Affordable neighborhoods with good schools in MoCo - is there such a thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the schools in Rockville any better than those in the DCC area of Silver Spring? Especially would be interested in a comparison of Blair and Richard Montgomery (yes, I know I can look at their stats online).

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=montgomery+blair+versus+richard+montgomery+high+school

http://public-schools.findthebest.com/compare/40883-40899/Montgomery-Blair-High-vs-Richard-Montgomery-High

Thanks smart ass. As I noted, I know I can get stats, etc., online. I was interested in people's experiences, opinions, and hearsay about the two schools.

"Especially would be interested in a comparison of Blair and Richard Montgomery"

How can anyone have experience with both high schools, in two different parts of the county? What kind of opinions could you possibly hope to get regarding such a comparison?

Let's see.

People move.

Kids test into IB at RM.

Kids test into magnet or cap at Blair.

divorce

What am I missing?

These programs are not valid points of reference because they are test-in, highly competitive magnets. So you are really looking for people whose children have been in the regular programs at both Blair and RM.

I suppose a few such people could exist (divorce, move), but it's doubtful there are enough of them to expect that any might be on this forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in the Einstein district but our kids are in elemntary school. We bought before they were born and never imagined that we'd stay. But the time goes quickly and the housing market tanked. Now that my kids are both in school it seems much harder to uproot them. So I do wish we'd bought elsewhere. Just another perspective. I imagine we will stay here and hope that the ms and HS improve or are better than people on DCUM think they are.

If you are getting your information about your local schools from DCUMers, the vast majority of which have no personal experience with them, you are not well-informed. Talk to your neighbors, visit the schools, make a judgment based on real information from real people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are the schools in Rockville any better than those in the DCC area of Silver Spring? Especially would be interested in a comparison of Blair and Richard Montgomery (yes, I know I can look at their stats online).

I am an RM graduate and it was a great school when I was there. The administration is a little crappy now, but it is still a good school. Rockville HS is also a good school; one of the smallest HS in the county and in the 20853 zip. Rock Creek Valley and Flower Valley ES are excellent ES and Wood MS is good too, but stay out of 20853 that feeds into Wheaton Woods ES, Brookhaven and Parkland MS. Bad, bad, bad. RM and Rockville are much better than the DCC schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live in the Einstein district but our kids are in elemntary school. We bought before they were born and never imagined that we'd stay. But the time goes quickly and the housing market tanked. Now that my kids are both in school it seems much harder to uproot them. So I do wish we'd bought elsewhere. Just another perspective. I imagine we will stay here and hope that the ms and HS improve or are better than people on DCUM think they are.

If you are getting your information about your local schools from DCUMers, the vast majority of which have no personal experience with them, you are not well-informed. Talk to your neighbors, visit the schools, make a judgment based on real information from real people.

I was joking about the last part re DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the schools in Rockville any better than those in the DCC area of Silver Spring? Especially would be interested in a comparison of Blair and Richard Montgomery (yes, I know I can look at their stats online).

I am an RM graduate and it was a great school when I was there. The administration is a little crappy now, but it is still a good school. Rockville HS is also a good school; one of the smallest HS in the county and in the 20853 zip. Rock Creek Valley and Flower Valley ES are excellent ES and Wood MS is good too, but stay out of 20853 that feeds into Wheaton Woods ES, Brookhaven and Parkland MS. Bad, bad, bad. RM and Rockville are much better than the DCC schools.

Bad, bad, bad, bad is code for many Hispanics and blacks. Don't dare say that.

[Anonymous]

I hear good things about Forest Knolls and Highland View in SS. Both feed into Silver Spring International Middle School. If I were looking, I'd probably consider those areas at this point. I also hear great things about Oakland Terrace. Its current middle school, Sligo MS, doesn't seem to be as highly rated as some others, but I know people who are pleased with it. It's hard to know what to do about HS. I will have to reassess as DS gets closer to that stage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear good things about Forest Knolls and Highland View in SS. Both feed into Silver Spring International Middle School. If I were looking, I'd probably consider those areas at this point. I also hear great things about Oakland Terrace. Its current middle school, Sligo MS, doesn't seem to be as highly rated as some others, but I know people who are pleased with it. It's hard to know what to do about HS. I will have to reassess as DS gets closer to that stage.

