Takoma Park residents, where do your kids go to HS?

[Anonymous]

OP the school only feels far because you have young kids. I used to feel that way too but now with oldest DC in high school a 15 minute drive is nothing.

My main concern about Blair is that it's really big which impacts the community feel you mentioned. Our other child chose a smaller DCC school and it has much more of a community feel and while I think the choice process has it's upsides it also breaks up the communities in the DCC.

[Anonymous]

Sfs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even though it's not that close, Blair is the closest HS to TP. But there is also the Downcounty Consortium, which Blair is part of. Students can rank their high schools in order of preference. The other schools are Northwood, Einstein, Wheaton, and Kennedy.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/school-info/downcounty/

Aren’t there major crime and gang problems at those schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even though it's not that close, Blair is the closest HS to TP. But there is also the Downcounty Consortium, which Blair is part of. Students can rank their high schools in order of preference. The other schools are Northwood, Einstein, Wheaton, and Kennedy.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/school-info/downcounty/

Aren’t there major crime and gang problems at those schools?

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even though it's not that close, Blair is the closest HS to TP. But there is also the Downcounty Consortium, which Blair is part of. Students can rank their high schools in order of preference. The other schools are Northwood, Einstein, Wheaton, and Kennedy.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/school-info/downcounty/

Aren’t there major crime and gang problems at those schools?

There hasn't been a single gang incident in MCPS in decades, but I read there was a kid with a gun at a W the other week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids went to the TPES magnet for early ES. Later went to PBES. My younger child was in the local CES there. My older child was in the earlier version of that program which was hosted by another nearby school. Later they went to TPMS and were part of the MS STEM magnet. Finally, they went to Blair. One was in the STEM magnet, one just started CAP this year. We mostly stumbled into this, but couldn't be happier about the schools.

Op - this is a boomer reminiscing. This ship has long sailed in the name of equity and lotteries

It sounds like you're bitter. I'm genuinely sorry if your child wasn't selected for these programs.

nevertheless, their post implies they have a freshman at Blair because the CES at piney Branch is only 5 years old.

And that ship never sailed. As you probably know, the lotteries were created because the maker of the cogat would not allow their test to be given online during the pandemic. They stated the lottery would run for 3 years. It ended this year in the spring of 2023. They haven't announced what's next.

DP here. I think PP predates PBES CES, and kid went to Pine Crest/Oak View HGC like mine. I agree that 2nd PP sounds a bit bitter, and I see trying to compensate for lack of enrichment in admissions as a good thing, though imperfect in implementation.

My kids are at Blair and Wheaton. As others said, Blair is not that far (8 min for me), but Wheaton is a hike. Great program, though. Sometimes a trek is worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in the city and are exploring neighborhoods in Maryland to move to with our Elementary age kids. Takoma Park is very high on my list.

One issue I can't get past though, is how far away Montgomery Blair is. It's outside the beltway! Is that where most high schoolers go to school? Does it get annoying to have to drive so far every day, for activities, etc? I was hoping to live somewhere where the local schools are really a part of the community, but I'm afraid it will feel disconnected in TP. What has your experience been?

Thanks so much! I'd also love any other points of view on TP, but this is the issue weighing most on my mind.

Blair was originally in Takoma Park but was relocated to downtown SS in the 1930s and to its current location in 1998. The reason it is where it is now is because that's where the county could get sufficient land to build a new HS. The bus ride isn't that bad, at least compared to the other magnet kids who come from much further away.

It's really too bad, given the population boom since 1998, that MCPS wasn't able to keep a high school in DTSS in addition to the new Blair location. We need another downcounty high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in the city and are exploring neighborhoods in Maryland to move to with our Elementary age kids. Takoma Park is very high on my list.

One issue I can't get past though, is how far away Montgomery Blair is. It's outside the beltway! Is that where most high schoolers go to school? Does it get annoying to have to drive so far every day, for activities, etc? I was hoping to live somewhere where the local schools are really a part of the community, but I'm afraid it will feel disconnected in TP. What has your experience been?

