Planning a move to Wootton HS School District

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Wootton kids are very friendly in our experience. While many have known each other since elementary school, a good number of students move into the area between upper elementary and 9th grade. Its so common that the elementary schools in the cluster are all substantially under enrolled while Wootton is at capacity.

Are you kidding me? The reason Wootton cluster elementary schools are under-enrolled is because Wootton parents actively fight any effort that might result in kids of middle-class or working-class parents to be in Wootton boundaries -- and god forbid FARMS students pollute their precious schools.

They are underrenrolled because most neighborhoods off Dufief Mill Road are aged retirement communities of empty nesters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCUM hates Wootton so be ready for that. If your kid is academically driven, she will do fine at Wootton. Having a lot Asian kids, it’s a competitive environment which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Actually, I think opposite. DCUM loves all W schools including Wootton; although Wootton in their eyes barely makes the W category. Any other school outside of that is considered ghetto so if you think the same, then by all means make the move.

[Anonymous]

They are underrenrolled because most neighborhoods off Dufief Mill Road are aged retirement communities of empty nesters.

Yeah no. Do you live there? Halloween is huge there with tons of kids. Lots of kids at the bus stops for ES, MS and HS.

The neighborhoods further south with the big houses and big lots tend to have older kids so lots of MS and HS but fewer ES kids.

[Anonymous]

Doubtful there are lots of kids when DuFief has like a total enrollment of 75-100 total. Absolutely true that the Wootton cluster ESs are shockingly under enrolled, to the detriment of other clusters.

[Anonymous]

Doubtful there are lots of kids when DuFief has like a total enrollment of 75-100 total. Absolutely true that the Wootton cluster ESs are shockingly under enrolled, to the detriment of other clusters.

There are lots of MS and HS kids. We had the same experience at Travilah. A handful of kids at the bus stop in ES but tons of kids at the bus stop for MS and HS. Loved Travilah but it would have been fine to have more ES kids there. Travilah didn't have very many FARMS kids but did a lot to make sure that the FARMS kids did not feel left out. Our PTA always raised money for the guidance counselor to buy t-shirts for kids who couldn't afford them, give them credits to buy stuff at the book fair, cover the cost of field trips, pay for a homework club including bus service home for extra help after school, and other things. I think Travilah would welcome FARMS kids and they would do well there if their families were OK with a longer bus ride. Gaithersburg families protested very loudly when the possibility of coming to Wootton came up years ago because of the bus distance. I don't blame them because it is far away. I wouldn't want my kid on a long bus ride either.

MCPS is finally going to rezone some Rachel Carson kids into Dufief but haven't made any plans to increase the physical size of Frost or Wootton so no idea how that will play out. I think the problem is that the county doesn't have any money to expand Wootton. If they bring in more ES kids then they need to increase the size of Frost and Wootton. Wootton is physically a very small school and has never been renovated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have any first hand knowledge of Wootton? Or is it only what you have read here?

You need to visit the school, look at the housing market. Can you find a house (and win a bid) in the Wootton cluster? Is your current house ready for the spring market?

This is a decision that I would research the heck out of, and not crowd source.

There is a townhouse in my neighborhood that’s been on the market for two months. Everything has slowed down. OP can move here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCUM hates Wootton so be ready for that. If your kid is academically driven, she will do fine at Wootton. Having a lot Asian kids, it’s a competitive environment which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Actually, I think opposite. DCUM loves all W schools including Wootton; although Wootton in their eyes barely makes the W category. Any other school outside of that is considered ghetto so if you think the same, then by all means make the move.

I post that I hate Wootton. But I might be the only one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wootton is a very competitive environment, but if your DC is a top student that is great. It is almost plurality asian, the main student body difference is the lack of hispanic/black/low income students at Wootton. I think your DC will be perfectly fine at Clarksburg so I don't really think it is worth it to move, but if your DC really wants Wootton then I would say go for it. It is really good for Asian students with more resources and clubs geared towards that demographic.

Like what? Honest question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doubtful there are lots of kids when DuFief has like a total enrollment of 75-100 total. Absolutely true that the Wootton cluster ESs are shockingly under enrolled, to the detriment of other clusters.

Sounds like the diversity bus should stop there...

[Anonymous]

Wootton parent here, I'm curious too as to what clubs and resources are only good for wealthy asians?? Seriously scratching my head on that one. Do you go to Wootton?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wootton is a very competitive environment, but if your DC is a top student that is great. It is almost plurality asian, the main student body difference is the lack of hispanic/black/low income students at Wootton. I think your DC will be perfectly fine at Clarksburg so I don't really think it is worth it to move, but if your DC really wants Wootton then I would say go for it. It is really good for Asian students with more resources and clubs geared towards that demographic.

Like what? Honest question.

DC is at Wootton and I've heard of Asian American student union, one of the biggest clubs in the school for starters... also Bollywood Dance Club, Korean dance club, Cricket club, South Asia student association, Muslim Student association, I'm sure I'm missing some. I doubt any other school in MCPS has this many cultural clubs regarding just one region of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wootton is a very competitive environment, but if your DC is a top student that is great. It is almost plurality asian, the main student body difference is the lack of hispanic/black/low income students at Wootton. I think your DC will be perfectly fine at Clarksburg so I don't really think it is worth it to move, but if your DC really wants Wootton then I would say go for it. It is really good for Asian students with more resources and clubs geared towards that demographic.

Like what? Honest question.

DC is at Wootton and I've heard of Asian American student union, one of the biggest clubs in the school for starters... also Bollywood Dance Club, Korean dance club, Cricket club, South Asia student association, Muslim Student association, I'm sure I'm missing some. I doubt any other school in MCPS has this many cultural clubs regarding just one region of the world.

I wouldn't call "south Asia...", "Korean dance..." and "Muslim student ..." as "clubs regarding JUST ONE REGION of the world".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wootton is a very competitive environment, but if your DC is a top student that is great. It is almost plurality asian, the main student body difference is the lack of hispanic/black/low income students at Wootton. I think your DC will be perfectly fine at Clarksburg so I don't really think it is worth it to move, but if your DC really wants Wootton then I would say go for it. It is really good for Asian students with more resources and clubs geared towards that demographic.

Like what? Honest question.

DC is at Wootton and I've heard of Asian American student union, one of the biggest clubs in the school for starters... also Bollywood Dance Club, Korean dance club, Cricket club, South Asia student association, Muslim Student association, I'm sure I'm missing some. I doubt any other school in MCPS has this many cultural clubs regarding just one region of the world.

Bollywood and Korean dance is not in one region.

Muslim association has nothing to do with region.

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Here are some clubs in RM if you are taking entire Asia

Chinese Culture Club
Asian American Club
Persian Club
Badminton club

[Anonymous]

You can look up the clubs on the school's web site. Lots of great options and a good amount of women's clubs ranging from engineering, global rights, leadership and business.

I got a kick out of seeing the following clubs listed:

Data Science Club - now that has to be a wild bunch of kids.

Public Policy Club - for those not daring enough for the thrill of data science

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can look up the clubs on the school's web site. Lots of great options and a good amount of women's clubs ranging from engineering, global rights, leadership and business.

I got a kick out of seeing the following clubs listed:

Data Science Club - now that has to be a wild bunch of kids.

Public Policy Club - for those not daring enough for the thrill of data science

As some who works in IT with data, holy crap. That is super nerdy. I admit, I was in the computer club in MS/HS (and this was yeeeaars ago before being a software developer was cool), but the "data science" just seems so .. specific.