Moving to the DC/NoVA/Maryland area....

[Anonymous]

My job is bringing me to the area for 18 months. I have an 8yo and a 12yo son and daughter. We've been looking for houses/apartments to rent in the area, mainly focusing in Vienna and Falls Church because of the school systems. I haven't looked into Maryland yet. In doing my due diligence, I've found this forum. Any suggestions on where to look, school system-wise in Maryland? Because my wife is expecting number three, I'm looking for something within walking distance of the metro (job takes me downtown DC). Our budget is anywhere between $2200 and $2900.

thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My job is bringing me to the area for 18 months. I have an 8yo and a 12yo son and daughter. We've been looking for houses/apartments to rent in the area, mainly focusing in Vienna and Falls Church because of the school systems. I haven't looked into Maryland yet. In doing my due diligence, I've found this forum. Any suggestions on where to look, school system-wise in Maryland? Because my wife is expecting number three, I'm looking for something within walking distance of the metro (job takes me downtown DC). Our budget is anywhere between $2200 and $2900.

thanks in advance!

Is the budget amount for rent only or does it also need to cover utilities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My job is bringing me to the area for 18 months. I have an 8yo and a 12yo son and daughter. We've been looking for houses/apartments to rent in the area, mainly focusing in Vienna and Falls Church because of the school systems. I haven't looked into Maryland yet. In doing my due diligence, I've found this forum. Any suggestions on where to look, school system-wise in Maryland? Because my wife is expecting number three, I'm looking for something within walking distance of the metro (job takes me downtown DC). Our budget is anywhere between $2200 and $2900.

thanks in advance!

Looking at VA is smart. They are building public transportation (rail), have good schools, and are creating new HOV lanes for travel. Montgomery County schools are mediocre and worsening, taxes are going up, unions are trying to get taxing authority through their surrogate Board of Education and downhill seems to be the operative word. I'd pick Virginia hands down.

[Anonymous]

In both VA and MD, the quality of the schools varies greatly with the location. For MoCo elementary schools, you will probably not want to try for immersion and gifted programs given your kids' ages relative to the testing/lottery dates.

In general, very broad brush, schools to the west of the county tend to do better on the state tests, but sometimes lack diversity if that's important to you. You can find data on individual schools at the MCPS website.

Ignore the crazy anti-union poster. We all laugh at her. I'm sure you're smart enough to understand nuance in school choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My job is bringing me to the area for 18 months. I have an 8yo and a 12yo son and daughter. We've been looking for houses/apartments to rent in the area, mainly focusing in Vienna and Falls Church because of the school systems. I haven't looked into Maryland yet. In doing my due diligence, I've found this forum. Any suggestions on where to look, school system-wise in Maryland? Because my wife is expecting number three, I'm looking for something within walking distance of the metro (job takes me downtown DC). Our budget is anywhere between $2200 and $2900.

thanks in advance!

Looking at VA is smart. They are building public transportation (rail), have good schools, and are creating new HOV lanes for travel. Montgomery County schools are mediocre and worsening, taxes are going up, unions are trying to get taxing authority through their surrogate Board of Education and downhill seems to be the operative word. I'd pick Virginia hands down.

Looks like poster at 18:03 is an union troll. Google for Washington Post articles on the MoCo unions and you would get an opinion on MOCO unions from a very liberal newspaper. But, this is not about unions or name calling by union trolls--it should be about the best education for your child. Look at the quality of education in a county I love through measures such as MSAs and decide for yourself.

Ask the union trolls to produce evidence that MCPS is anything but average or below.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My job is bringing me to the area for 18 months. I have an 8yo and a 12yo son and daughter. We've been looking for houses/apartments to rent in the area, mainly focusing in Vienna and Falls Church because of the school systems. I haven't looked into Maryland yet. In doing my due diligence, I've found this forum. Any suggestions on where to look, school system-wise in Maryland? Because my wife is expecting number three, I'm looking for something within walking distance of the metro (job takes me downtown DC). Our budget is anywhere between $2200 and $2900.

thanks in advance!