Thanks so much! I'd also love any other points of view on TP, but this is the issue weighing most on my mind.

Blair was originally in Takoma Park but was relocated to downtown SS in the 1930s and to its current location in 1998. The reason it is where it is now is because that's where the county could get sufficient land to build a new HS. The bus ride isn't that bad, at least compared to the other magnet kids who come from much further away.

It's really too bad, given the population boom since 1998, that MCPS wasn't able to keep a high school in DTSS in addition to the new Blair location. We need another downcounty high school.

This is absolutely true. I think the Board needs to demonstrate some problem solving skills here. Be creative! Be solution oriented!

They could use the former Adventist elementary school, which is only a few miles from Blair, to siphon some kids off for part of the day. For example, CAP kids have their classes in half-day blocks. Are magnet kids the same? If you took half the CAP kids and half the magnet kids out for a half day, that's 400 kids out of the school at a time.

Or you don't focus on the CAP and magnet kids, and run some other program half day. With an hour lunch, you can transport the kids back (and then the new group to the campus) during lunch.

Or you don't link it to Blair at all, and set up an entire small HS serving a specific community and they can share extracurriculars with the big high school.

The point would be to get the number of kids on campus a little closer to 2000 and alleviate some of the burden on the infrastructure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in the city and are exploring neighborhoods in Maryland to move to with our Elementary age kids. Takoma Park is very high on my list.

One issue I can't get past though, is how far away Montgomery Blair is. It's outside the beltway! Is that where most high schoolers go to school? Does it get annoying to have to drive so far every day, for activities, etc? I was hoping to live somewhere where the local schools are really a part of the community, but I'm afraid it will feel disconnected in TP. What has your experience been?

Thanks so much! I'd also love any other points of view on TP, but this is the issue weighing most on my mind.

Blair was originally in Takoma Park but was relocated to downtown SS in the 1930s and to its current location in 1998. The reason it is where it is now is because that's where the county could get sufficient land to build a new HS. The bus ride isn't that bad, at least compared to the other magnet kids who come from much further away.

It's really too bad, given the population boom since 1998, that MCPS wasn't able to keep a high school in DTSS in addition to the new Blair location. We need another downcounty high school.

This is absolutely true. I think the Board needs to demonstrate some problem solving skills here. Be creative! Be solution oriented!

They could use the former Adventist elementary school, which is only a few miles from Blair, to siphon some kids off for part of the day. For example, CAP kids have their classes in half-day blocks. Are magnet kids the same? If you took half the CAP kids and half the magnet kids out for a half day, that's 400 kids out of the school at a time.

Or you don't focus on the CAP and magnet kids, and run some other program half day. With an hour lunch, you can transport the kids back (and then the new group to the campus) during lunch.

Or you don't link it to Blair at all, and set up an entire small HS serving a specific community and they can share extracurriculars with the big high school.

The point would be to get the number of kids on campus a little closer to 2000 and alleviate some of the burden on the infrastructure.

Close in east county just isn't a high priority for the board. They mostly cater to the wealthy west county liberals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in the city and are exploring neighborhoods in Maryland to move to with our Elementary age kids. Takoma Park is very high on my list.

One issue I can't get past though, is how far away Montgomery Blair is. It's outside the beltway! Is that where most high schoolers go to school? Does it get annoying to have to drive so far every day, for activities, etc? I was hoping to live somewhere where the local schools are really a part of the community, but I'm afraid it will feel disconnected in TP. What has your experience been?

Thanks so much! I'd also love any other points of view on TP, but this is the issue weighing most on my mind.

Blair was originally in Takoma Park but was relocated to downtown SS in the 1930s and to its current location in 1998. The reason it is where it is now is because that's where the county could get sufficient land to build a new HS. The bus ride isn't that bad, at least compared to the other magnet kids who come from much further away.

