Wooton or QO

[Anonymous]

OP, I am a Wootton parent with an average child. The school is totally fine, all the posters posting know nothing of Wootton. My child is very average, and most likely will go to Montgomery College first. He has a mix of friends from low to high achievers, and they are all typical teenagers. In the 10 years in this cluster, I only ran across parents discussing grades and achievements, in elementary school. We live in a solidly middle class neighborhood, most of my neighbors are NIH scientist, college professors, etc., so education is stressed here, but nothing crazy. No mansions in my neighborhood. We feed to Fallsmead ES. Fallsmead has its issues, but overall it is a good school to be in. Parents are very involved, even though most of the PTA moms are working parents. The neighborhood is less culturally diverse than QO, so majority here are white and Asians.

[Anonymous]

QO is a special place . A good school that is in the center of a cohesive community on the edge of the agricultural preserve and has great school spirit/attitude. The kids treat each other very kindly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, trying to get this back on track. Whatever cluster you choose, pay CLOSE attention to the elementary school. Don't make a judgment only based on the high school when your kid isn't even in K yet. In our experience, the quality of the elementary schools in the Wootton cluster varies widely. We stupidly assumed that if we bought in that area, the schools would be comparable. We were wrong, and we now send DC to private. We would have been much better off buying a cheaper house in a less "desirable" school cluster and making the same private school decision.

You may also want to pay close attention to the MS. I think this must be where it starts with this cluster. I am actually not in either one, but have had the pleasure of encountering a group of Frost "athletes" and their mothers over the past year and cannot believe the level of competitiveness--and not in a good way--a few of them have introduced. Talk about toxic. I realize it's a generalization, but something to consider if, in fact, this hyper-competitiveness is happening at Wooton, Frost may be where it's starting. Why not look that the WJ cluster?

Want to talk about competitive? We have friends whose kids go to Sherwood and the competition over there for athletics is cut throat. If your kid is a "decent" athlete they don't have a chance at a sports team. There is a huge emphasis on sports (not as much on academics). Although I have no personal experience with QO, given their success in the athletics world (particularly football), I can't imagine that there isn't a huge sports culture there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:QO is a special place . A good school that is in the center of a cohesive community on the edge of the agricultural preserve and has great school spirit/attitude. The kids treat each other very kindly.

I guess that Quince Orchard is near the edge of the Agricultural Reserve.

[Anonymous]

Wooton is a top school for MCPS. I suspect the same child attended either school they'd receive a comparable education. The school's rating is based on an overall average. It isn't based on available opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am a Wootton parent with an average child. The school is totally fine, all the posters posting know nothing of Wootton. My child is very average, and most likely will go to Montgomery College first. He has a mix of friends from low to high achievers, and they are all typical teenagers. In the 10 years in this cluster, I only ran across parents discussing grades and achievements, in elementary school. We live in a solidly middle class neighborhood, most of my neighbors are NIH scientist, college professors, etc., so education is stressed here, but nothing crazy. No mansions in my neighborhood. We feed to Fallsmead ES. Fallsmead has its issues, but overall it is a good school to be in. Parents are very involved, even though most of the PTA moms are working parents. The neighborhood is less culturally diverse than QO, so majority here are white and Asians.

By "middle class," I know you mean upper middle class. Fallsmead is NOT middle class--it is upper middle class, unless you live in Washingtonian apartments. It feels like middle class for the area because the rest of the area is quite wealthy. Other than two sub-$200k condos in the Washingtonian his rise, the cheapest house for sale that goes to Fallsmead is listed at $739k. There is another house for $795. Then it goes into the $1m+ range. Sorry, that isn't middle class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:


By "middle class," I know you mean upper middle class. Fallsmead is NOT middle class--it is upper middle class, unless you live in Washingtonian apartments. It feels like middle class for the area because the rest of the area is quite wealthy. Other than two sub-$200k condos in the Washingtonian his rise, the cheapest house for sale that goes to Fallsmead is listed at $739k. There is another house for $795. Then it goes into the $1m+ range. Sorry, that isn't middle class.

On DCUM it is! On DCUM the rich are middle-class, the middle class are people who should have chosen to major in something more remunerative in college, and the poor are "the poors".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am a Wootton parent with an average child. The school is totally fine, all the posters posting know nothing of Wootton. My child is very average, and most likely will go to Montgomery College first. He has a mix of friends from low to high achievers, and they are all typical teenagers. In the 10 years in this cluster, I only ran across parents discussing grades and achievements, in elementary school. We live in a solidly middle class neighborhood, most of my neighbors are NIH scientist, college professors, etc., so education is stressed here, but nothing crazy. No mansions in my neighborhood. We feed to Fallsmead ES. Fallsmead has its issues, but overall it is a good school to be in. Parents are very involved, even though most of the PTA moms are working parents. The neighborhood is less culturally diverse than QO, so majority here are white and Asians.

By "middle class," I know you mean upper middle class. Fallsmead is NOT middle class--it is upper middle class, unless you live in Washingtonian apartments. It feels like middle class for the area because the rest of the area is quite wealthy. Other than two sub-$200k condos in the Washingtonian his rise, the cheapest house for sale that goes to Fallsmead is listed at $739k. There is another house for $795. Then it goes into the $1m+ range. Sorry, that isn't middle class.

