Rockville HS cluster versus Richard Montgomery cluster

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have experience or input from those who do on how these clusters compare? Moving to Rockville area from NW DC and not sure which cluster would be a better fit for us. Would love to hear feedback from anyone who has it. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience or input from those who do on how these clusters compare? Moving to Rockville area from NW DC and not sure which cluster would be a better fit for us. Would love to hear feedback from anyone who has it. Thank you.

Both Rockville and Richard Montgomery are middle-class schools with a high diversity and close correlation to the diversity of the county as a whole--in both race and FARMS level. Both high schools have engaged parents. That is largely where the similarities end


Richard Montgomery has some higher level students in the school from the IB magnet program, as well as more families in the upper end of the SES spectrum from some wealthier neighborhoods. The schools offer very different experiences. Rockville is small--one of the smallest high schools in the county in terms of population. Richard Montgomery is nearly twice as big! That means RM can offer more programs and classes, but perhaps a less personal touch, especially between students. Both schools offer an IB program, but Rockville's is purely optional and only begins at 11th grade. Richard Montgomery's magnet IB is highly exclusive, but the rest of the students in the school take the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) starting in 6th grade (from middle school) and continuing through 10th grade. In 11th grade, the students can optionally continue the IB program. I would thus say that RM is more prescriptive in its standards. Rockville is more flexible. Rockville has a large program for students with hearing disability. This means that many classes will have interpreters for those students who need it.


Overall, I would say that both schools are good. Richard Montgomery has the reputation for being more rigid, but also offering a more rigorous academic experience (not jut for the magnet). Rockville offers more flexibility and a small-school environment.

[Anonymous]

The schools seem to be on par with one another performance-wise, with RM cluster maybe having a slight edge, as evidenced by the fact that its feeder schools (aside from Twinbrook) have slightly higher scores than those for Rockville HS. I don't think it's significant enough though to make a difference in terms of where I'd want to buy. I've heard nice things about the fact that Rockville HS is smaller than RM, so it feels like a cozier/closer-knit community. On the other hand, I personally prefer the look/feel of the neighborhoods west of 355 more than those east of 355, so that would make me lean toward RM, and may account for the slightly higher prices there as well. Lots of historic homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience or input from those who do on how these clusters compare? Moving to Rockville area from NW DC and not sure which cluster would be a better fit for us. Would love to hear feedback from anyone who has it. Thank you.

Both Rockville and Richard Montgomery are middle-class schools with a high diversity and close correlation to the diversity of the county as a whole--in both race and FARMS level. Both high schools have engaged parents. That is largely where the similarities end


Richard Montgomery has some higher level students in the school from the IB magnet program, as well as more families in the upper end of the SES spectrum from some wealthier neighborhoods. The schools offer very different experiences. Rockville is small--one of the smallest high schools in the county in terms of population. Richard Montgomery is nearly twice as big! That means RM can offer more programs and classes, but perhaps a less personal touch, especially between students. Both schools offer an IB program, but Rockville's is purely optional and only begins at 11th grade. Richard Montgomery's magnet IB is highly exclusive, but the rest of the students in the school take the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) starting in 6th grade (from middle school) and continuing through 10th grade. In 11th grade, the students can optionally continue the IB program. I would thus say that RM is more prescriptive in its standards. Rockville is more flexible. Rockville has a large program for students with hearing disability. This means that many classes will have interpreters for those students who need it.

This is great info. Thanks so much for taking the time!


Overall, I would say that both schools are good. Richard Montgomery has the reputation for being more rigid, but also offering a more rigorous academic experience (not jut for the magnet). Rockville offers more flexibility and a small-school environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone have experience or input from those who do on how these clusters compare? Moving to Rockville area from NW DC and not sure which cluster would be a better fit for us. Would love to hear feedback from anyone who has it. Thank you.

Both Rockville and Richard Montgomery are middle-class schools with a high diversity and close correlation to the diversity of the county as a whole--in both race and FARMS level. Both high schools have engaged parents. That is largely where the similarities end


Richard Montgomery has some higher level students in the school from the IB magnet program, as well as more families in the upper end of the SES spectrum from some wealthier neighborhoods. The schools offer very different experiences. Rockville is small--one of the smallest high schools in the county in terms of population. Richard Montgomery is nearly twice as big! That means RM can offer more programs and classes, but perhaps a less personal touch, especially between students. Both schools offer an IB program, but Rockville's is purely optional and only begins at 11th grade. Richard Montgomery's magnet IB is highly exclusive, but the rest of the students in the school take the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) starting in 6th grade (from middle school) and continuing through 10th grade. In 11th grade, the students can optionally continue the IB program. I would thus say that RM is more prescriptive in its standards. Rockville is more flexible. Rockville has a large program for students with hearing disability. This means that many classes will have interpreters for those students who need it.


Overall, I would say that both schools are good. Richard Montgomery has the reputation for being more rigid, but also offering a more rigorous academic experience (not jut for the magnet). Rockville offers more flexibility and a small-school environment.