It's really too bad, given the population boom since 1998, that MCPS wasn't able to keep a high school in DTSS in addition to the new Blair location. We need another downcounty high school.

This is absolutely true. I think the Board needs to demonstrate some problem solving skills here. Be creative! Be solution oriented!

They could use the former Adventist elementary school, which is only a few miles from Blair, to siphon some kids off for part of the day. For example, CAP kids have their classes in half-day blocks. Are magnet kids the same? If you took half the CAP kids and half the magnet kids out for a half day, that's 400 kids out of the school at a time.

Or you don't focus on the CAP and magnet kids, and run some other program half day. With an hour lunch, you can transport the kids back (and then the new group to the campus) during lunch.

Or you don't link it to Blair at all, and set up an entire small HS serving a specific community and they can share extracurriculars with the big high school.

The point would be to get the number of kids on campus a little closer to 2000 and alleviate some of the burden on the infrastructure.

Close in east county just isn't a high priority for the board. They mostly cater to the wealthy west county liberals.

Evidence? Or just your bias showing though?

[Anonymous]

What is the hood? I’ll take obvious answers for 200$ next please Alex

[Anonymous]

It’s outside the beltway by one building: a fire department. From most parts of Takoma Park, it’s less than a 15 minute drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in the city and are exploring neighborhoods in Maryland to move to with our Elementary age kids. Takoma Park is very high on my list.

One issue I can't get past though, is how far away Montgomery Blair is. It's outside the beltway! Is that where most high schoolers go to school? Does it get annoying to have to drive so far every day, for activities, etc? I was hoping to live somewhere where the local schools are really a part of the community, but I'm afraid it will feel disconnected in TP. What has your experience been?

Thanks so much! I'd also love any other points of view on TP, but this is the issue weighing most on my mind.

Blair was originally in Takoma Park but was relocated to downtown SS in the 1930s and to its current location in 1998. The reason it is where it is now is because that's where the county could get sufficient land to build a new HS. The bus ride isn't that bad, at least compared to the other magnet kids who come from much further away.

It's really too bad, given the population boom since 1998, that MCPS wasn't able to keep a high school in DTSS in addition to the new Blair location. We need another downcounty high school.

This is absolutely true. I think the Board needs to demonstrate some problem solving skills here. Be creative! Be solution oriented!

They could use the former Adventist elementary school, which is only a few miles from Blair, to siphon some kids off for part of the day. For example, CAP kids have their classes in half-day blocks. Are magnet kids the same? If you took half the CAP kids and half the magnet kids out for a half day, that's 400 kids out of the school at a time.

Or you don't focus on the CAP and magnet kids, and run some other program half day. With an hour lunch, you can transport the kids back (and then the new group to the campus) during lunch.

Or you don't link it to Blair at all, and set up an entire small HS serving a specific community and they can share extracurriculars with the big high school.

The point would be to get the number of kids on campus a little closer to 2000 and alleviate some of the burden on the infrastructure.

Close in east county just isn't a high priority for the board. They mostly cater to the wealthy west county liberals.

Evidence? Or just your bias showing though?

The evidence is as plain as day. There is NO high school located in that part of Montgomery County. This is different than every other area and demonstrates a clear bias. It is not unlike the county putting the bulk of the low-income housing in the same area for decades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in the city and are exploring neighborhoods in Maryland to move to with our Elementary age kids. Takoma Park is very high on my list.

One issue I can't get past though, is how far away Montgomery Blair is. It's outside the beltway! Is that where most high schoolers go to school? Does it get annoying to have to drive so far every day, for activities, etc? I was hoping to live somewhere where the local schools are really a part of the community, but I'm afraid it will feel disconnected in TP. What has your experience been?

Thanks so much! I'd also love any other points of view on TP, but this is the issue weighing most on my mind.

