Moving to DC area - where to live based on schools

[Anonymous]

Moving to DC area, either MD or VA. Fine with either as long as the schools are suitable for our DS who is going into 4th. ADHD and in special ed. Some social issues, but not on the spectrum....not that it matters either way. I just want him to have the best help possible.

So, if your SN child is in public in MD or VA:
1) where do you live?
2) do you like your child's school? and if so, which school is it?
3)Do you like the SPED program? do you wish you were at another school?


We will be moving in the next month so need to make a decision quickly. Will be renting to start with but we will buy in the same school district that we will be renting in so the decision will be a permanent one.

Luckily, I am from the DC area so am very well aware of the various nuances of living in MoCo, Fairfax, Arlington counties but have never had an SN child in a sped program in any of these counties.


Thanks in advance!!!

[Anonymous]

I read last week that MD is requiring all SN kids to go mainstream, so that's probably your best bet.

[Anonymous]

wow!! can you reference that article anywhere. would love to read it. thanks!

But I wonder if that's good or bad. why are they requiring it? is it a budget issue?

[Anonymous]

I vote for Fairfax County. I have a 7 year old son with ADHD (and maybe Asperger's) who is entering second grade. He is in a mainstream class and gets pulled out for a small part of the day for small group instruction. He is doing well and I've been pleased with the SpEd. staff at his school. They recognize that he needs extra help, but they don't coddle him too much either.

[Anonymous]

Crap. It was a headline I saw in the Washington Examiner the other day as I walked by one of the news boxes. I don't know much more than that.

Of course, take pretty much everything the Washington Examiner says with a few grains of salt. It's not really a credible publication.

[Anonymous]

I think you'd do equally well with FCPS, MCPS and ACPS so the next thing to consider is what kind of specialists would your DC be seeing on a regular basis. I can't speak for MD or Arlington but Fairfax (as in Fairfax City) has LOTS of specialists. If your DC has some significant needs, you might consider that area. Of course, not matter where you're looking, you need to consider the work commute.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax County has been great for my ASD 2nd grader. Very pleased with process and the services and teachers.

[Anonymous]

Subscribe to Mcneeds (it's a yahoo group). it will give you an idea of what's going on in Montgomery County. Of course, keep in mind that those who usually post are the ones who are the most disgruntled. There are people who are happy. Is your dc coming in with an IEP? I think that helps a lot.

[Anonymous]

It might help to know what kinds of services your son currently receives that you would most like to see carried forward into his new school. County schools seem to do quite well handling some issues, but not so well with others.

[Anonymous]

I agree about being closer to the specialists and therapists your child will need. Schools are such a crapshoot, even within a particular county.

DD has ADHD and anxiety with a 504 and her school services in MCPS are ok, not great.

[Anonymous]

OP here. DH has an IEP, and is currenty in a self-contained classroom due to his LDs impulsivity and social immaturity. I don't like him being in a self contained class because he's the kind of kid that learns by example...and he is not being exposed to examples of age appropriate behavior in his current class.

He has ADHD, exec functioning, auditory processing issues. he is very capable of producing good work and learning it just takes him longer - hence the classroom setting. he is learning all the same stuff other kids in his grade but at a slower pace.

The areas of DC we are looking to move into are (in order of preferance):
1) Bethesda
2) McLean
3) Arlington
4) Great Falls
5) Potomac

Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I read last week that MD is requiring all SN kids to go mainstream, so that's probably your best bet.

Actually I believe the articles noted were about DC and not MD

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/more-dc-special-ed-students-attending-public-schools/2012/07/16/gJQAC13YpW_story.html

http://washingtonexaminer.com/parents-dcps-forcing-special-needs-kids-into-unfit-public-schools/article/2502132

[Anonymous]

If your child can work on grade level, I doubt Montgomery County would use a self-contained classroom. The self-contained classrooms are limited, I understand, to children with more intensive needs. That said, I'm not sure what support level you would get through Montgomery County. Perhaps others can answer.

[Anonymous]

OP -- where are you moving here from?

[Anonymous]

We're in Arlington and my son (8yo) has ADHD and a learning disability (he's dyslexic) along with some anxiety issues. We've been very very happy with the services we've gotten at our elementary school (Nottingham). The main SpEd teacher is great and really goes above and beyond to help our son. In addition to that, it's a really strong "regular" elementary school, and I have no concerns about sending my other child there who will not need SpEd services.