Overwhelmed with moving to MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering a move to MCPS from a small school district in the PNW. I am incredibly overwhelmed with all the schools and options.

I have one kid in middle school and one in elementary. Both are neurodivergent. Older kid is a high performer in all areas; was in the gifted program in her previous district. Younger kid is strong in math, not reading, and has other special needs.

It seems we are too late to get into magnet programs, and it’s difficult to find out about the honors and elective offerings for middle school.

I’m trying to decide what areas to focus on and I’m overwhelmed. We don’t have the budget for the top-performing areas. I keep finding articles about fights and drugs and weapons, and I’m nervous about safety.

Which schools or areas should I look into?

Some areas we are considering based on current research are:
-Takoma Park
-Four Corners
-Olney
-Damascus
-Clarksburg
-Urbana (not in MCPS and would be a longer than ideal commute, but seems to have a strong school system with less red-tape to navigate)

Both DD (twice exceptional) did the comprehensive program at TPMS and thrived. One went on to graduate from a high school magnet.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My advice: Find a residence you like and can afford, in an area you like, with transportation choices that work for your family.

I agree. Olney is a pretty far out suburb. Clarksburg and Damascus and Urbana are very far-out exurbs. A daily commute to DC from there would be excruciating.

Don't know exactly where you will be going, or if you are commuting every day, but there is a bus that leaves Urbana and travels down into MoCo and DC. My kid rides it all the way over the UMD in College Park when he has been home for the weekend. He loves it because it is comfortable and he can just chill while riding. It might be worth looking into.


Urbana would be a very different school from Cburg or Damascus.


Good luck. I know how hard it can be when you are trying to find the best location for all members of a family.

[Anonymous]

MCPS has experienced a great deal of change since the pandemic. It is not the school system it was 15 years ago.

We are getting a new superintendent for next year. Many people I know are hoping that he will cause MCPS to shift in a new direction more focused on academics and bringing down the number of students chronically absent, constantly on phones, and participating in negative behaviors such as fights, vaping, and drugs in the building.

I would suggest renting for a year. It will make your decision less permanent so that you can move again later if you want. Of course moving twice in a short time is not desirable, but it could make the first move less stressful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My advice: Find a residence you like and can afford, in an area you like, with transportation choices that work for your family.

I agree. Olney is a pretty far out suburb. Clarksburg and Damascus and Urbana are very far-out exurbs. A daily commute to DC from there would be excruciating.

Don't know exactly where you will be going, or if you are commuting every day, but there is a bus that leaves Urbana and travels down into MoCo and DC. My kid rides it all the way over the UMD in College Park when he has been home for the weekend. He loves it because it is comfortable and he can just chill while riding. It might be worth looking into.


Urbana would be a very different school from Cburg or Damascus.


Good luck. I know how hard it can be when you are trying to find the best location for all members of a family.

Yes, I ride the 515 bus or take MARC. It's possible to take one of these to Shady Grove/Rockville and then metro to the zoo. It'll probably take about an hour and a half each way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS has experienced a great deal of change since the pandemic. It is not the school system it was 15 years ago.

We are getting a new superintendent for next year. Many people I know are hoping that he will cause MCPS to shift in a new direction more focused on academics and bringing down the number of students chronically absent, constantly on phones, and participating in negative behaviors such as fights, vaping, and drugs in the building.

I would suggest renting for a year. It will make your decision less permanent so that you can move again later if you want. Of course moving twice in a short time is not desirable, but it could make the first move less stressful.

MCPS is the same or better at least in terms of opportunities. Test scores have slid with the massive changes to the county's demographics, but I can honestly say my kids DCC education is vastly better than my W education from 25 years ago.

[Anonymous]

Again, if OP waits too long she might get priced out of the area she decides she likes. We recently moved into a house we can no more afford if we had to buy it today. There are many such cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are considering a move to MCPS from a small school district in the PNW. I am incredibly overwhelmed with all the schools and options.

I have one kid in middle school and one in elementary. Both are neurodivergent. Older kid is a high performer in all areas; was in the gifted program in her previous district. Younger kid is strong in math, not reading, and has other special needs.

It seems we are too late to get into magnet programs, and it’s difficult to find out about the honors and elective offerings for middle school.

I’m trying to decide what areas to focus on and I’m overwhelmed. We don’t have the budget for the top-performing areas. I keep finding articles about fights and drugs and weapons, and I’m nervous about safety.

Which schools or areas should I look into?

Some areas we are considering based on current research are:
-Takoma Park
-Four Corners
-Olney
-Damascus
-Clarksburg
-Urbana (not in MCPS and would be a longer than ideal commute, but seems to have a strong school system with less red-tape to navigate)

2E mom here. Mcps has a reputation of excellence for 2e learners. Unfortunately, that reputation is unwarranted outside of specific magnet programs. Unless you have a guaranteed spot in a program, your children will be far better off in Urbana than they wl be in mcps. Mcps is overwhelmed with 2e learners and has no methodology for dealing with them in mainstream schools. Under the current conditions, they are met with contempt by teachers and administration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, stick to Kensington, Wheaton and Silver Spring. Every school is very hit or miss. It depends on the principal, vp and the actual teacher you get. You can be at the worst school and get a great teacher or be at the best school and get the worst teacher. All schools are having issues with behavior, violence and more. Its anyone's guess if things will improve with the new superintendent (we've been through 4 in a few years) as the BOE is a huge part of the problem. The commute with traffic is sole sucking.

