Potomac clusters

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love out school - Bells Mill Elementary. Check it out -- small, great staff, nice facility (new).

Also heard great things about Bells Mill. Goes to Cabin John Middle and Churchill. Windsor/Fox Hills area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a big cheating scandel at potomac es a few years back. all the high schools in the bethesda potomac area are fine. churchill had the changing of the grades and fights a few years ago, whitman just had the alcohol thing plus drug issues, b-cc had color day issues and wooton has many asians who are good in tennis

It was more than a few years back. It was in 2000. Lots has changed since then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love out school - Bells Mill Elementary. Check it out -- small, great staff, nice facility (new).

Also heard great things about Bells Mill. Goes to Cabin John Middle and Churchill. Windsor/Fox Hills area.

We have friends at Churchill who say kids coming from Hoover are significantly better academically prepared than the Cabin John kids. Non-Asian parents with kids taking Chinese at Churchill have claimed their kids did not learn the same things the Hoover kids did. I think Hoover has a Chinese immersion middle school program.

Having said that, take it all with a grain of salt. They are all good schools with involved parents. You can't go wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beverly Farms is an excellent school. The new facility is amazing. The staff and administration work hard and welcome parent volunteers.

From my family's experience, I would advise avoid moving into Beverly Farms. The staff is terrible and it has a very unwelcoming and unpleasant atmosphere for students and parents. We unfortunately have had our kids there for many years. My youngest is still in the school for a few more years but wants to move so he can go to another elementary school. My kids who are at Hoover said kids from Wayside and Potomac were much better prepared in subjects like science and social studies.

Hoover has been great but the principal changed jobs this summer and was promoted to principal at Rockville HS. The new principal at Hoover will be the principal at Wayside Elementary. From the Wayside parents perspective, they were really happy with the job she did there and that probably was a factor in her promotion to principal at Hoover.

If you are looking strictly at the BEST academic preparation, send to Wayside or Potomac or Cold Spring. If you are looking for a general positive school environment and good academic preparation, any of the Bethesda/Potomac schools will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Carderock Springs has a fabulous reputation. The students come from both Bethesda and Potomac.

+1.

[Anonymous]

Not in Potomac cluster but really you cannot go wrong there. Amazing schools but even more amazing peers that will give you child a great environment to learn. Only draw back I see is the eventual competition to get into the highest colleges but overall worth the trade for the education. Was looking at Hoover where like 80% of the students make Honor Roll. No, this isn't grade inflation, the kids are really that smart. That is what I miss being in a not so good cluster, the stimulation that the peer group naturally provides. All these schools mentioned are great -- CSES, Wayside, Seven Locks, Potomac, and goes on!

[Anonymous]

Yes it is grade inflation when 80% make the honor role. There should be no honor is being in the 79% percentile of your class. Julius West has about 75% on the honor role. A celebration of nothing much. I am not saying it is not a great school but that is not how we should measure greatness in 2013.