Kensington?

[Anonymous]

I don't know much about Kensington but it seems to get many positive reviews as a place to live in this forum. We are moving to Maryland this summer to be closer to our jobs and are considering Kensington. We'd like a neighborhood that is walkable (to restuarants, stores) with a good sense of community. Does Kensington meet these needs? And what about safety and the public high school? What areas/streets are good? Thanks a lot for any information!

[Anonymous]

The thing to watch for with Kensington is that some of the town is zoned for Einstein High School (bad) and some is zoned for Walter Johnson (good). I'm not positive, but I think the area of Kensington that is walkable to stores (basically along Connecticut Avenue and some side streets) is zoned for Einstein. You might want to look at Garrett Park.

[Anonymous]

What High School does Garrett Park go to? Are there stores/restaurants to walk to?

[Anonymous]

Garrett Park feeds to Walter Johnson, which is apparently one of the most desirable HS around here. Not sure why Einstein is considered such a bad high school though.

Do note that houses in the Town of Kensington, which has its own mayor, is considerably more expensive than outside it, which is also called Kensington. (600k+ homes).

Also, North Kensington, which is north of where Connecticut and University Boulevard separate, is also called Kensington on the map, but quite a bit cheaper. (300-400k homes).

[Anonymous]

Portions of some of the nicest neighborhoods in Kensington (i.e., Rock Creek Hills) are zoned for B-CC High School.

[Anonymous]

You can see the maps on the Montgomery County Schools website, but the Kensington area includes three different high schools: the Town of Kensington and Kensington Parkwood goes to Walter Johnson High School, parts of South Kensington go to Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, and North Kensington and Kensington Heights go to Einstein High School. They are all relatively walkable to the small downtown area, with some parts closer than others.

There is a significant housing price difference among, on one hand, the more expensive BCC/Walter Johnson part and, on the other hand, the less expensive Einstein part. I live in the Einstein part and we have loved our elementary school (Oakland Terrace), our location, our neighbors, everything. It's full of young families and has lots of parks and is ideal in everything except for those people (like above) who tell me that Einstein is BAD. The fact is that Einstein draws many more low-income students than the other Kensington schools, so its average test scores are lower. It also draws from neighborhoods with many more Hispanic students. I have no idea if my kids will like the high school because they're not there yet. But if you value diversity in a neighborhood you will want to look at the north part because the other parts are almost all white. And you also can get more house for your money over on the north side.

[Anonymous]

I really like Kensington but, depending on your budget, it probably would not be my first choice for walkability (in fact wanting more walkability was a big reason we didn't really look there).

[Anonymous]

The little downtown area has a new grocery store, a handful of take-out restaurants, a hardware store, that kind of thing, and of course all those antique shops. The MARC train is easily walkable, and possibly a couple of metros but it would be a mile or so.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the problem is a lack of restaurants in Kensington...but there's no lack of gas stations! And now there's a huge new parking lot!

[Anonymous]

Parts are also zoned for BCC, a great school. I think that may include the historic downtown area (but check, I don't know for sure.) That would be walkable to some shops (antiques, garden stuff, etc.) plus a large somewhat newly renovated Safeway. The rest of Kensington is pretty suburban, but there are lovely neighborhoods. If you're looking for a good public school, look for the neighborhoods that are zoned either for WJ or BCC.

[Anonymous]

Kensington is a nice family friendly area. Einstein is the best school, but overall its decent. The elementary schools are all very good. Some sections are fancier than others, but I prefer the less "fancy" as its far more down to earth with people taking walks and all year round you see people out and about.

The downside is the lack of restaurants and general shopping. It sucks as they are talking about putting in a closer Walmart and Kohls in Aspen Hill and people who don't even live nearby are trying to fight it. It will be great when the Costco finally arrives.

[Anonymous]

Walkable to the Jiffy lube.

[Anonymous]

Costco is coming to Kensington???

[Anonymous]

You might want to consider close-in areas of Silver Spring...definitely more walkable than the areas of Kensington zoned for the better schools, easier commute to downtown DC (if that's a consideration), but schools that are better than Einstein.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Costco is coming to Kensington???

Wheaton Plaza...hopefully without the accompanying gas station.