is a warm and caring place and my kids are thriving there- academically and socially.

[Anonymous]

I am a DCC parent, and I think it is naive to say there are no differences amongst schools in Montgomery County, but, a lot of the biggest problems in MCPS have nothing to do with the student body at your school and have everything to do with curriculum and central administration.

If you want a specific high school buy within walking distance of it. I don't think any of the close-in school districts (MCPS, DCPS, PGPS, FCPS, ACPS, APS) are worth a $1,000,000+ housing investment. It is difficult to serve all students well in a county-wide system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a DCC parent, and I think it is naive to say there are no differences amongst schools in Montgomery County, but, a lot of the biggest problems in MCPS have nothing to do with the student body at your school and have everything to do with curriculum and central administration.

If you want a specific high school buy within walking distance of it. I don't think any of the close-in school districts (MCPS, DCPS, PGPS, FCPS, ACPS, APS) are worth a $1,000,000+ housing investment. It is difficult to serve all students well in a county-wide system.

Most every school district will have these issues with their curriculum, which is always evolving. The problems that MCPS faces on this front seem minor and, also as a DCC parent are easily overcome at home, so nothing that worries me personally. Changes to demographics driven by immigration impacts standardized test scores, and not everyone values the same things or has the same goals. The biggest thing that will impact your child's education is honestly you. It's what you do at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly is your main concern? The actual quality of the education at the school or property values? If it is property values, you'll need to pay the money and hope that nothing changes. If it is the quality of education, you have a lot more flexibility because many, many schools in MoCo offer a high-quality education--but you're going to have to set aside the "W" school mentality and start looking at the more detailed information on schools. Woodward--like most other schools in MoCo--will probably offer a fine education.

That is my question too.

Not the original poster, but I assume they are concerned about both the school quality AND the property value. They are parents and house buyers seeking out the MoCo schools forum.

They are "new parents" concerned about the "school quality" (whatever that even means) of a high school that hasn't even opened yet.

OP, take the advice of the top PP:

1. if you're concerned about property values, you will have to pay the money and hope nothing changes
2. if you're concerned about school quality, you can live in many places in the county where you don't have to pay $1 million for a detached house, because a lot of schools in MCPS provide a good education, and the Bethesda = good/everywhere else = bad reasoning is simply false. In fact, I'm inclined to say that the single most important factor in making a school a good school is the principal, and nobody should buy property based on who is currently the principal of a given school.

Yes, my DD is in a high FARMs hs and having an overall excellent experience. We are also very happy with the principal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a DCC parent, and I think it is naive to say there are no differences amongst schools in Montgomery County, but, a lot of the biggest problems in MCPS have nothing to do with the student body at your school and have everything to do with curriculum and central administration.

If you want a specific high school buy within walking distance of it. I don't think any of the close-in school districts (MCPS, DCPS, PGPS, FCPS, ACPS, APS) are worth a $1,000,000+ housing investment. It is difficult to serve all students well in a county-wide system.

I would add a clarification--walking distance as determined by MCPS.