Where to move for lower pressure schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m 9:55 and also a psychologist.

With the additional information you provided, you might consider Frederick or upcounty MoCo. My kids are in a Silver Spring elementary (DCC for high school, in-bounds for Einstein) and it can still be more of a pressure cooker than W school parents believe it to be. Not in the same way, but there are TONS of parents here with PhDs who have very high academic expectations for their kids. I wish some of them would take it down a notch.

That said, there are plenty of reasonable parents and some of what you describe comes down to you as a parent. My oldest is in fifth and I’ve already had to be very explicit with her about these kinds of things, e.g., telling her clearly that her zoned middle school does not “suck,” no matter what her peers say. IME, there’s enough diversity, of all kinds, that she doesn’t feel much academic pressure from peers the way she likely would in a W feeder. You’re smart to ask for this feedback now.

I agree. Silver Spring resident here. Literally half the adults on my street have a PhD, with others having law and MD degrees. With “just”’a master’s degree, I am one of the least well-educated adults on my street, degree-wise. That being said, my kids and their friends have attended a wide variety of schools, from community college to Tulane to Stanford. I find people are supportive and make a conscious effort not to brag or make anyone feel less than for their kids’ choices. I hear the kids are like this as well.

You all need to read better. OP has said she is leaving the Silver Spring area because she can't afford it now that she is soon-to-be-divorced. Her budget is about $300-400K for a townhouse.

I would go with WJ area in MoCo with that budget. You may get rezoned to the new Woodward HS, but then that would be a brand spankin new HS with probably some good programs. But you will probably be limited to a 2 br condo with that budget.

And I say this as someone who lives in the RM cluster.

But that budget is a condo in the WJ cluster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi all,

I am currently living in Silver Spring and about to be a single mom so I am looking to move next summer before my son starts kindergarten. I’m looking for something more affordable (likely I’ll need a townhome), within an hour or so from Arlington without traffic, with schools that don’t have so much academic pressure and crazy homework loads even for young kids. Would appreciate any and all respectful input and places to consider. I will be posting the same thing in the Fairfax county thread and seriously considering Frederick as well. Really any neighboring counties. My head is just spinning with options are and I’m not really interested in school rankings because I think they mostly reflect SES rather than teaching quality, supportive administration, etc. My son will likely get an autism spectrum diagnosis but it’s very mild. That said, it’s possible he will need some services so that is something else I want to consider. He’s also incredibly bright so having options for some gifted programming would be nice, if he ends up needing more of a challenge. But I want to school to be something that is not crazy stressful because the rest of his life might be, plus I just want him to enjoy being a kid! Obviously I want him to have a solid education in a safe school.

Thank you!
-Stressed out mama

I responded in the other Maryland schools thread and in MoCo, I absolutely encourage you to check out Strawberry Knoll ES in Gaithersburg.

Do you mind elaborating more about Strawberry Knoll? Are you referring to the autism program there?

Not specifically the autism program there since I don't know much about it. I'm talking about the whole school. Overall, the communities that fall into it are highly engaged and tight-knit; and the principal is an absolute gem. While academics are important, there isn't that pressure that you would feel at other schools. It's a strong community with a very engaged PTA. My kids loved going there.

[Anonymous]

We’re in Arlington, which seems much lower pressure than MoCo and Fairfax. It’s expensive as heck though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re in Arlington, which seems much lower pressure than MoCo and Fairfax. It’s expensive as heck though.

Also, there is no homework until 9th grade in Arlington unless you go to one of the option schools where homework is part of the deal. And my daughter is just in Kindergarten, but so far she has gotten great IEP services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're open to staying in Silver Spring, Flora Singer Elementary has a learning center that serves kids with special needs. I have friends and neighbors who have had kids with autism spectrum diagnoses go there and have reported very good experiences. And it's a nice, friendly, down-to-earth diverse neighborhood school.

Thank you, that's right by my current house. Great to know, though I don't think I can afford anything in this area on my own.

Haven’t read the whole chain but there are cute townhouses by the gas station on Forest Glen road that are zoned for Flora Singer and in your price range. Would be an easy drive on the beltway to Arlington.

[Anonymous]

I find most MCPS schools are interchangeable despite what some people seem to think. Just pick a community you'd like to live in, and the rest will follow.

[Anonymous]

Baltimore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find most MCPS schools are interchangeable despite what some people seem to think. Just pick a community you'd like to live in, and the rest will follow.

So no difference between Kennedy and Churchill.... Ok got it, DCC stop complaining then

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find most MCPS schools are interchangeable despite what some people seem to think. Just pick a community you'd like to live in, and the rest will follow.

