Moving to Bethesda -- Renting then buying, choosing an elementary school, all advice welcome...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
There is a reason why the real estate prices there are the highest in the Bethesda.

Yes. Because it's the area closest to the Metro.

http://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/BethesdaES.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, One thing you want to know about Bethesda that is evident in this thread is that there is a real ignorance and intolerance by some parents and the school administrations themselves for children with special needs. They believe that these children are too much work and bring down their perfect test scores.

If you can relate to these parents then you will want to avoid Bethesda Elementary.

If you want a wonderful, truly inclusive environment for your child where he or she will learn how to be friends with a diverse group of children you should look at Bethesda. I don't know anyone who actually believes what PPs wrote. In fact, the school is much better staffed than other Bethesda elementary schools as a result of all the paraeducators in the building.

There are special needs children at every school and the problem at the other schools is when these children need help there is no one to provide it so the teachers are overwhelmed. At Bethesda there are plenty of resources to go around.

There is a reason why the real estate prices there are the highest in the Bethesda.

You are wrong on two points. People are concerned that their children are being taught in class - that goes for K, 1st and 2nd grade where as you know, there are no test scores. I know a family where their daughter has mild ADHD but because its mild instead of extreme, she fell through the cracks in a large class at BS because she was neither getting attention and help, nor able to get along on her own, as many children are expected to do. This is not an ignorant, blanket - we want high test scores and non-integrated classes issue.

Also you should seriously find out more about other schools in the area, many have integrated classes and some have wonderful set ups like - special classes where the kids get matched with mainstream classes for art, music, recess and lunch, so that everyone gets a chance to be together.

[Anonymous]

PP, I have no personal experience with BE unlike other PPs but kids with mild ADHD basically get ignored at every Bethesda area school. It is not a BE issue. The classes are large almost without exception and the school teams don't like to give 504 plans or IEPs to kids with mild needs and prefer they just leave and go to a private school because they think the parents can afford it.

I'm not sure you meant your last comment this way but it's kind of condescending. The reason why BE has such a great reputation is because the special needs students are 100% integrated into the classes. They are not brought out for special events or classes where the other kids can meet them and feel good about themselves for knowing a kid with special needs. They are part of the community as equals.

[Anonymous]

Ashburton Dad here. I won't speak about the other schools/neighborhoods, just the one I know.

Yes, it is crowded. Nearly 900 kids in a K-5; class sizes 27 to 29. However, I think those class sizes are comparable to what you'll find elsewhere in MoCo; not aware of anything dramatically different in MCPS.

The other families that we know at Ashburton love it. Very active PTA; very good sense of community. Much of it was fostered by our dynamo of a principal who unfortunately moved to Virginia at the end of last year. New principal this year seems OK but the jury is still out.

Lots of diplomats and doctors in our district. I think upwards of 40 different languages spoken at home in our school. We view this as a plus.

Neighborhood has a lot of teardown/turnover in the housing stock. Whether you want a nice 50s rambler that's been expanded/updated, a $1.5M custom home, or an affordable fixer upper, you'll find it here. The neighborhood as a whole is inexorably moving toward the $1M+ range, but you don't have to spend that much to live here now.

We love it here. Our neighbors seem to as well. Our friends who recently relocated from out of state to Garrett Park like it there as well. Further out but very charming.

[Anonymous]

If you live in Ashburton, your kids can walk to HS, but they'll likely bus to ES and MS (N. Bethesda). If you live in Wyngate, they can walk to MS (and maybe ES), but they'll bus or drive to HS.

Parents walk their ES kids to the bus stop here, so there's no bus-stop bullying. More of a neighborhood morning coffee klatch.

[Anonymous]

The Ashburton neighborhood is also slated for a lot of coming new development, though. Crowding may get a lot worse. Not sure how this compares to elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

I have a feeling you will find more affordability and more economic and professional diversity in Kensington-Parkwood. But it's a longer haul to WJ (and to the metro if that matters).

[Anonymous]

Ashburton Dad understates the crowding conditions at that school. Avoid Ashburton if at all possible. There are.915 kids in a school.for 650. It is one of the poster children for over crowding in MCPS. Kentlands - Rachel Carson - is worse, but not by much. There are no closets left in the school, they have all been converted to instructional spaces. Class sizes are one thing, but they don't have to orchestrate hallway movements at other schools just to avoid pandemonium on the way to music class. And there are HUNDREDS of brand new housing units being constructed in the Ashbuston zone. They have an addition planned - completion date unknown pending CIP - that will still be SMALLER than the current student population, despite all these new housing units.

