Ritchie Park Elementary ?
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Anonymous
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So, we are moving into the area in a few months. My husband's work will be in Bethesda, mine in Germantown, so we're looking at Mont County.
My parents live in the Ritchie Park elem cluster, and they have been toying with moving into a one level condo for several years as they've gotten older. They are tired of yard work, shoveling snow, etc. The house's market value is right around our budget. Now that we are moving into the area, my parents have suggested selling the house to us, at a very deep discount (however low they can go legally). So we'd save on the real estate commission at the very least. The house is small, but I think reasonable for a family of four (3 bedrooms, 1500 sqft, nice yard). And it's a really good location for both of our commutes. However, what about this elementary school? Our kids (3, 1) will be in daycare until they get to KG, but after that, we intended to do public school all the way. I guess I don't want to be in the position where we buy this house from them, and then have to turn it around and sell it in a couple of years because the school is horrible or have to send the kids to private school for all of elementary school. So...parents in that area...how is it? the goods, bads, etc.? How is the community? |
Anonymous
| We are in the cluster but not the school and happy. I have heard some dissatisfaction with the principal at Ritchie Park from older threads but it is hard to know how wide spread that is...and givent eh number of years you have before your kids are there, it may be a non-issue. Hopefully you will get some more specific responses. |
Anonymous
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I have a child at Ritchie Park. Ritchie Park is very teacher dependent. There are some very good teachers and some VERY bad teachers. The administration is terrible. The para educators (lunch and recess aides) are also terrible. Overly punitive, quick to label kids, quick to punish, not very quick to help or get to the bottom of problems. Ritchie Park is not a bad school but it is not a good school. The principal has been out a lot for some kind of medical issue but even when she is present you would have no idea she is there. She is completely uncommunicative with parents and not helpful and very, very combative if you approach her with a problem.
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Anonymous
| Not a good school for children with special needs or those who need extra support, but fine for the run of the mill student who does not need extra support. Principal is not easy to work with. |
Anonymous
| I think that people on this board believe parents complaining about Ritchie Park are just typical DCUM complaints where no one is happy and their special snowflake is not being served. That is actually not it. Ritchie Park really is that bad. The principal is awful. Ineffective and not knowledgeable and when she doesn't know how to do something she makes something up or lies. She is a disservice to the community and MCPS as a whole. Parents have complained and nothing has been done. It is not just the parents. 1/2 of the staff left in her first two years. |
Anonymous
| Yikes! I'm not at Ritchie Park, but in the cluster. We like the community a lot. FWIW, I don't think I would reject a house which is a great fit financially and commute-wise, just because the current principal at the local elementary school sucks. You never know about things like that. You can buy a house elsewhere with an ES with a great principal and that principal may leave. It's definitely something to think about, but I doubt that would be a deal breaker for me. I think academically, Ritchie Park is a decent school and based on the community, I think the kids come from grounded, hard working families. That is likely not going to change in the short term, but a principal? you never know. |
Anonymous
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i'm the op... i do worry about the school because our older daughter is very very high energy. Not badly behaved or anything, but she needs almost *constant* stimulation and challenge. She talks and questions non-stop. She is in Montessori right now and is very happy...but she just turned 3 Sept 1 and is already reading.
We can't afford private/montessori her whole life, so I wanted a public school in MoCo that would stimulate her... |
Anonymous
| 10:17 here. OP, I can understand your concerns, absolutely! School principal is very important, but it's hard to make predictions about the administration of any school years down the line. You still have 2 years before she even starts K! A lot really depends on her teacher and you just don't know who you're going to get. What you can predict, however, is the community, the involvement of the PTA, the type of families and kids that will be in your school, the test scores, school facilities, number of kids per class, etc. You also have other factors to consider, like getting a great deal in this crazy expensive area!! Things almost never align perfectly. You just have to make the best decision you can - weighing all the factors - long term and short term. Have you called to see whether you can visit the school? Perhaps reach out to the PTA with some of your questions / concerns? That would be a good place to start. Like I said, getting a good deal on a home in this area, in a good (not the best, but definitely good) school cluster, would work for me. Good luck with your decision! |
Anonymous
OP, I just want to say that: 1. She's 3. She will change a lot in 3 years (or 2 years, if you decide to do Early Entrance to Kindergarten). 2. She will not be the only kindergartener in her class who can read. |
Anonymous
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I live in the neighborhood RP is in in and the neighborhood is fantastic. Kind, caring people. We look out for one another and our kids. We walk to school. I love the pool in the summer.
If the community hates the principal that the community needs to do something. Has anyone written a letter to the superintendent? |
Anonymous
Thank you...very sensible advice....I appreciate it. And I'm really glad everyone likes the community. |
Anonymous
My son is in kindergarten this year at Ritchie Park and enjoying it - he came from a Montessori preschool, too. My son is very high energy, too, and has had to get used to the stricter rules of elementary school, but nothing too bad. There are 6 kids in his "Level J" kindergarten reading group in his class so reading levels are definitely accommodated, at least in his kindergarten class. Haven't had any interactions with the Principal yet, so I can't speak to issues on that front. Hope this helps! |
Anonymous
| OP, we loved Ritchie Park, but we moved because we were concerned about JW and RM. |
Anonymous
| There's a new elementary school going into that Cluster in a few years (called Hungerford Park, but located on W. Edmonston) so your parents house might be rezoned into that brand new school. |
Anonymous
| I don't think that is definite yet..it has been delayed several times already. |