Wyngate ES

[Anonymous]

Hello-

We are considering buying in the the neighborhood west of Old georgetown road - called Wyngate. The house is zoned for Wyngate ES and North Bethesda MS. Our daughter will start school from the next school year. We like the house and neighborhood and commute will not be unbearable for me and DH.

So, any Wyngate and North Bethesda parents out there-

1. How has you experience been at Wyngate? Are the teachers nice?
2. Any experience in how many kids go to Barnsley from Wyngate for HGC?
3. Is bullying a concern in North Bethesda-MS?

General questions-

1. Is this a neighborhood where many NIH employees (scientists/administrators) live?
2. Is there is community feeling?

Thank you everyone for the input.

[Anonymous]

I'll be curious to see what people say: I grew up there, and there were TONS of NIHers. Of course, that was before the McMansions descended, so not sure how affordable it is for most government employees anymore. I was in the old neighborhood the other week and my childhood street is decimated. It used to be fairly affordable. I loved Wyngate and growing up there, but that was a long time ago.

[Anonymous]

I can't imagine people who work at NIH can afford it. We sure can't.

[Anonymous]

There are still sub-800K houses there.....

[Anonymous]

We live there. The schools are good, but very big. The teachers range from good to really amazing, and there's a very nice community feel. Lunch and recess are the real weak spots, as there are just too many kids out there for the space and the mcps paid aides aren't great. I think that's true at most mcps public schools probably.
One thing I like about the school/neighborhood is that there are a lot of scientists, some military, and a lot of foreign families associated with the world bank or imf. So there's an interesting mix of people---not just lawyers, defense contractors and lobbyists like some communities around here.
Wyngate does not really seem like the stereotype you see on dcum about Bethesda schools--it seems more middle class to me. I have noticed a tendency among people buying the expensive new year downs to send their kids to private school...not all of them, but a higher percentage than those in the older houses. Those folks are not as well integrated into the neighborhood.
Our kids are not in north Bethesda middle school yet, but I've talked to a lot of parents with younger kids at Wyngate and older kids at north Bethesda, and they all say they are very happy there.

[Anonymous]

That entire neighborhood is turning into a cluster of Mcmansions with kids mostly attending privates.

[Anonymous]

Not a Wyngate family, but I have an 8th grader at NBMS. No bullying concerns at all. We've been very happy with the school.

[Anonymous]

We have felt that the Wyngate ES community is very wealthy. I've been disappointed in many of the families I have met, who have made us (a middle class family of two government workers) feel inadequate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have felt that the Wyngate ES community is very wealthy. I've been disappointed in many of the families I have met, who have made us (a middle class family of two government workers) feel inadequate.

As the first PP, reading this makes me so sad. It used to be a completely normal place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have felt that the Wyngate ES community is very wealthy. I've been disappointed in many of the families I have met, who have made us (a middle class family of two government workers) feel inadequate.

Have they MADE you feel inadequate, or do you have a chip on your shoulder?

[Anonymous]

I posted earlier. I live in the neighborhood. To the one who said the rich folks make you feel inadequate, you're hanging out with the wrong folks. I'm the mom driving around with big dents in the side of my car and a purse I bought at the grocery store. Come find me! I'm very friendly!

There's still a lot of middle class folks I the neighborhood (or at least middle class by dcum standards, meaning a government salary or two). Military families too. And a lot of working moms (doctors etc.) who may have some money but don't really have time for the money snobbery (e.g., the shoes and country clubs and whatever else rich people might be snobby about) and mostly just shop at target.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. any changes in the school since the new Principal took over?

[Anonymous]

So far I really like the new principal! Seems like a genuinely nice guy and very present around the school. I think he is sort of more open to parent ideas...the former principal was very experienced but sort of had her own ideas of how things should be. The new guy is sort of more open to change. So far so good!
Also loooove the new counselor, as do my kids. She's very sweet and seems to connect well with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So far I really like the new principal! Seems like a genuinely nice guy and very present around the school. I think he is sort of more open to parent ideas...the former principal was very experienced but sort of had her own ideas of how things should be. The new guy is sort of more open to change. So far so good!
Also loooove the new counselor, as do my kids. She's very sweet and seems to connect well with them.

Great feedback thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So far I really like the new principal! Seems like a genuinely nice guy and very present around the school. I think he is sort of more open to parent ideas...the former principal was very experienced but sort of had her own ideas of how things should be. The new guy is sort of more open to change. So far so good!
Also loooove the new counselor, as do my kids. She's very sweet and seems to connect well with them.

I disagree. The Principal's impact on the school is mixed, at best. The teachers seem to have withdrawn into a shell unsure of what to think of the Principal. He seems capricious in decision making and does not involve the long time teachers. At least teo of the teachers are thinking of transferring. And as we know (specially for ESs) a school is as good as its teachers. Greatschools somehow increased its rating from 9 to 10, however. Go figure!