Help a single parent find the right neighborhood and school (MD)

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone,

I'm moving to the DC area this summer from the Northeast and would love to know which areas might be the best fit, within out budget, for my family.

Some background:

I'm a single parent. I'm in the education non-profit sector and make around $80k per year. I have one son who will be starting Kindergarten in the fall. The absolute maximum house I can afford is $515k. We're also Jewish so an area with some Judaism, cultural more so than religious, would be appreciated.

I'm not overly familiar with the DC area, escaping NE due to an abusive EX. I'll have full custody.

Schools are definitely a top priority for me and my son. We'll be going the public route.

I'd ideally like the following in a school and neighborhood:

Friendly and social neighborhood (kids playing outside while adults socialize and watch, people help each other out in a bind, etc.)

Not to be the only Jewish family in the school and neighborhood

Racial, ethnic, and linguistic is a plus.

A decent commute to Bethesda (ideally under 25 minutes)

Other parents who are well educated (professors, scientists, teachers, lawyers, etc.)

A high FARMS or ESOL rate doesn't scare me but I don't want my son to be the only student who is white / Jewish.

Can anyone help point me in the right neighborhood or school? Any ideas or suggestions would be most welcome!

[Anonymous]

The areas north of Montrose Rd on either side of E. Jefferson St. in Rockville.

[Anonymous]

What schools would those neighborhoods go to? Are there any specific neighborhoods?

[Anonymous]

Farmland/Tilden/Walter Johnson. The houses between Montrose and Rollins, west of E. Jefferson, might be too expensive -- you'd have to look-- but there are also rental apartments and condos. A very international population. Walking distance to the JCC.

You can find the Farmland ES boundaries here: http://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/FarmlandES.pdf

[Anonymous]

I don't know if it's the same now, but I grew up in Manor Woods (Barnsley-Wood-Rockville), and a majority of my friends were Jewish (not orthodox, and I would say it was cultural more than religious). Zip code 20853, and your budget should be doable, although there is not too much on the market right now.

[Anonymous]

What about Kemp Mill? In Silver Spring?

I understand it's a very Jewish area - coworker lives there and when we drove through, we saw tons of huts(?) built for Sukkot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if it's the same now, but I grew up in Manor Woods (Barnsley-Wood-Rockville), and a majority of my friends were Jewish (not orthodox, and I would say it was cultural more than religious). Zip code 20853, and your budget should be doable, although there is not too much on the market right now.

There is actually a Jewish school right in that neighborhood. On Arctic. Berman Academy

[Anonymous]

Silver spring. A single mom without much money, you'll fit right in over there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Farmland/Tilden/Walter Johnson. The houses between Montrose and Rollins, west of E. Jefferson, might be too expensive -- you'd have to look-- but there are also rental apartments and condos. A very international population. Walking distance to the JCC.

You can find the Farmland ES boundaries here: http://gis.mcpsmd.org/ServiceAreaMaps/FarmlandES.pdf

Walter Johnson for $515k-there is no way.

[Anonymous]

One option is the west side of Silver Spring that is inbounds for Rosemary Hills Primary School. Excellent school that puts you on track for BCC high school. Better than the other options in Silver Spring, and a lot more affordable than most other things in the BCC catchment. The school is diverse and definitely has a good number of Jewish families.

Good luck OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Kemp Mill? In Silver Spring?

I understand it's a very Jewish area - coworker lives there and when we drove through, we saw tons of huts(?) built for Sukkot.

That neighborhood is heavily orthodox, and the kids don't go to public schools.

[Anonymous]

Potomac has town houses cost less than 500k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know if it's the same now, but I grew up in Manor Woods (Barnsley-Wood-Rockville), and a majority of my friends were Jewish (not orthodox, and I would say it was cultural more than religious). Zip code 20853, and your budget should be doable, although there is not too much on the market right now.

There is actually a Jewish school right in that neighborhood. On Arctic. Berman Academy

That school is Orthodox. There is a growing Orthodox community in the Aspen Hill area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Silver spring. A single mom without much money, you'll fit right in over there.

Wow-sers.

[Anonymous]

OP, you have brought out two types of posters -- the posters who assume Jewish means Orthodox (directing you to Kemp Mill) and the posters who hate Single Moms.

I posted in your other thread. I think Forest Knolls, Flora Singer, and Sligo Creek (Silver Spring Neighborhoods) 20910, 20901 are all good bets. These parts of SS have cultural Jewish roots but are not Orthodox. Great family feel, lots of kids. Parks. Very walkable.