Makes me happy I chose Wyngate.

[Anonymous]

OP, You may want to look at Wyngate if you are looking at Ashburton. The communities are very similar in personality and housing prices. They are adjacent to each other.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP, I have no personal experience with BE unlike other PPs but kids with mild ADHD basically get ignored at every Bethesda area school. It is not a BE issue. The classes are large almost without exception and the school teams don't like to give 504 plans or IEPs to kids with mild needs and prefer they just leave and go to a private school because they think the parents can afford it.

I'm not sure you meant your last comment this way but it's kind of condescending. The reason why BE has such a great reputation is because the special needs students are 100% integrated into the classes. They are not brought out for special events or classes where the other kids can meet them and feel good about themselves for knowing a kid with special needs. They are part of the community as equals.

A non-verbal very autistic child simply should not be in a mainstream classroom, but the opportunity for them to mix with and get to know other kids from the same age group in mainstream classes, benefits everyone.

[Anonymous]

Ashburton Dad here. Everything Wyngate Mom said above may very well be true. I haven't comparison shopped. If Wyngate or K-P are better and you can find a house there, go for it.

I do know it's true that we have a ton of development slated for the area, so things are expected to get worse. This is a concern.

My point was, even if you end up here, it's a pretty great place to be. Even as crowded as it is, we think it's a great school, so do the neighbors, and DS is having a great experience. Certainly no hardship. That's not to say there's not better out there.

Wyngate is on the other side of the Beltway, closer in--generally a plus. When we bought during a boom there was not very much availability there and there was a significant price difference. If the inventory and prices are comparable now, then yes, I'm sure it's a great place to be. (Though we do like to be able to walk to Wildwood and Georgetown Square shopping centers. Other than nice neighbors, the YMCA, and NIH if you work there, there's not much walkable in Wyngate.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
A non-verbal very autistic child simply should not be in a mainstream classroom, but the opportunity for them to mix with and get to know other kids from the same age group in mainstream classes, benefits everyone.

In case anyone misunderstands PP, they are not putting non-verbal children in mainstream classes at BE. There are children with all sorts of disabilities there but they are able to keep up with their mainstream peers academically with some supports. That's the whole point of an inclusive environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be prepared to pay 5k+ for your monthlly rent. Seer of you can get a long term lease. Also look into BCC feeders

Don't look into BCC feeders.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
A non-verbal very autistic child simply should not be in a mainstream classroom, but the opportunity for them to mix with and get to know other kids from the same age group in mainstream classes, benefits everyone.

In case anyone misunderstands PP, they are not putting non-verbal children in mainstream classes at BE. There are children with all sorts of disabilities there but they are able to keep up with their mainstream peers academically with some supports. That's the whole point of an inclusive environment.

Well if you had read the post that was replying to you would understand that everyone else knows this already. It was not a comment in isolation nor was it referring to BE. Please stay alert.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ashburton Dad here. Everything Wyngate Mom said above may very well be true. I haven't comparison shopped. If Wyngate or K-P are better and you can find a house there, go for it.

I do know it's true that we have a ton of development slated for the area, so things are expected to get worse. This is a concern.

My point was, even if you end up here, it's a pretty great place to be. Even as crowded as it is, we think it's a great school, so do the neighbors, and DS is having a great experience. Certainly no hardship. That's not to say there's not better out there.

Wyngate is on the other side of the Beltway, closer in--generally a plus. When we bought during a boom there was not very much availability there and there was a significant price difference. If the inventory and prices are comparable now, then yes, I'm sure it's a great place to be. (Though we do like to be able to walk to Wildwood and Georgetown Square shopping centers. Other than nice neighbors, the YMCA, and NIH if you work there, there's not much walkable in Wyngate.)

Ashburton dad sounds like a nice guy, and he is right, the neighborhood has lots going for it.
If you work and value your sanity and don't want 10 emails a month asking you to attend BoE, County Council, State Leg, Write to Hogan, go to Master Planning meeting, "the sky is falling on our school, No room, no relief in sight, DO SOMETHING elected representatives! Avoid the place like the effing plague. I appreciate that there are some parents (and the current PTA Pres) who have decided that this is the #1 budget priority for the State, but I am Mom for whom the histrionics produce anxiety. I am very close to shutting down my subscription to the list serve.