So no difference between Kennedy and Churchill.... Ok got it, DCC stop complaining then

Ya I think the same kid would do fine at either school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find most MCPS schools are interchangeable despite what some people seem to think. Just pick a community you'd like to live in, and the rest will follow.

So no difference between Kennedy and Churchill.... Ok got it, DCC stop complaining then

Ya I think the same kid would do fine at either school.

In fact, Kennedy has a much stronger IB program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're open to staying in Silver Spring, Flora Singer Elementary has a learning center that serves kids with special needs. I have friends and neighbors who have had kids with autism spectrum diagnoses go there and have reported very good experiences. And it's a nice, friendly, down-to-earth diverse neighborhood school.

We are at flora singer and like it a lot, but DC had still nightly homework in kindergarten, which surprised me. Although I guess maybe it’s an MCPS thing. But I can relate to what one other PP said about there being more pressure than you might think, still a lot of type-A personality parents in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm in Frederick. The city schools sound relatively low key from what I hear while not being terrible, but my oldest is only in 2nd. They have middling GS ratings and are more diverse than the more highly rated schools in the county.

HOWEVER, Google Frederick and special ed...the school system was under investigation for overuse of seclusion and restraint for students with disabilities. This would give me huge reservations about the ability of teachers and administrators to help these kids, and id want to ask serious questions of any school for an autistic student. OTOH, they should be under a serious microscope now, which could be a good thing.

PS a small house in the city is in your budget - rowhouse, townhouse, or small ranch. Also, my spouse and I have PhDs but low earning careers, and we're on a street full of delightful nerds mostly working in nonprofit and health care type jobs, who are fairly chill parents. So that's a nice thing about it.

Thanks, I’m seriously considering Frederick and have recently met with a realtor there and viewed some properties. Do you hear that the schools in the suburbs are more intense/competitive than the city schools? Or is it just that you’ve only heard about the city schools and not necessarily a comparison. I hear people saying the city schools are “rougher” but I’m trying to understand how different they are in terms of problem behaviors, fighting, etc compared to schools outside city limits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're open to staying in Silver Spring, Flora Singer Elementary has a learning center that serves kids with special needs. I have friends and neighbors who have had kids with autism spectrum diagnoses go there and have reported very good experiences. And it's a nice, friendly, down-to-earth diverse neighborhood school.

Thank you, that's right by my current house. Great to know, though I don't think I can afford anything in this area on my own.

Haven’t read the whole chain but there are cute townhouses by the gas station on Forest Glen road that are zoned for Flora Singer and in your price range. Would be an easy drive on the beltway to Arlington.

Thanks, I think I drove by those yesterday on my way home to check out some nearby options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I find most MCPS schools are interchangeable despite what some people seem to think. Just pick a community you'd like to live in, and the rest will follow.

So no difference between Kennedy and Churchill.... Ok got it, DCC stop complaining then

Ya I think the same kid would do fine at either school.

In fact, Kennedy has a much stronger IB program.

Agree Kenney's IB program is head and shoulders above Churchill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m 9:55 and also a psychologist.

With the additional information you provided, you might consider Frederick or upcounty MoCo. My kids are in a Silver Spring elementary (DCC for high school, in-bounds for Einstein) and it can still be more of a pressure cooker than W school parents believe it to be. Not in the same way, but there are TONS of parents here with PhDs who have very high academic expectations for their kids. I wish some of them would take it down a notch.

That said, there are plenty of reasonable parents and some of what you describe comes down to you as a parent. My oldest is in fifth and I’ve already had to be very explicit with her about these kinds of things, e.g., telling her clearly that her zoned middle school does not “suck,” no matter what her peers say. IME, there’s enough diversity, of all kinds, that she doesn’t feel much academic pressure from peers the way she likely would in a W feeder. You’re smart to ask for this feedback now.

I agree. Silver Spring resident here. Literally half the adults on my street have a PhD, with others having law and MD degrees. With “just”’a master’s degree, I am one of the least well-educated adults on my street, degree-wise. That being said, my kids and their friends have attended a wide variety of schools, from community college to Tulane to Stanford. I find people are supportive and make a conscious effort not to brag or make anyone feel less than for their kids’ choices. I hear the kids are like this as well.

You all need to read better. OP has said she is leaving the Silver Spring area because she can't afford it now that she is soon-to-be-divorced. Her budget is about $300-400K for a townhouse.

I would go with WJ area in MoCo with that budget. You may get rezoned to the new Woodward HS, but then that would be a brand spankin new HS with probably some good programs. But you will probably be limited to a 2 br condo with that budget.

And I say this as someone who lives in the RM cluster.

But that budget is a condo in the WJ cluster

Isn't WJ one of the pressure cooker schools?