Then nice thing about down county is you get to lottery into any DCC high school and are guaranteed your home school.

If you think your child needs an IEP get a private evaluation to document the need while asking for an IEP. Its very hit or miss depending on the principal. Regardless of the school, supplement outside of school.

Kensington parent -- and now grandparent -- here. We are the "hidden gem" of MoCo. Shhh, don't tell anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are considering a move to MCPS from a small school district in the PNW. I am incredibly overwhelmed with all the schools and options.

I have one kid in middle school and one in elementary. Both are neurodivergent. Older kid is a high performer in all areas; was in the gifted program in her previous district. Younger kid is strong in math, not reading, and has other special needs.

It seems we are too late to get into magnet programs, and it’s difficult to find out about the honors and elective offerings for middle school.

I’m trying to decide what areas to focus on and I’m overwhelmed. We don’t have the budget for the top-performing areas. I keep finding articles about fights and drugs and weapons, and I’m nervous about safety.

Which schools or areas should I look into?

Some areas we are considering based on current research are:
-Takoma Park
-Four Corners
-Olney
-Damascus
-Clarksburg
-Urbana (not in MCPS and would be a longer than ideal commute, but seems to have a strong school system with less red-tape to navigate)

2E mom here. Mcps has a reputation of excellence for 2e learners. Unfortunately, that reputation is unwarranted outside of specific magnet programs. Unless you have a guaranteed spot in a program, your children will be far better off in Urbana than they wl be in mcps. Mcps is overwhelmed with 2e learners and has no methodology for dealing with them in mainstream schools. Under the current conditions, they are met with contempt by teachers and administration.

Are you in FCPS?

My friends with 2E kids who live in FredCo are much unhappier with FCPS than those of us who live in MoCo and have kids in MCPS.

I agree that MCPS is overwhelmed with 2E learners and lacks sufficient seats to serve them all in the best environment, but FCPS seems to lack sufficient cultural buy-in that a student can be both gifted and need accommodations. In MoCo, there are plenty of advocates and groups to support parents pushing for what their kids need. That infrastructure seems to be missing in FredCo.

Please share if your experience differs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, stick to Kensington, Wheaton and Silver Spring. Every school is very hit or miss. It depends on the principal, vp and the actual teacher you get. You can be at the worst school and get a great teacher or be at the best school and get the worst teacher. All schools are having issues with behavior, violence and more. Its anyone's guess if things will improve with the new superintendent (we've been through 4 in a few years) as the BOE is a huge part of the problem. The commute with traffic is sole sucking.

Then nice thing about down county is you get to lottery into any DCC high school and are guaranteed your home school.

If you think your child needs an IEP get a private evaluation to document the need while asking for an IEP. Its very hit or miss depending on the principal. Regardless of the school, supplement outside of school.

Kensington parent -- and now grandparent -- here. We are the "hidden gem" of MoCo. Shhh, don't tell anyone.

Kensington is a wonderful place. It would be near the top of my list too, but almost any of the places the OP listed are fine. There really isn't much variation between schools in these places. Yes, there are variations in standardized test score averages that reflect differences in HHI, but the same kid will do the same at any of these schools. My point is figure out where you would like to live the most in terms of commute and community and base your choice off of that. The rest will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are considering a move to MCPS from a small school district in the PNW. I am incredibly overwhelmed with all the schools and options.

I have one kid in middle school and one in elementary. Both are neurodivergent. Older kid is a high performer in all areas; was in the gifted program in her previous district. Younger kid is strong in math, not reading, and has other special needs.

It seems we are too late to get into magnet programs, and it’s difficult to find out about the honors and elective offerings for middle school.

I’m trying to decide what areas to focus on and I’m overwhelmed. We don’t have the budget for the top-performing areas. I keep finding articles about fights and drugs and weapons, and I’m nervous about safety.

Which schools or areas should I look into?

Some areas we are considering based on current research are:
-Takoma Park
-Four Corners
-Olney
-Damascus
-Clarksburg
-Urbana (not in MCPS and would be a longer than ideal commute, but seems to have a strong school system with less red-tape to navigate)

You must be kidding!

No to Damascus and olney and Clarksburg. All are too maga morons.

Look you want good schools W clusters or possibly Quince Orchid.

Otherwise move to Howard county. Better schools at this moment in time.

+1

Clarksburg too maga???? Clearly you don’t know anything about the Clarksburg area. Clarksburg is so diverse.

Yeah, that comment is asinine. So many ignorant people here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are considering a move to MCPS from a small school district in the PNW. I am incredibly overwhelmed with all the schools and options.

