Downcounty schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why don't I hear anything about Glen Haven ES? it's like a mile away from Flora Singer and Forest Knolls...

Glen Haven has a significantly higher FARMs population, which generally translates to not being "as good." In a condensed area like Silver Spring, a mile is a very long distance. Forest Knolls and Flora Singer both have more single family homes in their assignment areas, while Glen Haven shares a very large apartment complex with Arcola, which is also a school that's very close by but usually not mentioned as a favorite.

High schools are important to consider, but there are five in the DCC, and you have no idea which your child will end up in, and a LOT can happen between now and the time they get there. You have a home school assigned, but you can attempt to choose another based on different programs. Also, I'm guessing PP is putting the high schools that my nephews attended (Einstein and Northwood--pretty sure Blair is the only "safe" school) in the "danger zone," yet my nephews received a top education, graduated within the past three years, and are successfully pursuing college degrees at solid universities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, people really don't like bad-mouthing their local schools, even if they aren't sending their kids. There are some names that almost never end up on the list of schools parents seem to like, and that may be as close as you get to a red flag that it's not a popular school among the DCUM crowd.

I'll say it--Downcounty schools nobody on DCUM likes: Weller Road, Sargent Shriver, Highland, Georgian Forest, Brookhaven. Harmony Hills (was a hot, hot mess for a while but they finally got rid of a terrible principal, so they could be on the upswing) (my friend teaches there, so that's my perspective), New Hampshire Estates/Oak View (OVES is maybe on the okay side, since it has the HGC), Arcola, and Kemp Mill (nice neighborhood, but everyone who can sends their kids to the local Jewish and Catholic schools).

I'm trying to think what I might have missed. I think Sligo Creek is generally well-received, but some people don't like the principal (is she still there?), and I thought East Silver Spring might have been okay, but a PP here said no. Don't hear much about Rolling Terrace outside of the immersion. Rock Creek Forest is sometimes popular because it feeds to Westland and BCC. The schools mentioned by other PPs are the "stars"--Singer, Oakland Terrace, Highland View, Woodlin.

Am I off base with these? Chime in and correct me if you have first-hand experience. This is based on my extensive/obsessive monitoring of the MD Schools forum with specific attention to Silver Spring for the past 5+ years. I have lived here my whole life (minus college) and have moved within the area a few times with my public-school-attending children, so it's an interest of mine.

[Anonymous]

I think boundary changes and possibly a new ES school are coming within DCC to address capacity issues in the next several years...so be aware in making decisions based on specific schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, people really don't like bad-mouthing their local schools, even if they aren't sending their kids. There are some names that almost never end up on the list of schools parents seem to like, and that may be as close as you get to a red flag that it's not a popular school among the DCUM crowd.

I'll say it--Downcounty schools nobody on DCUM likes: Weller Road, Sargent Shriver, Highland, Georgian Forest, Brookhaven. Harmony Hills (was a hot, hot mess for a while but they finally got rid of a terrible principal, so they could be on the upswing) (my friend teaches there, so that's my perspective), New Hampshire Estates/Oak View (OVES is maybe on the okay side, since it has the HGC), Arcola, and Kemp Mill (nice neighborhood, but everyone who can sends their kids to the local Jewish and Catholic schools).

I'm trying to think what I might have missed. I think Sligo Creek is generally well-received, but some people don't like the principal (is she still there?), and I thought East Silver Spring might have been okay, but a PP here said no. Don't hear much about Rolling Terrace outside of the immersion. Rock Creek Forest is sometimes popular because it feeds to Westland and BCC. The schools mentioned by other PPs are the "stars"--Singer, Oakland Terrace, Highland View, Woodlin.

Am I off base with these? Chime in and correct me if you have first-hand experience. This is based on my extensive/obsessive monitoring of the MD Schools forum with specific attention to Silver Spring for the past 5+ years. I have lived here my whole life (minus college) and have moved within the area a few times with my public-school-attending children, so it's an interest of mine.

This seems about right. I had a child at the Oak View HGC and it was great but the school generally is nothing like our home school (one of the listed).

[Anonymous]

We've been happy with Montgomery Knolls/ Pinecrest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think boundary changes and possibly a new ES school are coming within DCC to address capacity issues in the next several years...so be aware in making decisions based on specific schools. [/

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/pinecrestes/news/DCC%20South%20Capacity%20Study%20Flyer%203-9-2015(1).pdf

I went to one of the meetings and they said the earliest a new school and/or additions and boundary changes would take place is 2020, but it sounded like whatever decision is made, there will be boundary changes.

[Anonymous]

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/schools/pinecrestes/news/DCC%20South%20Capacity%20Study%20Flyer%203-9-2015(1).pdf

Trying the link again as the first one didn't work...

[Anonymous]

We love Rock View! It's technically in Kensington but still part of the DCC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We love Rock View! It's technically in Kensington but still part of the DCC.

not the nice part of Kensington

[Anonymous]

"Anonymous wrote:
We love Rock View! It's technically in Kensington but still part of the DCC.


not the nice part of Kensington"

snarky and unnecessary, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Rock View! It's technically in Kensington but still part of the DCC.

not the nice part of Kensington

We too are happy at Rock View. Oakland Terrace is also in the "not nice" part of Kensington. What of it. We all can't afford to live in lawyer land.

[Anonymous]

What are the good middle schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are the good middle schools?

I'm one of the previous Rock View posters, older DC is finishing up at Newport Mill MS which we thought was great and are looking forward to Einstein HS in the fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love Rock View! It's technically in Kensington but still part of the DCC.

not the nice part of Kensington

Whatever. My house is there and my house is awesome, just like me and my family. Jealoussssss?

[Anonymous]

Also have a child at Oak View HGC. Have really loved the school, though the fantastic principal is leaving. It is a very high FARMS rate, which is probably why people have bad things to say about it. But it has been a loving environment.

Depending on your child/children's needs, different schools have different strengths. For instance, many people love Highland View. However, I know a family who had to move out of the area b/c the school did such a poor job with her special ed child. They just didn't have the resources to meet his needs. Flora Singer, meanwhile, has a really good program for special needs children.