Wood MS and Rockville HS- what do you think?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

PP- would you please explain why you'd rather be in Olney (I'm assuming Sherwood) or RM vs Rockville High? My husband and I are looking at Sherwood and Rockville as well.

I am not the PP you're asking, but I'm guessing that the explanation is:

1. the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
2. the Rockville High School cluster is poorer and has more black and Hispanic students than the Richard Montgomery or Sherwood High School clusters.

But probably mostly #2. In the DCUM mind, there is a very high correlation between "good schools" and schools with few poor/black and Hispanic students.

Well people tend to talk about Richard Montgomery like its better than Rockville and that PP mentioned theyd rather be in RM or Olney over Rockville HS....but I believe RM has more black/hispanic students than Rockville HS does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

PP- would you please explain why you'd rather be in Olney (I'm assuming Sherwood) or RM vs Rockville High? My husband and I are looking at Sherwood and Rockville as well.

I am not the PP you're asking, but I'm guessing that the explanation is:

1. the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
2. the Rockville High School cluster is poorer and has more black and Hispanic students than the Richard Montgomery or Sherwood High School clusters.

But probably mostly #2. In the DCUM mind, there is a very high correlation between "good schools" and schools with few poor/black and Hispanic students.

Well people tend to talk about Richard Montgomery like its better than Rockville and that PP mentioned theyd rather be in RM or Olney over Rockville HS....but I believe RM has more black/hispanic students than Rockville HS does.

PP... actually maybe not more, but very similar numbers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

PP... actually maybe not more, but very similar numbers.

Not really. Rockville HS 33% FARMS, 51% ever FARMS, 39% Hispanic, 13% black. Richard Montgomery HS 18% FARMS, 36% ever FARMS, 23% Hispanic, 15% black. For all that some people on DCUM talk about Richard Montgomery like it's MS-13 High, it's actually one of MCPS's more affluent high schools.

For comparison, here are the same numbers for my kid's high school, Clarksburg HS: 30% FARMS, 50% ever FARMS, 27% Hispanic, 28% black.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

PP... actually maybe not more, but very similar numbers.

Not really. Rockville HS 33% FARMS, 51% ever FARMS, 39% Hispanic, 13% black. Richard Montgomery HS 18% FARMS, 36% ever FARMS, 23% Hispanic, 15% black. For all that some people on DCUM talk about Richard Montgomery like it's MS-13 High, it's actually one of MCPS's more affluent high schools.

For comparison, here are the same numbers for my kid's high school, Clarksburg HS: 30% FARMS, 50% ever FARMS, 27% Hispanic, 28% black.

Sorry- what is "ever" farms? Im sure I know and just slow this morning?!

[Anonymous]

ever FARMS means that you are on FARMS now and/or you were on FARMS at some point while in MCPS. For example, if you were on FARMS last year, but this year your family has a higher income, then you wouldn't be included in the FARMS % (because you're not on FARMS this year), but you would be included in the ever FARMS %(because you were on FARMS at some point while in MCPS).

[Anonymous]

I'm not surprised about RM's reputation as the better school over Rockville for a couple of reasons- Lower farms rate and magnet program. I am however surprised that many people in DCUM would prefer Sherwood over Rockville given that Sherwood's ratings are lower in greatschool, niche, U.S. News, etc..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ever FARMS means that you are on FARMS now and/or you were on FARMS at some point while in MCPS. For example, if you were on FARMS last year, but this year your family has a higher income, then you wouldn't be included in the FARMS % (because you're not on FARMS this year), but you would be included in the ever FARMS %(because you were on FARMS at some point while in MCPS).

Not the PP but I was wondering the same thing.

Interesting! I grew up poor, so I have zero issues with FARMS kids, but I will say that it leads to a 'less affluent' school. 51% seems pretty high!

[Anonymous]

Pretty high compared to what?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ever FARMS means that you are on FARMS now and/or you were on FARMS at some point while in MCPS. For example, if you were on FARMS last year, but this year your family has a higher income, then you wouldn't be included in the FARMS % (because you're not on FARMS this year), but you would be included in the ever FARMS %(because you were on FARMS at some point while in MCPS).

Not the PP but I was wondering the same thing.

Interesting! I grew up poor, so I have zero issues with FARMS kids, but I will say that it leads to a 'less affluent' school. 51% seems pretty high!

