Elem Schools in the Eastern part of Rockville (Twinbrook, Meadow Hall, Maryvale) - avoid altogether?

[Anonymous]

Hello, my husband and I are looking for our first house in MOCO and have been viewing houses in the part of Rockville east of the Pike. The homes, while older, fit into our budget at approx $300-$350. While I am not expecting quite yet (working on it!), we do expect to have a school aged child not too far down the road. Thus, general safety and schools are a concern. Ideally, we'd buy in an up-and-coming area, or at least one with potential to get better.

I understand these three schools have a high percentage of low-income students and receive poor ratings. Can anyone who lives in these neighborhoods give me a perspective of whether the schools are as bad as they sound, as well as the general safety of the area? Is there one school/area that's a bit better? Is the area getting better over time? Are there other young couples/families moving in? Or are these areas we ought to avoid altogether? The middle/high schools seem solid enough (either Rockville High or Richard Montgomery).

[Anonymous]

I'm also curious about this area because Twinbrook Elem feeds into RM (which I am happy about).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hello, my husband and I are looking for our first house in MOCO and have been viewing houses in the part of Rockville east of the Pike. The homes, while older, fit into our budget at approx $300-$350. While I am not expecting quite yet (working on it!), we do expect to have a school aged child not too far down the road. Thus, general safety and schools are a concern. Ideally, we'd buy in an up-and-coming area, or at least one with potential to get better.

I understand these three schools have a high percentage of low-income students and receive poor ratings. Can anyone who lives in these neighborhoods give me a perspective of whether the schools are as bad as they sound, as well as the general safety of the area? Is there one school/area that's a bit better? Is the area getting better over time? Are there other young couples/families moving in? Or are these areas we ought to avoid altogether? The middle/high schools seem solid enough (either Rockville High or Richard Montgomery).

The area that you are looking at is not going to get better. At a minimum it will be 15 years before you have to worry about high school. Even if you do buy a house in that area there is no way that you will still be there in 15 years. By the way if you do buy brush up on your Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Not one of your three, but we are really pleased with Rock Creek Valley ES, and some homes in that area are in your price range.

[Anonymous]

FORGET Twinbrook. It is a zoo with poor administration....

[Anonymous]

Take a drive around the immediate vicinity of the schools; it will provide you with all the answers you are looking for....

[Anonymous]

Our neighborhood also feeds into Rock Creek Valley -- our kids aren't school-aged yet, but all the neighbors speak positively about the schools. As PP said, there are some houses in your price range around here, although they would probably require a fair amount of work. Most seem to closer to $400k.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for the perspectives. I'm wondering why it is that the area is unlikely to get better as it is centrally located near Rockville town square, the metro, and 270. I drove around a bit and most of the houses look ok (except maybe the most densely populated part of Twinbrook). I've heard that there are low-income apartments in the area - is that the issue?

I will look into the Rock Creek ES area as suggested. Does anyone have suggestions for "up and coming" neighborhoods with investment potential and decent elementary schools near (but not past) Rockville? I've heard Garrett Park and Kensington so far, but I know the middle and high schools there don't measure up to those in Rockville.

[Anonymous]

Garrett Park feeds to Walter Johnson and I would not call that area "up and coming, so I wouldn't bother looking there.

[Anonymous]

I have friends with kids at Maryvale who are very happy with the school - it also has a French immersion program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have friends with kids at Maryvale who are very happy with the school - it also has a French immersion program.

Are your friend's kids in the regular program or French Immersion? I believe French Immersion is a magnet program, so those students may 'drag up' the standards of the school. I'm curious about the standards of the regular program as I read somewhere it housed a lot of "at-risk" kids.

[Anonymous]

By the way if you do buy brush up on your Spanish.

Aren't you classy? Tell me, where do you live, so I'll know what neighborhood to avoid.

[Anonymous]

?? Walter Johnson is just as good as Richard Montgomery and Rockville HS's.

[Anonymous]

WJ is more than "just as good" as RM and Rockville. It's better.

[Anonymous]

Agreed, but OP will never find something there that's in her budget so she shouldn't bother.