Looking at VA is smart. They are building public transportation (rail), have good schools, and are creating new HOV lanes for travel. Montgomery County schools are mediocre and worsening, taxes are going up, unions are trying to get taxing authority through their surrogate Board of Education and downhill seems to be the operative word. I'd pick Virginia hands down.

Looks like poster at 18:03 is an union troll. Google for Washington Post articles on the MoCo unions and you would get an opinion on MOCO unions from a very liberal newspaper. But, this is not about unions or name calling by union trolls--it should be about the best education for your child. Look at the quality of education in a county I love through measures such as MSAs and decide for yourself.

Ask the union trolls to produce evidence that MCPS is anything but average or below.

+1. Want to read about the quality of education at MCPS schools? Here we go: http://www.gazette.net/article/20120723/NEWS/707239973/1022/newport-mill-parents-push-for-academic-rigor-at-kensington-school&template=gazette.

"Academic rigor" is not a term you'd equate with the new MCPS. Join us in demanding a rigorous education from the union run school.

[Anonymous]

Important to know if you're from out of town: In this area, school districts are the entire county. So Montgomery County Public Schools is one school system and one tax pool, and it's very large. Walking distance" to metro may be hard to find, but you may want to check out Rockville or Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

OP - I wouldn't base your decision about Maryland based on the comments on this forum. There are several posters who have negative things to say no matter what topic comes up. Both Virginia and Maryland have nice areas with good schools. Do you own research.

[Anonymous]

OP-do your own research. Agree with 19:31 that you should Google for WaPo articles on MCPS and unions. Google the Gazette, look up parent organizations.

Even in the paper don't take the word of MCPS mouthpieces that regularly tout the party line. A really good source of the decline of MCPS education is the Bridge to Excellence reports.

Do you know MCPS Superintendent has his own TV show promoting himself? Do you know they have their own multimillion dollar PR department? Ask yourself why a good school system would need a PR department.

Research enough to decide if MCPS is about the children. Seriously, do a thorough research and THEN decide.

[Anonymous]

Oh for heaven's sake. I'm 18:03 and I'm not a union troll. Nor am I a teacher or administrator in public or private schools anywhere. Nor do I have any connection at all with the MCPS school system except that I send my kids there. More like, there is 1 DCUM poster who is part of the tea party "blame unions not Wall Street" brigade and thinks every thread on MCPS or Metro presents a wonderful new opportunity to rant about unions.

Has our experience been perfect? No. But we tried private school and that wasn't perfect either. Schools and your kids' teachers will be uneven. Starr and his predecessor have been unfriendly to magnet programs. And yes, over-focussed on self-promotion. (Although you can ignore 20:17 who apparently thinks a newbie will fall for the silly canard about Starr's TV show, although this has been rebutted on DCUM many times before. Many schools in MoCo have their own TV studios so the kids can do little "news shows" before school starts every morning.) I'm not a big fan of Starr for various reasons having to do with academic programming -- but let's focus on objective, deserved criticism instead of silliness about TV shows, OK?

OP, schools vary terrifically within Montgomery County which, as a PP pointed out, covers a big geographic area. If you have a particular school in mind, or a particular part of the county, I would recommend asking a focused question. Then you'll get some useful information on specific points.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh for heaven's sake. I'm 18:03 and I'm not a union troll. Nor am I a teacher or administrator in public or private schools anywhere. Nor do I have any connection at all with the MCPS school system except that I send my kids there. More like, there is 1 DCUM poster who is part of the tea party "blame unions not Wall Street" brigade and thinks every thread on MCPS or Metro presents a wonderful new opportunity to rant about unions.

Has our experience been perfect? No. But we tried private school and that wasn't perfect either. Schools and your kids' teachers will be uneven. Starr and his predecessor have been unfriendly to magnet programs. And yes, over-focussed on self-promotion. (Although you can ignore 20:17 who apparently thinks a newbie will fall for the silly canard about Starr's TV show, although this has been rebutted on DCUM many times before. Many schools in MoCo have their own TV studios so the kids can do little "news shows" before school starts every morning.) I'm not a big fan of Starr for various reasons having to do with academic programming -- but let's focus on objective, deserved criticism instead of silliness about TV shows, OK?

