Choosing between 2 Mont Co neigborhoods/schools

[Anonymous]

Two adjacent neighborhoods with different elementary schools. Both feed to the same MS and HS.

School/Neighborhood A:

*Housing budget goes further. Could probably afford 3-4 bedroom house, about 2000 sq feet, yard, reasonably updated
*Families in our peer group generally happy with ES though it doesn't have as strong of a reputation as School B
*School has smaller classes - average is about 16-17
*School has higher rates of FARMS and ESOL and generally lower test scores
*Test scores among whites about equal to test scores among whites in School B
*Whites are minority in the school, about 15% (Before the flames start throwing - we chose this area bc we value diversity but are admittedly a little uncomfortable that our child might be the only white kid in his class)

School/Neighborhood B:

*Houses are more expensive. Could probably afford 3 bedroom house, less than 1500 sq feet, small yard, need to be updated
*Families are generally happy with the ES
*Class sizes are larger - average 20-25
*School has overall higher test scores
*Wealthier school population = more active PTA = more fundraising = more "special activities"
*Whites are about 35% of school population


Which would you choose? Bonus points if you can correctly identify the neighborhood/schools

[Anonymous]

*Whites are minority in the school, about 15% (Before the flames start throwing - we chose this area bc we value diversity but are admittedly a little uncomfortable that our child might be the only white kid in his class)"


At least you have the guts to say it.

No brainer here. Choose school B

[Anonymous]

Hmm, if one of the neighborhoods is Indian Spring (Highland View ES), I would say go with that. I would have guessed the other school would be NHE/Oak View, but that feeds into different middle and high schools from Highland View.

[Anonymous]

Not the OP but interested to hear more about Highland View. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Highland View is fairly evenly split among white, black, hispanic, with a sizeable percentage of multiracial families as well (like 6 or 7% I think). The principla is fantastic, class sizes are small relative to the west side of teh county, and the PTA and parents are VERY active. Tehre is alot of cute hosuing stock in the neighborhhod too, mostly cape cods and colonials.
Here is the at a glance information. The test scores are for 2010-2011. The test scores for 2011-2012 were slightly higher. http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/02784.pdf

[Anonymous]

Highland ES is about 35% white, so that might be B...you'd be going further to TP for 15%.

[Anonymous]

It would probably depend on commute, walkability, things like that, as long as I thought school A met my min. requirements.

[Anonymous]

I would be more inclined to look further down the road to Middle / High school assuming you not inclined to move quickly after buying. At the end of the day both of these schools will be fine in elementary school but the difference down the road might be where closer review has to occur.

[Anonymous]

I'm guessing Woodmoor (Montgomery Knolls/Pinecrest) is school A... Indian Spring (Highland) is school B. Yes?

[Anonymous]

OP here. No, not Highland View and Montgomery Knolls.

East Silver Spring Elementary is School A and Takoma Park Elementary/Piney Branch ES is School B.

Any thoughts now that you know the schools and neighborhoods?

[Anonymous]

School B. You will still have very significant diversity.

[Anonymous]

But School B has significantly larger class sizes...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. No, not Highland View and Montgomery Knolls.

East Silver Spring Elementary is School A and Takoma Park Elementary/Piney Branch ES is School B.

Any thoughts now that you know the schools and neighborhoods?

I know families who are happy at both schools. Two possible downsides to TP is that there are town taxes which make it more expensive than a similarly priced home in Silver Spring. Also, if you have more than one child, depending on their age spacing, they may not ever go to elementary school together becuase TPES is only k-2. That may or may not matter to you. I also think that TP/PBES are larger schools overall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. No, not Highland View and Montgomery Knolls.

East Silver Spring Elementary is School A and Takoma Park Elementary/Piney Branch ES is School B.

Any thoughts now that you know the schools and neighborhoods?

I know families who are happy at both schools. Two possible downsides to TP is that there are town taxes which make it more expensive than a similarly priced home in Silver Spring. Also, if you have more than one child, depending on their age spacing, they may not ever go to elementary school together becuase TPES is only k-2. That may or may not matter to you. I also think that TP/PBES are larger schools overall.

TPES and PBES are right next to each other, practically. This isn't much of an issue.

[Anonymous]

When you look at East Silver Spring's test scores, especially the ones for 3rd and 4th grade (why none for 5th grade?), it looks like they are doing a pretty good job given the demographics of the students - lots of lower incomes and lots of non-native English speakers. I wouldn't have qualms about sending my kids there based on the paper stats. But it would worry me about my child being the only one of his or her race in the class. I'm black, by the way, but I think it's a perfectly legitimate concern for white parents too. Again, not because of the academics of the school or the effect of that on my child's academic progress, but I just think it's healthier for a child if there are more than one or two others of their race in a classroom. I imagine it wouldn't be a huge issue in K-2, but I think it would by 3rd or 4th.