Chevy Chase MD Schools/Commute

[Anonymous]

Hi - looking for advice. We currently live in Southern MD, work in/near Capitol Hill and bring our two kids into DC with us for private school/preschool. As the kids get older, we are liking less and less the effect commuting has on their lifestyle so we are thinking of moving to a close-in suburb so that they can go to a neighborhood public school. So far, Chevy Chase (MD) is at the top of the list b/c it has lots of families, parks, good schools, and seems to have a good sense of community. But before we shell out that kind of dough for a much smaller house, I'd like to know whether those who live in CC think the schools are worth it from K all the way through 12 and whether the commute to Capitol Hill is going to drive me crazy in the long-run. Thanks so much.

[Anonymous]

One thing to realize is that CC kids are bussed (sp?) to Rosemary Hills in Silver Spring for grades K-2

[Anonymous]

PP - that is not true for all of CC!! CC West (which is just north of Somerset along Wisconsin ave) goes to Somerset elementary.

My kids aren't in elem yet, so I can't comment on K-12, although I've heard fabulous things about Somerset, good things about BCC, and only OK things about the middle school (west moreland, I think)

As for the commute - I drive in to SW every day, just a few blocks from the Capitol. It takes me between 25-30 minutes (I leave around 7:30). I go from Mass Ave to Rock Creek. Easy as could be. From further east in Chevy Chase village, you could just get onto Beach Drive. You will LOVE the commute compared to what you're doing now.

[Anonymous]

Also the neighborhood East of Beach sends kids to Rock Creek Forest Elementary, even though it is closer to Rosemary Hills than the rest of CC (!@#$%!!!).

I think the commute is pretty good. I work downtown and go a combination of Beach Drive and 16th Street. On a good day, I can be at McPherson Sq. in 20 minutes. The best part of the commute from MD is that there are always alternates if traffic is bad on one street, if you know your way around, or have a good map, you can always find ways to get around traffic. I also take the Metro from either SS or Bethesda and that is often faster than driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP - that is not true for all of CC!! CC West (which is just north of Somerset along Wisconsin ave) goes to Somerset elementary. My kids aren't in elem yet, so I can't comment on K-12, although I've heard fabulous things about Somerset, good things about BCC, and only OK things about the middle school (west moreland, I think)

The middle school is Westbrook. Have heard OK-to-not-so-good things about it (mainly from a social perspective)....which is the main reason we opted out. One good thing, however, is the IB program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP - that is not true for all of CC!! CC West (which is just north of Somerset along Wisconsin ave) goes to Somerset elementary. My kids aren't in elem yet, so I can't comment on K-12, although I've heard fabulous things about Somerset, good things about BCC, and only OK things about the middle school (west moreland, I think)

The middle school is Westbrook. Have heard OK-to-not-so-good things about it (mainly from a social perspective)....which is the main reason we opted out. One good thing, however, is the IB program.

...sorry, Westland (not Westbrook)

[Anonymous]

Note that Beach Drive has a couple of congestion points that get pretty backed up during peak traffic hours, particularly going into DC. Between 8 and 930am we avoid Beach Drive for a commute into Dupont. As a PP said, there are lots of back roads you can find and even if the time is the same the headaches are a bit fewer. Off-peak hours we can get from CC to DUpont in 15 minutes, which is actually closer than when we lived on the Hill.

The schools are all pretty great by reputation. Yes, as the PP noted, many CC kids go to K-2 at Rosemary Hills which is technically just over the line in Silver Spring (horrors!!) and actually has some ESOL and free-lunch students, God forbid. Shockingly enough, the school is actually quite good. Somerset has a better rep, no doubt, and a lot less diverse. The middle school seems to be the focus of some parental angst, but I've heard parents say that some of this is related to the age range as much as the school per se...

[Anonymous]

Can you say more about Westland? Will you be opting back in for high school, or have you opted out for good? Did your child(ren) go to Somerset? How was that experience? (Not the OP but facing some similar questions.)

[Anonymous]

I love somerset but good luck finding a house there. Either it is modern monstrosity or a 2M beauty. Or a tiny rambler that backs into a high rise. We looked for years but finally bought in chevy chase, dc and love it. I hear not good things about Westland. That is the weak link in the schools in that area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love somerset but good luck finding a house there. Either it is modern monstrosity or a 2M beauty. Or a tiny rambler that backs into a high rise. We looked for years but finally bought in chevy chase, dc and love it. I hear not good things about Westland. That is the weak link in the schools in that area.

I'm in Somerset -- in a tiny rambler I bought 10 years ago and am now hanging onto for life. Don't know how the rash of young families that have recently moved into the neighborhood are doing it. We have years to think about schooling but am interested in getting the scoop early, particularly regarding the apparent issues with Westland. Can anyone elaborate? Also, everyone says Somerset Elementary is "great" and I relied on that when I moved here but now that we actually have a child I would like to understand better what "great" actually means.