Bethesda Elementary Schools?

[Anonymous]

Which elementary schools in Bethesda/Potomac are considered the best? To give perspective, I went to private school my whole life while DH is a product of the Bethesda public school system. I'm starting to consider the possibility of public school for our DCs and know that the schools in this area are considered "good", but how do they compare with a good private? Are there any elementary schools in the area that could almost be like a private?

Thanks for any input.

[Anonymous]

Carderock Springs

[Anonymous]

PP - why do you say that about Carderock Springs?

[Anonymous]

I believe that all Montogmery County schools have the same state curriculum. So you are then looking at facilities, size of student body (always growing and adding trailers), and PTA involvment. I would recommend touring all of them - I wish I had before moving to the Westbrook neighborhood. It is a shabby compared to Wood Acres just 1/4 mile away.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry too much about the building, more about the teachers/staff. Although some MCPS schools might be old, their teachers can still be great. Bradley Hills ES ----pretty old school building, great teachers/principal....and one of the top elem. schools in the state!

[Anonymous]

farmland is a good one. very diversified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP - why do you say that about Carderock Springs?

NP here. I'd like to hear the answer to this as well.

[Anonymous]

NP here too - I think that most of the curriculum is "standard" in MOCO, but there are "optional" subjects that can be taught. For example, crazy as it sounds, I think that both Science and Social Studies are not required at the elementary school level. It is at the discretion of the teacher whether or not this is taught.

When you tour these schools, you should ask whether or not the teachers use the "kits" that MOCO provides for Science and Social Studies. At our elementary school, the teachers teach science and social studies, maybe 1-2 times a week alternating between the 2 subjects. It's not much, but better than NEVER at all.

Some schools care more about test scores than anything else because they don't want to get on the NCLB "bad" list. If test scores are low, the kids are probably spending most of their days "prepping" for the test and not getting much enrichment. It's really sad that these kids must have such BORING days (and the poor teachers, too!).

But when test scores are consistently high, then the teachers are able to do less test prep and offer some additional enrichment.

Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I believe that all Montogmery County schools have the same state curriculum. So you are then looking at facilities, size of student body (always growing and adding trailers), and PTA involvment. I would recommend touring all of them - I wish I had before moving to the Westbrook neighborhood. It is a shabby compared to Wood Acres just 1/4 mile away.

Yes but given Wood Acres is 3x the size of Westbrook, I wish I had done the same and moved to your neighborhood!

[Anonymous]

I just have one in K, but we love Burning Tree. Warm, engaged community; great communication between school/home; lots of parent involvement; strong, long-tenured teachers (as far as I can tell); very international student body.

Don't have experience w/private so I can't compare, but don't think you can go wrong at BT.

I've also heard great things about Bradley Hills, Carderock, and Somerset.

You can also check out the websites for each of the school's PTA (rather than just for the school itself). But you should really visit in person to get the best sense of fit.