Agreed it does seem high especially when some feeder elementary schools are coming from neighborhoods of houses in the 6's.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ever FARMS means that you are on FARMS now and/or you were on FARMS at some point while in MCPS. For example, if you were on FARMS last year, but this year your family has a higher income, then you wouldn't be included in the FARMS % (because you're not on FARMS this year), but you would be included in the ever FARMS %(because you were on FARMS at some point while in MCPS).

Not the PP but I was wondering the same thing.

Interesting! I grew up poor, so I have zero issues with FARMS kids, but I will say that it leads to a 'less affluent' school. 51% seems pretty high!

Agreed it does seem high especially when some feeder elementary schools are coming from neighborhoods of houses in the 6's.

enrollment, FARMS/ever-FARMS % for 2015-2016

Earle B. Wood MS: 970, 36/51
Barnsley ES (includes special programs): 710, 28/36
Flower Valley ES: 496, 28/34
Maryvale ES: 620, 42/48
Meadow Hall ES: 462, 54/62
Rock Creek Valley ES: 435, 31/41

[Anonymous]

Hey OP, my husband and I bought in the Rockville district a year ago (Barnsely ES) and LOVE IT. You will consistently hear that RM is a better school, but there are two reasons we chose the area over RM's area: 1) we LOVE our neighborhood. The beautiful old trees, style of houses, etc. Just seemed like a place we'd want to raise kids. (Alternatively, we didn't like the neighborhoods we could afford in the RM district -- didn't seem like the neighbors interacted as much, smaller plots of land, less "homey") 2) We love the idea of the small, tight-knit community that Rockville HS offers. I am a Whitman grad, and much prefer to have the neighbors that I do here than I would back in the community I grew up in. As someone previously mentioned, a lot of original owners in the area are moving out and lots of young families are moving in. We've created such an amazing little family of neighbors in just the one year we've been here. The neighborhood pool is a great place to meet people and make friends! Oh, and as far as Olney is concerned, the commute sucks into DC, so definitely keep that in mind if you work downtown.

If I had your budget I'd probably move directly into Flower Valley, but for now we're happy where we are and will hopefully be able to buy a larger house in FV in 10 years

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

That area does have some lovely neighborhoods. We opted for an RM neighborhood due to the convenience of being on 270 in less than 5 minutes and the metro also less than 5 minutes. 28 is terrible at rush hour...and also live in a nice wooded neighborhood with a pool and active moms groups etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey OP, my husband and I bought in the Rockville district a year ago (Barnsely ES) and LOVE IT. You will consistently hear that RM is a better school, but there are two reasons we chose the area over RM's area: 1) we LOVE our neighborhood. The beautiful old trees, style of houses, etc. Just seemed like a place we'd want to raise kids. (Alternatively, we didn't like the neighborhoods we could afford in the RM district -- didn't seem like the neighbors interacted as much, smaller plots of land, less "homey") 2) We love the idea of the small, tight-knit community that Rockville HS offers. I am a Whitman grad, and much prefer to have the neighbors that I do here than I would back in the community I grew up in. As someone previously mentioned, a lot of original owners in the area are moving out and lots of young families are moving in. We've created such an amazing little family of neighbors in just the one year we've been here. The neighborhood pool is a great place to meet people and make friends! Oh, and as far as Olney is concerned, the commute sucks into DC, so definitely keep that in mind if you work downtown.

If I had your budget I'd probably move directly into Flower Valley, but for now we're happy where we are and will hopefully be able to buy a larger house in FV in 10 years

Good luck!

Thanks so much for sharing this feedback! Very good to hear!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That area does have some lovely neighborhoods. We opted for an RM neighborhood due to the convenience of being on 270 in less than 5 minutes and the metro also less than 5 minutes. 28 is terrible at rush hour...and also live in a nice wooded neighborhood with a pool and active moms groups etc

Hi PP- can you share which RM neighborhood or at least which elem school? Active moms group is something I definitely will want!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That area does have some lovely neighborhoods. We opted for an RM neighborhood due to the convenience of being on 270 in less than 5 minutes and the metro also less than 5 minutes. 28 is terrible at rush hour...and also live in a nice wooded neighborhood with a pool and active moms groups etc

Hi PP- can you share which RM neighborhood or at least which elem school? Active moms group is something I definitely will want!

I think generally the most active moms group are in the CGES group. Beall probably also has good activity. I live in RPES district, which I think could use some more parent activity, but it's improving. Keep in mind that the ENTIRE elementary school districts are being redone for the cluster now.