Can you send your kid to a school in a different town?

[Anonymous]

We don't love the schools where we currently live in Montgomery County (Glenallan ES, Argyle, JFK)-my husband works in Rockville which I believe is supposed to be better or at least there are some better options? Is there a way we could send our kid there? We're a ways off from K but just wondering if this was even an option or if we will want to plan ahead to potentially move to a better district.

[Anonymous]

No, you can't send your kids to another school in Montgomery County. If you want to go to better schools, you need to move where the better schools are.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you can ask for a change. They usually only grant it if a school is under enrolled or you have a really good reason.

[Anonymous]

You need to get a COSA. Check out MCPS website. But your reasoning has to be sound, like childcare issues.

[Anonymous]

There are no towns here. There is one enormous school system.

Unless you get a Change Of School Assignment ("COSA") (difficult), your children must attend your assigned school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We don't love the schools where we currently live in Montgomery County (Glenallan ES, Argyle, JFK)-my husband works in Rockville which I believe is supposed to be better or at least there are some better options? Is there a way we could send our kid there? We're a ways off from K but just wondering if this was even an option or if we will want to plan ahead to potentially move to a better district.

The district is Montgomery County Public Schools.

[Anonymous]

OK sorry, using the wrong terms but I mean a different school other than your assigned one, I guess.

[Anonymous]

You should move if you don't like the schools.

[Anonymous]

Your chances of getting permission to transfer aren't great. You need to prove that there's an undue hardship. I agree that you should move if you don't like the schools.

[Anonymous]

NP here. "I don't like the school" is not considered as "undue hardship" BTW.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP here. "I don't like the school" is not considered as "undue hardship" BTW.

Families in my area do it all the time (think the next closest school cluster is much better). They all say it's a childcare issues and have family etc. that live in that other cluster. That may hold salt for elementary school but I don't get why they are permitted to continue through high school at the other cluster (childcare should no longer be an issue with teenagers). FWIW, most don't even have childcare issues as one parent is either SAH or WAH... big scam.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. "I don't like the school" is not considered as "undue hardship" BTW.

Families in my area do it all the time (think the next closest school cluster is much better). They all say it's a childcare issues and have family etc. that live in that other cluster. That may hold salt for elementary school but I don't get why they are permitted to continue through high school at the other cluster (childcare should no longer be an issue with teenagers). FWIW, most don't even have childcare issues as one parent is either SAH or WAH... big scam.

I see this same thing in my area. And they brag about it like they avoided the pit of doom or something because their kid goes to a school that is rated one point above the neighborhood school (going from a 7 to an 8) on Great Schools. I've just learned to ignore them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here. "I don't like the school" is not considered as "undue hardship" BTW.

Families in my area do it all the time (think the next closest school cluster is much better). They all say it's a childcare issues and have family etc. that live in that other cluster. That may hold salt for elementary school but I don't get why they are permitted to continue through high school at the other cluster (childcare should no longer be an issue with teenagers). FWIW, most don't even have childcare issues as one parent is either SAH or WAH... big scam.

I see this same thing in my area. And they brag about it like they avoided the pit of doom or something because their kid goes to a school that is rated one point above the neighborhood school (going from a 7 to an 8) on Great Schools. I've just learned to ignore them.

Some people get a COSA for valid reasons and some even "downgrade" to a school that is worse than the one where they live. Regardless, they live in MoCo and pay county taxes like everyone else. They should be allowed to transfer if they have a valid reason to do so. I think the entire county should do a better job at intergrating the racial and socioeconomic makeup of all the schools in MoCo in order to ensure that all kids get a fair shot at a decent education.

[Anonymous]

Hello neighbor!
Just curious, OP, if you have actually visited Glenallan or are simply basing your decision on the admittedly awful great schools score?
Several families in my neighborhood including my family have opted to give the school a shot for K and been pleasantly surprised. The things I am not as thrilled about with it seem to be issues at almost all MCPS schools currently (lack of sufficient math differentiation) - even the highly rated ones - based on the feedback on this board.
If your DH works in Rockville you likely will be able to get a COSA (although I personally think the county should limit these much more than it does) but I'd also suggest you at least check out the ES.

[Anonymous]

Hi PP,

I haven't visited Glenallan actually, but it does have such a bad score it seemed like it couldn't possibly be good! Although I do know it has a new building and everything. So glad you've been pleasantly surprised. I honestly want to give K a shot and then decide but my husband didn't like the idea of changing. Thanks for all the helpful information! Does your child like his/her teachers etc?