Looking in Silver Spring, Good schools a must, want to stay under 700K...which areas are best

[Anonymous]

OP, I am a big fan of Howard County (do not live there but have family there) and I would definitely keep it on my consideration list, especially if you think your current job/commute situations are unlikely to change. I wouldn't pay Montgomery County prices if it weren't for the fact that I work in the city and HoCo is just too far for me. I'm not a big fan of downtown Columbia (great for shopping but wouldn't live there) but there are plenty of places in Howard County that don't seem nearly as manufactured as the main Columbia hub. You will get way more for your money and the people there seem way more down-to-earth than in Montgomery. If you or DH do change jobs, yes, you will be farther from DC but there are also a lot of jobs in Columbia as well as Baltimore and Annapolis so it may actually broaden your job prospects, rather than limiting them.

We currently live in Montgomery but I think our next move will be Howard County (in a few years).

[Anonymous]

Dh grew up in hoco, the kids are very bored and have access to lots of $=teens looking for trouble.
This may be a generalization but ask around for anyone that grew up there, most of them moved to the city and would ever go back

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love Silver Spring. I honestly can't figure out what people are on about when they talk about how awful SS schools are, unless of course they think there are too many brown kids in the classroom.

We are in SS and I can't figure it out either, but I am done trying to convince people on DCUM that our whole community over here doesn't suck. If the hordes flock over here, then our schools will be as overcrowded as the western schools, and we will have to deal with the Tory Burch and Gucci ladies. Let's keep it our secret.

[Anonymous]

We're talking the Moco where some people on this board have been known to badmouth Richard freaking Montgomery, right?

[Anonymous]

We are in SS and I can't figure it out either, but I am done trying to convince people on DCUM that our whole community over here doesn't suck. If the hordes flock over here, then our schools will be as overcrowded as the western schools, and we will have to deal with the Tory Burch and Gucci ladies. Let's keep it our secret.

Word! The only thing I can figure out is many DCUMers must base their opinions of SS on DCUM...the definition of circular logic.

[Anonymous]

14:53, is your H 20? If not, is there a possibility that things have changed since he was in HS? I grew up in an exurb that was very sleepy at the time, mid-90s. It is very different now and I wouldn't compare my options then with what kids may have now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dh grew up in hoco, the kids are very bored and have access to lots of $=teens looking for trouble.
This may be a generalization but ask around for anyone that grew up there, most of them moved to the city and would ever go back

you've got to be kidding? i know a ton of people who grew up in HoCo (i did not) and none live in the city. most still live in HoCo. are you surveying your husband and his 5 friends to come to this conclusion? of any county, including HoCo, to say most kids grow up and move to the city would be unbelievably inaccurate. bizarre contention there, and very out of step with reality. i wouldn't trust your DH's perspective. plus kids are bored in HoCo? ellicott city was named the past several years as one of the best places to live, in part because of the wonderful things for kids.

i live in MoCo, btw. for those posting about the skinny jeans and mercedes moms - you act as if everything besides SS in MoCo is dominated by those things. people saying they did not choose SS because of schools does not mean they chose potomac or chevy chase! they may have chosen kensington (down to earth) or takoma park or olney or whatever.

HoCo has lots of jobs. great commute to greenbelt. pretty horrific commute into DC and not possible to commute to VA without being in pure hell.

great schools are not defined by the greatschools website, but those factor in test scores etc. and SS struggles pretty mightily in their scores there compared to other MoCo schools and HoCo schools. of course school experience and quality is based on so much more, but i think that's a quick way for people to do an initial assessment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:silver spring and good schools are mutually exclusive

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:silver spring and good schools are mutually exclusive

+1

Oh wise one (or 2)it is amazing you are so knowledgeable about all the schools in Silver Spring. You must really spend a lot of time visiting and studying the schools in question. How do you do it and still get back for your pedicure on time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of homes in 20910 and a corner of 20815 in that price range; bounded by East-West Highway, the beltway, 16th Street and Rock Creek. Almost all of the single family homes in that area are in the Bethesda-Chevy Chase school cluster.

Definitely agree with this. The part of Silver Spring that goes to BCC schools would fit your budget and is a great location. Being inside the beltway makes commuting much easier.