I have one kid in middle school and one in elementary. Both are neurodivergent. Older kid is a high performer in all areas; was in the gifted program in her previous district. Younger kid is strong in math, not reading, and has other special needs.

It seems we are too late to get into magnet programs, and it’s difficult to find out about the honors and elective offerings for middle school.

I’m trying to decide what areas to focus on and I’m overwhelmed. We don’t have the budget for the top-performing areas. I keep finding articles about fights and drugs and weapons, and I’m nervous about safety.

Which schools or areas should I look into?

Some areas we are considering based on current research are:
-Takoma Park
-Four Corners
-Olney
-Damascus
-Clarksburg
-Urbana (not in MCPS and would be a longer than ideal commute, but seems to have a strong school system with less red-tape to navigate)

You must be kidding!

No to Damascus and olney and Clarksburg. All are too maga morons.

Look you want good schools W clusters or possibly Quince Orchid.

Otherwise move to Howard county. Better schools at this moment in time.

+1

Clarksburg too maga???? Clearly you don’t know anything about the Clarksburg area. Clarksburg is so diverse.

Yeah, that comment is asinine. So many ignorant people here.

Someone confusing Clarksburg with Damascus again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are considering a move to MCPS from a small school district in the PNW. I am incredibly overwhelmed with all the schools and options.

I have one kid in middle school and one in elementary. Both are neurodivergent. Older kid is a high performer in all areas; was in the gifted program in her previous district. Younger kid is strong in math, not reading, and has other special needs.

It seems we are too late to get into magnet programs, and it’s difficult to find out about the honors and elective offerings for middle school.

I’m trying to decide what areas to focus on and I’m overwhelmed. We don’t have the budget for the top-performing areas. I keep finding articles about fights and drugs and weapons, and I’m nervous about safety.

Which schools or areas should I look into?

Some areas we are considering based on current research are:
-Takoma Park
-Four Corners
-Olney
-Damascus
-Clarksburg
-Urbana (not in MCPS and would be a longer than ideal commute, but seems to have a strong school system with less red-tape to navigate)

You must be kidding!

No to Damascus and olney and Clarksburg. All are too maga morons.

Look you want good schools W clusters or possibly Quince Orchid.

Otherwise move to Howard county. Better schools at this moment in time.

+1

Clarksburg too maga???? Clearly you don’t know anything about the Clarksburg area. Clarksburg is so diverse.

Yeah, that comment is asinine. So many ignorant people here.

Someone confusing Clarksburg with Damascus again.

The distinction isn't all that significant to me.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP - welcome to the area. WRT special education, we are in one of the Bethesda clusters and had no difficulty getting a 504 plan in middle school when my kid started showing severe anxiety and was diagnosed through neuropsych. We did not try for an IEP.

The Bethesda clusters are BCC, Walter Johnson, and Walt Whitman. You can find the info on the elementary and middle schools for each high school here: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/Clusteradmin/Clusters/index

The BCC zone, particularly around Friendship Heights, is closest to the zoo on the Red Line. Walter Johnson zoned homes/rentals are also on the Red Line near Medical Center, Grosvenor-Strathmore, North Bethesda and Twinbrook.

Each of these school clusters is currently slated for a boundary study for reopening Woodward High School in Fall 2027. Woodward is slightly further north (about 1 mile) than Walter Johnson, so it is considered more Rockville or North Bethesda than Bethesda proper, but when all is said and done, no doubt that it will be a strong school. https://gis.mcpsmd.org/boundarystudypdfs/WoodwardHS_BoundaryStudyTimeline.pdf

It's a lot easier to find rentals in BCC or Walter Johnson, but Whitman has a few. Good Luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP - welcome to the area. WRT special education, we are in one of the Bethesda clusters and had no difficulty getting a 504 plan in middle school when my kid started showing severe anxiety and was diagnosed through neuropsych. We did not try for an IEP.

The Bethesda clusters are BCC, Walter Johnson, and Walt Whitman. You can find the info on the elementary and middle schools for each high school here: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/Clusteradmin/Clusters/index

The BCC zone, particularly around Friendship Heights, is closest to the zoo on the Red Line. Walter Johnson zoned homes/rentals are also on the Red Line near Medical Center, Grosvenor-Strathmore, North Bethesda and Twinbrook.

Each of these school clusters is currently slated for a boundary study for reopening Woodward High School in Fall 2027. Woodward is slightly further north (about 1 mile) than Walter Johnson, so it is considered more Rockville or North Bethesda than Bethesda proper, but when all is said and done, no doubt that it will be a strong school. https://gis.mcpsmd.org/boundarystudypdfs/WoodwardHS_BoundaryStudyTimeline.pdf

It's a lot easier to find rentals in BCC or Walter Johnson, but Whitman has a few. Good Luck!

They are eager to hand out 504s because they are giving the accommodations like preferential seating out to anyone; 504 or not. They are now stingy about iep plans because they lack the resources to enforce ieps.