Blair was originally in Takoma Park but was relocated to downtown SS in the 1930s and to its current location in 1998. The reason it is where it is now is because that's where the county could get sufficient land to build a new HS. The bus ride isn't that bad, at least compared to the other magnet kids who come from much further away.

It's really too bad, given the population boom since 1998, that MCPS wasn't able to keep a high school in DTSS in addition to the new Blair location. We need another downcounty high school.

This is absolutely true. I think the Board needs to demonstrate some problem solving skills here. Be creative! Be solution oriented!

They could use the former Adventist elementary school, which is only a few miles from Blair, to siphon some kids off for part of the day. For example, CAP kids have their classes in half-day blocks. Are magnet kids the same? If you took half the CAP kids and half the magnet kids out for a half day, that's 400 kids out of the school at a time.

Or you don't focus on the CAP and magnet kids, and run some other program half day. With an hour lunch, you can transport the kids back (and then the new group to the campus) during lunch.

Or you don't link it to Blair at all, and set up an entire small HS serving a specific community and they can share extracurriculars with the big high school.

The point would be to get the number of kids on campus a little closer to 2000 and alleviate some of the burden on the infrastructure.

Close in east county just isn't a high priority for the board. They mostly cater to the wealthy west county liberals.

Evidence? Or just your bias showing though?

The evidence is as plain as day. There is NO high school located in that part of Montgomery County. This is different than every other area and demonstrates a clear bias. It is not unlike the county putting the bulk of the low-income housing in the same area for decades.

Which part of MoCo are you talking about? There are several high schools in "close in east county". Perhaps not south of the beltway - the real estate is too expensive there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in the city and are exploring neighborhoods in Maryland to move to with our Elementary age kids. Takoma Park is very high on my list.

One issue I can't get past though, is how far away Montgomery Blair is. It's outside the beltway! Is that where most high schoolers go to school? Does it get annoying to have to drive so far every day, for activities, etc? I was hoping to live somewhere where the local schools are really a part of the community, but I'm afraid it will feel disconnected in TP. What has your experience been?

Thanks so much! I'd also love any other points of view on TP, but this is the issue weighing most on my mind.

Blair was originally in Takoma Park but was relocated to downtown SS in the 1930s and to its current location in 1998. The reason it is where it is now is because that's where the county could get sufficient land to build a new HS. The bus ride isn't that bad, at least compared to the other magnet kids who come from much further away.

It's really too bad, given the population boom since 1998, that MCPS wasn't able to keep a high school in DTSS in addition to the new Blair location. We need another downcounty high school.

This is absolutely true. I think the Board needs to demonstrate some problem solving skills here. Be creative! Be solution oriented!

They could use the former Adventist elementary school, which is only a few miles from Blair, to siphon some kids off for part of the day. For example, CAP kids have their classes in half-day blocks. Are magnet kids the same? If you took half the CAP kids and half the magnet kids out for a half day, that's 400 kids out of the school at a time.

Or you don't focus on the CAP and magnet kids, and run some other program half day. With an hour lunch, you can transport the kids back (and then the new group to the campus) during lunch.

Or you don't link it to Blair at all, and set up an entire small HS serving a specific community and they can share extracurriculars with the big high school.

The point would be to get the number of kids on campus a little closer to 2000 and alleviate some of the burden on the infrastructure.

Close in east county just isn't a high priority for the board. They mostly cater to the wealthy west county liberals.

Evidence? Or just your bias showing though?

The evidence is as plain as day. There is NO high school located in that part of Montgomery County. This is different than every other area and demonstrates a clear bias. It is not unlike the county putting the bulk of the low-income housing in the same area for decades.

Which part of MoCo are you talking about? There are several high schools in "close in east county". Perhaps not south of the beltway - the real estate is too expensive there.

There are 0 high-schools close in (inside the beltway and east of the park), but maybe your idea of close in is upper malborro or poolesville.