OP, schools vary terrifically within Montgomery County which, as a PP pointed out, covers a big geographic area. If you have a particular school in mind, or a particular part of the county, I would recommend asking a focused question. Then you'll get some useful information on specific points.

We'd believe your claims made while hiding behind the mass of anonymity because?

OP travel through the county and look at the privates building even in this tough economy and you'll know where parents are heading. Somewhere on the internet ... maybe on the MCPS website ... I saw the change in demographics. Honestly, I think parents are leaving.

The poster equates students doing their own TV shows (as part of class requirements) with the new super using tax money to run a TV program featuring ... drum roll please ... himself. That said, the poster agrees MCPS is " over-focussed on self-promotion" and admits (s)he is "not a big fan of Starr for various reasons having to do with academic programming."

Just do your own research and make up your own mind.

[Anonymous]

OP, if you haven't already decided that we're all nuts and you're heading for Virginia... feel free to cut through the mud-slinging to ask some specific, focused questions about parts of MoCo or specific schools. There are some great schools here, and some not-so-great schools, and a targeted question is more likely to elicit helpful comments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh for heaven's sake. I'm 18:03 and I'm not a union troll. Nor am I a teacher or administrator in public or private schools anywhere. Nor do I have any connection at all with the MCPS school system except that I send my kids there. More like, there is 1 DCUM poster who is part of the tea party "blame unions not Wall Street" brigade and thinks every thread on MCPS or Metro presents a wonderful new opportunity to rant about unions.

Has our experience been perfect? No. But we tried private school and that wasn't perfect either. Schools and your kids' teachers will be uneven. Starr and his predecessor have been unfriendly to magnet programs. And yes, over-focussed on self-promotion. (Although you can ignore 20:17 who apparently thinks a newbie will fall for the silly canard about Starr's TV show, although this has been rebutted on DCUM many times before. Many schools in MoCo have their own TV studios so the kids can do little "news shows" before school starts every morning.) I'm not a big fan of Starr for various reasons having to do with academic programming -- but let's focus on objective, deserved criticism instead of silliness about TV shows, OK?

OP, schools vary terrifically within Montgomery County which, as a PP pointed out, covers a big geographic area. If you have a particular school in mind, or a particular part of the county, I would recommend asking a focused question. Then you'll get some useful information on specific points.

We'd believe your claims made while hiding behind the mass of anonymity because?

NP here, and you are a little off the edge, pot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh for heaven's sake. I'm 18:03 and I'm not a union troll. Nor am I a teacher or administrator in public or private schools anywhere. Nor do I have any connection at all with the MCPS school system except that I send my kids there. More like, there is 1 DCUM poster who is part of the tea party "blame unions not Wall Street" brigade and thinks every thread on MCPS or Metro presents a wonderful new opportunity to rant about unions.

Has our experience been perfect? No. But we tried private school and that wasn't perfect either. Schools and your kids' teachers will be uneven. Starr and his predecessor have been unfriendly to magnet programs. And yes, over-focussed on self-promotion. (Although you can ignore 20:17 who apparently thinks a newbie will fall for the silly canard about Starr's TV show, although this has been rebutted on DCUM many times before. Many schools in MoCo have their own TV studios so the kids can do little "news shows" before school starts every morning.) I'm not a big fan of Starr for various reasons having to do with academic programming -- but let's focus on objective, deserved criticism instead of silliness about TV shows, OK?

OP, schools vary terrifically within Montgomery County which, as a PP pointed out, covers a big geographic area. If you have a particular school in mind, or a particular part of the county, I would recommend asking a focused question. Then you'll get some useful information on specific points.

We'd believe your claims made while hiding behind the mass of anonymity because?

NP here, and you are a little off the edge, pot.

The sad thing is, OP is trying to make real decisions about real kids. But instead OP is getting a page of bizarre posts about how the Washington Post is very liberal (bwahahaha!), unions, and masks of anonymity.

[Anonymous]

I'd stick to VA, but take a look around Bethesda on the Red Line.