Oakland terrace no longer feeds into Sligo.

[Anonymous]

To previous poster, Oakland Terrace does feed into Sligo Middle School, as will the new DCC 29, Flora M. Singer ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To previous poster, Oakland Terrace does feed into Sligo Middle School, as will the new DCC 29, Flora M. Singer ES.

Well, starting this year it will no longer feed into Sligo. It will feed exclusively to Newport Mill and DCC 29/Singer will feed exclusively to Sligo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't understand how people with very young children, or no children at all, worry about the character of a HS their (sometimes imaginary) children will enter perhaps 15 years down the road. That school may be completely changed, and the school that everyone touts as family-friendly with a wonderful principal may have gone to the dogs.

Because Einstein and Wheaton have been the worst two high schools in Montgomery County since the 1950s, and because a property's high school assignment affects property value and appreciation potential.

I'm not really concerned about the state of affairs in the 1950s, but this year Einstein students made the best 1-year jump on SATs in the county, and now rank 10th out of 25 high schools on SAT scores. Here it is: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/einsteinhs/aboutus/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm not really concerned about the state of affairs in the 1950s, but this year Einstein students made the best 1-year jump on SATs in the county, and now rank 10th out of 25 high schools on SAT scores. Here it is: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/einsteinhs/aboutus/

I guess that's good news. But the percentage of Einstein students who take the SATs is quite low for an area school, and it's vaguely disconcerting to think county funds are used to prepare cheesy articles quoting the principal on how Einstein now compares more favorably with other schools in the same county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I don't understand how people with very young children, or no children at all, worry about the character of a HS their (sometimes imaginary) children will enter perhaps 15 years down the road. That school may be completely changed, and the school that everyone touts as family-friendly with a wonderful principal may have gone to the dogs.

Because Einstein and Wheaton have been the worst two high schools in Montgomery County since the 1950s, and because a property's high school assignment affects property value and appreciation potential.

I'm not really concerned about the state of affairs in the 1950s, but this year Einstein students made the best 1-year jump on SATs in the county, and now rank 10th out of 25 high schools on SAT scores. Here it is: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/einsteinhs/aboutus/

There is a huge difference bet Einstein and the top HS in Maryland. The college readiness percentage at Churchill is 85, Einstein is 46. The AP participation compares at 89% and 84% passed vs 64% participated and only 40% passed.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/maryland/rankings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are the schools in Rockville any better than those in the DCC area of Silver Spring? Especially would be interested in a comparison of Blair and Richard Montgomery (yes, I know I can look at their stats online).

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=montgomery+blair+versus+richard+montgomery+high+school

http://public-schools.findthebest.com/compare/40883-40899/Montgomery-Blair-High-vs-Richard-Montgomery-High

Thanks smart ass. As I noted, I know I can get stats, etc., online. I was interested in people's experiences, opinions, and hearsay about the two schools.

"Especially would be interested in a comparison of Blair and Richard Montgomery"

How can anyone have experience with both high schools, in two different parts of the county? What kind of opinions could you possibly hope to get regarding such a comparison?

Let's see.

People move.

Kids test into IB at RM.

Kids test into magnet or cap at Blair.

divorce

What am I missing?

Someone who has taught at both?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There is a huge difference bet Einstein and the top HS in Maryland. The college readiness percentage at Churchill is 85, Einstein is 46. The AP participation compares at 89% and 84% passed vs 64% participated and only 40% passed.

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/maryland/rankings

If the original poster had said "Affordable neighborhoods with the best school in Maryland -- is there such a thing?" this answer might be relevant. It's certainly very impressive that 89% of students at a public school take AP classes, but it's such an extreme outlier that it's not fair to criticize other good schools because they don't match up. But if you really need your child to go to the best public school in the state, then no, Einstein would not be a good fit. You might also been in trouble if you need your child to go to the best public school in the nation. That one might not be nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You will get a nice house in Poolesville. Just don't tell anyone else. We don't need a whole lot of "W" type people moving up here.

Shhhh.