Elementary Schools in Bethesda

[Anonymous]

Why are some of you people so impolite and unpleasant on these forums? Why can't you act civil the way you presumably would in a face to face communication?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Rosemary Hills?

There won't be any Bethesda residents attending Rosemary Hills in the next few years - will be all Chevy Chase, Silver Spring, and some Kensington. Regardless, I wouldn'y recommend it. We're going private b/c we want to avoid RH. Crowded, HUGE, and we get some pretty disturbing reports from neighbors who have or do send their kids there.

Our daughter is at RH and she and we love it. Great teachers, love the other parents, very active PTA.

I have no idea how this post was supposed to be helpful. What is a "disturbing report." Speak of what you know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's not scare the OP but be very clear that what is happening with what is called the BCC cluster is a de facto East/ West divide starting at the k - Elementary levels. If you look at projected demographics you will see an increased percentage of Farms and Esol students for K, Elementary and Middle school levels east of Wisconsin Avenue. You will also see a sharp contrast with what these same numbers are for schools West of Wisconsin Avenue. This contrast was sharpened recently by a push from East Bethesda parents to remove their K-2 students from Rosemary Hills and move them to Bethesda Elementary while removing "Eastern" residents who were going to East Bethesda 3-5.

There is wide controversy as to the benefits, consequences and motivations for this process. In the long run, it will benefit the real estate market on the western side of Wisconsin Avenue.

It may be hard to believe, but many of us east of Bethesda pay less for our homes, enjoy our schools, and don't lose sleep at night over the number of children receiving free lunch there. Shame on people for paying a massive housing premium to stay away from poor or nonwhite children.

[Anonymous]

Um, back to op's question ... Op, I think that all the Bethesda elem schools are fine - I'd think about where in Bethesda you want to live (near the metro, or close to the beltway, or close to VA commuting, etc) and then look at the elem schools in that area. Also, I can't speak to WJ, but you may want to think about if you have an opinion on Whitman vs BCC high school - both are strong academically, but BCC is more diverse and has a slightly more urban feel (all the grades can leave campus for lunch, lots to walk to so many kids hang out in downtown Bethesda after school) whereas Whitman is pretty white and very suburban in feel. GL.

[Anonymous]

How much juggling and stress MCPS parents have to go through to provide for their kids appropriate education! Would not it be nice if the required GT services were available in all the home schools in MCPS, so that parents did not have to uproot families and move in search of a better school?

Plan to show up at the GT forum on March 22 at Magruder HS. See thread http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/221871.page for details.

Post your comments and questions at GTA site http://www.gtamc.org/2012-gt-forum before hand.