Howard County or Montgomery County for sharp kids?

[Anonymous]

OP, I think Howard is better because it's smaller. It's not without its problems. I don't think any school district is. But I'm amazed how difficult MCPS is to navigate, and there are not enough slots for acceleration.

[Anonymous]

The commute sucks from MoCo to Columbia. I think you need to go private. My kid is also reading very well at 4 and doing addition and subtraction - haven't tried multiplication yet. That's just good parents working with bright kids. Nothing unusual in this area. I'd stay in Howard.

[Anonymous]

I know people who looking to Howard County because the schools are trending up/passing MCPS while MCPS is trending down. Columbia has more job growth than Montgomery County. Bethesda and close to DC areas are immune but the Montgomery County suburbs farther out are not doing well for real estate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all for your information and insights. I got a lot out of them. Just to sum up. Yes, the MCPS's magnet programs does provide more challenges for those who got into them. However, because my kids are very young, it is too early to tell if whether they will be interested in or qualify for those programs. The advice of staying in HoCo for ES and MS and reassess for HS sounds good to me. At that time, we should have a clearer idea of whether we want magnet, IB, or something else.

As a matter of fact, we saw a house in River Hill district, liked it a lot, and made an offer today. So the decision has been made!

Thank you all.

You made the right choice! Good luck to you and your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know people who looking to Howard County because the schools are trending up/passing MCPS while MCPS is trending down. Columbia has more job growth than Montgomery County. Bethesda and close to DC areas are immune but the Montgomery County suburbs farther out are not doing well for real estate.

Please keep this a secret. The last thing Howard County needs is more DC types.

[Anonymous]

I know people who looking to Howard County because the schools are trending up/passing MCPS while MCPS is trending down.

This is what all the Howard County people would like to believe..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know people who looking to Howard County because the schools are trending up/passing MCPS while MCPS is trending down. Columbia has more job growth than Montgomery County. Bethesda and close to DC areas are immune but the Montgomery County suburbs farther out are not doing well for real estate.

I've heard similar things from independent experts, i.e. people not in either system but knowledgeable about education and education policy.

[Anonymous]

Howard County has less trash too. And immigrants. Much better school district and parent participation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people who looking to Howard County because the schools are trending up/passing MCPS while MCPS is trending down. Columbia has more job growth than Montgomery County. Bethesda and close to DC areas are immune but the Montgomery County suburbs farther out are not doing well for real estate.

I've heard similar things from independent experts, i.e. people not in either system but knowledgeable about education and education policy.

It's mostly demographic changes in MoCo. Howard looks like MoCo did 20+ years ago.

[Anonymous]

Only downside: That side of HoCo is a hell of a commute to most anywhere. West sides of 32, 175, 108 are parking lots getting to 29 and especially to 95 during rush hour.

[Anonymous]

Howard County has less trash too. And immigrants. Much better school district and parent participation.

If you can figure out where this poster lives..choose the other one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people who looking to Howard County because the schools are trending up/passing MCPS while MCPS is trending down. Columbia has more job growth than Montgomery County. Bethesda and close to DC areas are immune but the Montgomery County suburbs farther out are not doing well for real estate.

I've heard similar things from independent experts, i.e. people not in either system but knowledgeable about education and education policy.

It's mostly demographic changes in MoCo. Howard looks like MoCo did 20+ years ago.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Howard County has less trash too. And immigrants. Much better school district and parent participation.

If you can figure out where this poster lives..choose the other one.

While the PP obviously has issues, s/he is not entirely wrong. Compare homes in Ho Co to those in Mo Co - comparable areas, for example, where homes are zoned for 2+ acres and feed into Glenelg or River Hill. Taxes are much higher in Ho Co. Their infrastructure is much stronger than ours, and b/c the county is smaller and stronger, it can fully support the arts and recreation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Howard County has less trash too. And immigrants. Much better school district and parent participation.

If you can figure out where this poster lives..choose the other one.

While the PP obviously has issues, s/he is not entirely wrong. Compare homes in Ho Co to those in Mo Co - comparable areas, for example, where homes are zoned for 2+ acres and feed into Glenelg or River Hill. Taxes are much higher in Ho Co. Their infrastructure is much stronger than ours, and b/c the county is smaller and stronger, it can fully support the arts and recreation.

Howard County income tax rate: 0.320
Montgomery County income tax rate: 0.320

Number of Howard County bus routes: 8
Number of Montgomery County bus routes: 90 or so

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Howard County has less trash too. And immigrants. Much better school district and parent participation.

If you can figure out where this poster lives..choose the other one.

While the PP obviously has issues, s/he is not entirely wrong. Compare homes in Ho Co to those in Mo Co - comparable areas, for example, where homes are zoned for 2+ acres and feed into Glenelg or River Hill. Taxes are much higher in Ho Co. Their infrastructure is much stronger than ours, and b/c the county is smaller and stronger, it can fully support the arts and recreation.

Howard County income tax rate: 0.320
Montgomery County income tax rate: 0.320

Number of Howard County bus routes: 8
Number of Montgomery County bus routes: 90 or so

Taxes are higher, even with comparable homes on comparable lots in solid school clusters.

Ho Co
http://franklymls.com/HW8382178
$640,000
taxes = $7,861/yr
lot size = 3 acres
well and septic
school - River Hill HS
updated (for the most part) and well maintained



Mo Co
http://franklymls.com/MC8328837
$699,900
taxes = $5,609/yr
lot size = 2.98 acres
school - Sherwood HS
updated, well maintained
well and septic