Thinking of Moving to MoCo for schools - please advise

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. DH works near SW waterfront. So, was thinking River Road. Other parts of MoCo I should be thinking of? Really it is schools and commute. Hoping to spend less than $800,000

West Bethesda has a lot more driving options than just Wisconsin or conn ave. there's river road, Massachusetts, MacArthur, clarabarton, or hop to GW south.

Personally, I'd run the numbers on the various ever-rising income taxes (state+county), property taxes and the declining schools.

[Anonymous]

Definitely try the commute to SW first. We live off River in the Whitman cluster and commute downtown and to NoVa, which isn't terrible (although Arlington is easier than DC, frankly). I would be concerned about trying to get to Waterfront daily. Metro is not walkable from here. Also, I think getting a house big enough for 4 in this area for less than $800K would be challenging.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely try the commute to SW first. We live off River in the Whitman cluster and commute downtown and to NoVa, which isn't terrible (although Arlington is easier than DC, frankly). I would be concerned about trying to get to Waterfront daily. Metro is not walkable from here. Also, I think getting a house big enough for 4 in this area for less than $800K would be challenging.

Agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. DH works near SW waterfront. So, was thinking River Road. Other parts of MoCo I should be thinking of? Really it is schools and commute. Hoping to spend less than $800,000

http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/20817/price-500000-800000

$800,000 in bethesda is not going to get you what you think it will. Typically it will be a split level or ranch on a pretty small lot. May or may not have 2 full baths upstairs. Many will need renovation. That price range is really competitve in this area and the good listings frequently sell quickly.

If you are looking, and like a house, don't delay in putting in a bid. Unless it is a really bad house, most are going for full or over list price in that price range.

[Anonymous]

What would $800k get you in downtown Bethesda in terms of a condo? We are looking for 3 Br 2 ba ideally or larger 2 bedroom 2 bath. Don't need a townhouse or house -- condo is fine for us, and we would like to be near the metro and right by restaurants. (NP here, by the way)

[Anonymous]

Honestly I'd look at Arlington for that kind of commute. You probably can find similar prices for similar homes. And the schools are good. Not as overcrowded as MoCo. Though if you look in some of the wealthier areas of MoCo, overcrowding tends not to be an issue. That's an issue for the middle to lower income areas.

Plus taxes are lower and better activities, summer camps, etc. offered through the county. Definitely worth a look.

[Anonymous]

I am OP. Heck, we are living in 1300 square foot townhouse now. It does not take a lot to impress me. Is it safe to assume that all of the schools in the Whitman catchment area are good? I know one ES is slated for a major renovation next year...

[Anonymous]

Bethesda is an easy commute to your husband's work locale. It is probably a 20 minute commute with no traffic and about 40 with traffic. It will vary depending upon the time he leaves for work. Lots of Cap. hill families have made yhe move to Bethesda and have no regrets. The schools are so much better here. You are doing right by your kids. Good for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda is an easy commute to your husband's work locale. It is probably a 20 minute commute with no traffic and about 40 with traffic. It will vary depending upon the time he leaves for work. Lots of Cap. hill families have made yhe move to Bethesda and have no regrets. The schools are so much better here. You are doing right by your kids. Good for you.

Why are there so many complaints about the overcrowding and 2.0 curriculum in the schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda is an easy commute to your husband's work locale. It is probably a 20 minute commute with no traffic and about 40 with traffic. It will vary depending upon the time he leaves for work. Lots of Cap. hill families have made yhe move to Bethesda and have no regrets. The schools are so much better here. You are doing right by your kids. Good for you.

Why are there so many complaints about the overcrowding and 2.0 curriculum in the schools?

Some people like 2.0, some hate it. The haters tend to be quite passionate. Everyone I know IRL is fine with it.

Overcrowding means trailers, and school expansion projects. My DC is in an above capacity school and it doesn't have that much of an impact. It just means they hire more teachers to keep class sizes at the county standard.

A big difference in DC is that parents can buy additional teachers and resources. You can't do that in Moco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am OP. Heck, we are living in 1300 square foot townhouse now. It does not take a lot to impress me. Is it safe to assume that all of the schools in the Whitman catchment area are good? I know one ES is slated for a major renovation next year...

We are at Whitman and everyone seems to be happy with the elementary feeders. Not sure how different they really are.

[Anonymous]

What is "curriculum 2.0"? Thanks from a DC resident looking to move to Bethesda or Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda is an easy commute to your husband's work locale. It is probably a 20 minute commute with no traffic and about 40 with traffic. It will vary depending upon the time he leaves for work. Lots of Cap. hill families have made yhe move to Bethesda and have no regrets. The schools are so much better here. You are doing right by your kids. Good for you.

Why are there so many complaints about the overcrowding and 2.0 curriculum in the schools?

Some people like 2.0, some hate it. The haters tend to be quite passionate. Everyone I know IRL is fine with it.

Overcrowding means trailers, and school expansion projects. My DC is in an above capacity school and it doesn't have that much of an impact. It just means they hire more teachers to keep class sizes at the county standard.

A big difference in DC is that parents can buy additional teachers and resources. You can't do that in Moco.

People complain about overcrowded schools because they are overcrowded--at least in many but not all areas. See this thread: http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/385922.page

And there is no "county standard". Some classes have 20 or less, some have 25 plus. Some say larger class sizes don't impact learning (personally I disagree).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is "curriculum 2.0"? Thanks from a DC resident looking to move to Bethesda or Arlington.

Curriculum 2.0 is the Common Core-aligned elementary-school curriculum and the math curriculum for MCPS.

Be aware that there are many posters on DCUM who despise Curriculum 2.0, for various reasons, most of which have more to do with the posters' individual circumstances and beliefs than with Curriculum 2.0. My opinion is that there are problems with Curriculum 2.0 (there are problems with anything!), but overall, it's an improvement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is "curriculum 2.0"? Thanks from a DC resident looking to move to Bethesda or Arlington.

Curriculum 2.0 is the Common Core-aligned elementary-school curriculum and the math curriculum for MCPS.

Be aware that there are many posters on DCUM who despise Curriculum 2.0, for various reasons, most of which have more to do with the posters' individual circumstances and beliefs than with Curriculum 2.0. My opinion is that there are problems with Curriculum 2.0 (there are problems with anything!), but overall, it's an improvement.

Thanks! It doesn't sound that different from what they do at my DCPS.