Schools in silver spring area

[Anonymous]

We’re thinking of moving to Silver Spring or nearby next summer. Coming from DC and will be commuting in on metro. Oldest of three will be starting K. Any recs for elementary school boundaries we should target? We are total newbies to MCPS. Ideally, we’d want a school that isn’t too big, and where most kids stick together through HS. Our housing budget is up to $850k. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Are there any particular parts of Silver Spring you're considering? Most of eastern Montgomery County is Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

Ha, shows you what I know! We haven’t narrowed it down really, but we’d like to be close to the red line, either the SS or Forest Glen stations.

[Anonymous]

Most of the kids in Silver Spring do not stick together through HS because Silver Spring is part of the Downcounty Consortium ("DCC") where kids can choose between 5 high schools based on their interests (it is a lottery, though, and some kids do get placed at their home school).

With a $850,000 budget, why aren't you looking on the other side of the red line in North Potomac, Rockville, or Kensington? With that budget, you'll be the most expensive house in the neighborhood if you're in Silver Spring. You may also want to consider Takoma Park if you're set on being on the east side of the county, and closer to DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of the kids in Silver Spring do not stick together through HS because Silver Spring is part of the Downcounty Consortium ("DCC") where kids can choose between 5 high schools based on their interests (it is a lottery, though, and some kids do get placed at their home school).

With a $850,000 budget, why aren't you looking on the other side of the red line in North Potomac, Rockville, or Kensington? With that budget, you'll be the most expensive house in the neighborhood if you're in Silver Spring. You may also want to consider Takoma Park if you're set on being on the east side of the county, and closer to DC.

This. Also consider Bethesda and N. Bethesda (nearby Grosvenor).

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks! That is helpful. Mostly looking to minimize commute time and want to stay closer in, but we are interested in Kensington or Takoma Park area too. And we’d of course be happy to pay less!

[Anonymous]

Where do you commute to?

[Anonymous]

Look off of Dale Drive in the Woodside neighborhood. Great schools and many homes in the ballmark of our budget. People on this board tend to comment quite a bit but not really know much about SS or the DCC. Happy house hunting!

[Anonymous]

Commuting to Petworth and Farragut.

[Anonymous]

Our experience is that most of the Takoma Park and East Silver Spring kids stay together through high school, as TPMS and Blair are both strong options.

Particularly as Piney Branch ES (the 3rd - 5th school in Takoma Park) now has its own gifted center, there's not a lot of reason for kids to leave unless they attend the Humanities magnet for middle school, and those kids end up back at Blair for the CAP magnet in HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our experience is that most of the Takoma Park and East Silver Spring kids stay together through high school, as TPMS and Blair are both strong options.

Particularly as Piney Branch ES (the 3rd - 5th school in Takoma Park) now has its own gifted center, there's not a lot of reason for kids to leave unless they attend the Humanities magnet for middle school, and those kids end up back at Blair for the CAP magnet in HS.

+1 Also live in TP and this has been our experience.

[Anonymous]

OP, have a look at the neighborhoods off of East-West Highway, Rock Creek Forest and Rosemary Hills. Easy access to the Silver Spring Metro (you can walk from Rosemary Hills or you can grab the bus). Rosemary Hills Primary School is K-2; kids then go onto North Chevy Chase ES for 3-5. Rock Creek Forest ES is K-5; the schools feed into the B-CC Cluster

[Anonymous]

Kensington is a great community and has a MARC station / near Forest Glen metro station.

You can also try homes that feed into Woodlin, Rosemary Hills, or Forest Knolls if you want to stay in SS.

The farther west/south you go, the more expensive the homes will be. You will get a lot of house for $850K in most of SS.

[Anonymous]

With the Petworth commute, I'd definitely consider these neighborhoods in this order of best commute to worst:

Takoma Park
Woodside in DTSS
Rosemary Hills (feeds to BCC, can bus or drive to Silver Spring Metro)
Kensington east of Connecticut off Saul Rd and near the mormon temple (could drive to Forest Glen metro, but during rush hour not all red line trains go to Glenmont, some stop in Silver Spring)

If you don't think you'll commute to Petworth long term, definitely consider the area around Grosvenor metro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kensington is a great community and has a MARC station / near Forest Glen metro station.

You can also try homes that feed into Woodlin, Rosemary Hills, or Forest Knolls if you want to stay in SS.

The farther west/south you go, the more expensive the homes will be. You will get a lot of house for $850K in most of SS.

Flora Singer is an excellent school and most of the neighborhood is walking distance to Forest Glen. You will get a lot for your money at your budget.