This is great info. Thanks for taking the time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The schools seem to be on par with one another performance-wise, with RM cluster maybe having a slight edge, as evidenced by the fact that its feeder schools (aside from Twinbrook) have slightly higher scores than those for Rockville HS. I don't think it's significant enough though to make a difference in terms of where I'd want to buy. I've heard nice things about the fact that Rockville HS is smaller than RM, so it feels like a cozier/closer-knit community. On the other hand, I personally prefer the look/feel of the neighborhoods west of 355 more than those east of 355, so that would make me lean toward RM, and may account for the slightly higher prices there as well. Lots of historic homes.

Thanks very much for this feedback.

[Anonymous]

PP gave you great info.. I would have said something similar.. RM Parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP gave you great info.. I would have said something similar.. RM Parent.

Does anyone know if Richard Montgomery being a larger school means larger class sizes than Rockville or just more classes?

[Anonymous]

Class size and school size are two different unrelated issues.. A small school might end up with larger classes because they are only offering one section or a large school could end up with larger classes because more kids looking for spots.

[Anonymous]

My DC was at Barnsely HGC - part of Rockville cluster, though we live in the RM cluster. So, I have in a small way, experienced both. They are both fine and considered two of the most diverse in race and SES, with Rockville HS cluster being a bit on the lower SES, and maybe a bit less white.

As a PP stated, Rockville cluster is smaller than RM, and the housing prices on that side is cheaper. One good thing about RM cluster is that they set aside 25 seats in the RMIB certificate program for in bound students, not that it's any guarantee that your DC will get in.

Barnsely has HGC and lots of other programs that may bring down the score - like hearing impaired, etc..

College Gardens in RM cluster has chinese immersion, though it's lottery based, and the entire school is the only IB PYP ES in the county (I think).

The entire JW MS in RM cluster has the IB MYP.

So, the RM cluster has the full IB program from ES > MS > HS - if that's your thing.

[Anonymous]

Not necessarily school related, but we chose RM cluster also because we like Rockville Town Center.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC was at Barnsely HGC - part of Rockville cluster, though we live in the RM cluster. So, I have in a small way, experienced both. They are both fine and considered two of the most diverse in race and SES, with Rockville HS cluster being a bit on the lower SES, and maybe a bit less white.

As a PP stated, Rockville cluster is smaller than RM, and the housing prices on that side is cheaper. One good thing about RM cluster is that they set aside 25 seats in the RMIB certificate program for in bound students, not that it's any guarantee that your DC will get in.

Barnsely has HGC and lots of other programs that may bring down the score - like hearing impaired, etc..

College Gardens in RM cluster has chinese immersion, though it's lottery based, and the entire school is the only IB PYP ES in the county (I think).

The entire JW MS in RM cluster has the IB MYP.

So, the RM cluster has the full IB program from ES > MS > HS - if that's your thing.

and whether your DC can keep up with IB magnet kids.

[Anonymous]

OP - you should also be more specific regarding what you're looking for, and housing budget, commute, etc.. Rockville city is pretty big.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC was at Barnsely HGC - part of Rockville cluster, though we live in the RM cluster. So, I have in a small way, experienced both. They are both fine and considered two of the most diverse in race and SES, with Rockville HS cluster being a bit on the lower SES, and maybe a bit less white.

As a PP stated, Rockville cluster is smaller than RM, and the housing prices on that side is cheaper. One good thing about RM cluster is that they set aside 25 seats in the RMIB certificate program for in bound students, not that it's any guarantee that your DC will get in.

Barnsely has HGC and lots of other programs that may bring down the score - like hearing impaired, etc..

College Gardens in RM cluster has chinese immersion, though it's lottery based, and the entire school is the only IB PYP ES in the county (I think).

The entire JW MS in RM cluster has the IB MYP.

So, the RM cluster has the full IB program from ES > MS > HS - if that's your thing.

and whether your DC can keep up with IB magnet kids.

True, but from what I have heard, RM cluster kids are mostly doing great in the program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC was at Barnsely HGC - part of Rockville cluster, though we live in the RM cluster. So, I have in a small way, experienced both. They are both fine and considered two of the most diverse in race and SES, with Rockville HS cluster being a bit on the lower SES, and maybe a bit less white.

As a PP stated, Rockville cluster is smaller than RM, and the housing prices on that side is cheaper. One good thing about RM cluster is that they set aside 25 seats in the RMIB certificate program for in bound students, not that it's any guarantee that your DC will get in.

Barnsely has HGC and lots of other programs that may bring down the score - like hearing impaired, etc..

College Gardens in RM cluster has chinese immersion, though it's lottery based, and the entire school is the only IB PYP ES in the county (I think).

The entire JW MS in RM cluster has the IB MYP.

So, the RM cluster has the full IB program from ES > MS > HS - if that's your thing.

and whether your DC can keep up with IB magnet kids.

True, but from what I have heard, RM cluster kids are mostly doing great in the program.

I am about a year removed from IB program but when my kids were there, not too many kids joined in the 11th grade - too hard and too much work. IB kids look half dead by junior year due to lack of sleep.