Garrett Park vs. Ashburton and Tilden vs. North Bethesda -- any opinions, experience, advice?

[Anonymous]

We are moving to Bethesda and are considering houses in either the Ashburton district or Garrett Park district, Ashburton feeding to North Bethesda and Garrett Park feeding to Tilden. I'm generally familiar with the neighborhoods but don't have experience with any of these schools. I have a 6th grader, 3rd grader, and kindergartner. I know they're all good schools, but does anyone have any specific experiences and opinions, good or bad, about any of these schools? We won't have any time to come down and tour the schools (even if that were possible during the summer) before school starts.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

We lived nearby but do not attend either. You are correct -- both are good schools as are the MS that each feeds into. That said, you instead focus on neighborhood, house and commute/locations instead. GP was recently rebuilt(?) or modernized and I think quite nice. People who live in GP tend to rave about what a wonderful community it is. It's also quite an attractive area tucked in between the Pike and Rock Creek Park. Asburton is really split on each side of 6 lane Old Georgetown Road. Friends with "over-active" bright boys unhappily left Ashburton. Nearby Kensingon-Parkwood is also a really nice neighborhood (again, not mine) of colonials that feeds into the same WJ cluster.

[Anonymous]

(sorry about the sloppy editing in my note above)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We lived nearby but do not attend either. You are correct -- both are good schools as are the MS that each feeds into. That said, you instead focus on neighborhood, house and commute/locations instead. GP was recently rebuilt(?) or modernized and I think quite nice. People who live in GP tend to rave about what a wonderful community it is. It's also quite an attractive area tucked in between the Pike and Rock Creek Park. Asburton is really split on each side of 6 lane Old Georgetown Road. Friends with "over-active" bright boys unhappily left Ashburton. Nearby Kensingon-Parkwood is also a really nice neighborhood (again, not mine) of colonials that feeds into the same WJ cluster.

+1 everything noted above. If you want a "small-town" feel in the middle of a metropolitan area, GP is as close as you get. Hard to find a house there, and you will hear the train that goes through. They have a 4th of July parade, a Halloween ghost walk, the kids all know each other. Everyone is at the pool. It's a really, really great neighborhood. KP is also lovely, and the school is good as well.

GPES is a very good school. The teachers are caring. The class sizes can be large, but amazingly the kids are still alright. The new school is lovely, and there are lots of great traditions.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your replies! They are very helpful. My inclination is to try to hold out for a house in GP, even if we have to rent for now.

[Anonymous]

Agree with comments above. We moved here in 2010 and decided on the neighborhood near Ashburton because it is closer to Bethesda and other services, although I really like to GP community. Ashburton and NBMS have been great for our kids. Teachers at Ashburton are dedicated and the international mix is appealing. I would say that at least 30% of the students at Ashburton are international -- Children of NIH, WB, IFC, and embassy workers. NBMS is challenging and has a good honors program.