You can get a house around 600-650 all along rockshire and watts branch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am a Wootton parent with an average child. The school is totally fine, all the posters posting know nothing of Wootton. My child is very average, and most likely will go to Montgomery College first. He has a mix of friends from low to high achievers, and they are all typical teenagers. In the 10 years in this cluster, I only ran across parents discussing grades and achievements, in elementary school. We live in a solidly middle class neighborhood, most of my neighbors are NIH scientist, college professors, etc., so education is stressed here, but nothing crazy. No mansions in my neighborhood. We feed to Fallsmead ES. Fallsmead has its issues, but overall it is a good school to be in. Parents are very involved, even though most of the PTA moms are working parents. The neighborhood is less culturally diverse than QO, so majority here are white and Asians.

By "middle class," I know you mean upper middle class. Fallsmead is NOT middle class--it is upper middle class, unless you live in Washingtonian apartments. It feels like middle class for the area because the rest of the area is quite wealthy. Other than two sub-$200k condos in the Washingtonian his rise, the cheapest house for sale that goes to Fallsmead is listed at $739k. There is another house for $795. Then it goes into the $1m+ range. Sorry, that isn't middle class.

You can get a house around 600-650 all along rockshire and watts branch.

2 houses have sold there for that price in the last 12 months. Hardly "you can get" material there...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, trying to get this back on track. Whatever cluster you choose, pay CLOSE attention to the elementary school. Don't make a judgment only based on the high school when your kid isn't even in K yet. In our experience, the quality of the elementary schools in the Wootton cluster varies widely. We stupidly assumed that if we bought in that area, the schools would be comparable. We were wrong, and we now send DC to private. We would have been much better off buying a cheaper house in a less "desirable" school cluster and making the same private school decision.

PP can you give a breakdown of what you know about the Wooten elementary schools? I am a mom of preschoolers so looking into neighbrohoods and elementary schools now. I fell in love with some neighborhoods zoned for Fallsmead. Nothing in my budget right now but Id love to hear feedback on whatever you know about the elem schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am a Wootton parent with an average child. The school is totally fine, all the posters posting know nothing of Wootton. My child is very average, and most likely will go to Montgomery College first. He has a mix of friends from low to high achievers, and they are all typical teenagers. In the 10 years in this cluster, I only ran across parents discussing grades and achievements, in elementary school. We live in a solidly middle class neighborhood, most of my neighbors are NIH scientist, college professors, etc., so education is stressed here, but nothing crazy. No mansions in my neighborhood. We feed to Fallsmead ES. Fallsmead has its issues, but overall it is a good school to be in. Parents are very involved, even though most of the PTA moms are working parents. The neighborhood is less culturally diverse than QO, so majority here are white and Asians.

By "middle class," I know you mean upper middle class. Fallsmead is NOT middle class--it is upper middle class, unless you live in Washingtonian apartments. It feels like middle class for the area because the rest of the area is quite wealthy. Other than two sub-$200k condos in the Washingtonian his rise, the cheapest house for sale that goes to Fallsmead is listed at $739k. There is another house for $795. Then it goes into the $1m+ range. Sorry, that isn't middle class.

Do houses ever sell for the 6's in Fallsmead?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I am a Wootton parent with an average child. The school is totally fine, all the posters posting know nothing of Wootton. My child is very average, and most likely will go to Montgomery College first. He has a mix of friends from low to high achievers, and they are all typical teenagers. In the 10 years in this cluster, I only ran across parents discussing grades and achievements, in elementary school. We live in a solidly middle class neighborhood, most of my neighbors are NIH scientist, college professors, etc., so education is stressed here, but nothing crazy. No mansions in my neighborhood. We feed to Fallsmead ES. Fallsmead has its issues, but overall it is a good school to be in. Parents are very involved, even though most of the PTA moms are working parents. The neighborhood is less culturally diverse than QO, so majority here are white and Asians.

By "middle class," I know you mean upper middle class. Fallsmead is NOT middle class--it is upper middle class, unless you live in Washingtonian apartments. It feels like middle class for the area because the rest of the area is quite wealthy. Other than two sub-$200k condos in the Washingtonian his rise, the cheapest house for sale that goes to Fallsmead is listed at $739k. There is another house for $795. Then it goes into the $1m+ range. Sorry, that isn't middle class.

Do houses ever sell for the 6's in Fallsmead?

1-5 houses will sell in the 6s. A couple of those will need major repair. The rest are older and not updated, with one-car garage or a car port--usually split-level models. Townhouses will sell for 500.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP. Do you mean 1-5 per year will sell in 6's? I just fell in love with Fallsmead neighborhood but budget is on 6's- wondering if its even worth it to hold out or if we should just move on and consider it wishful thinking ?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP. Do you mean 1-5 per year will sell in 6's? I just fell in love with Fallsmead neighborhood but budget is on 6's- wondering if its even worth it to hold out or if we should just move on and consider it wishful thinking ?

Yes. I found that just by doing a what sold recently on redfin. We looked at a house last year there that was in the 6s. Escalated into the 7s. Very nice house. We paid more and got a house elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks PP. Do you mean 1-5 per year will sell in 6's? I just fell in love with Fallsmead neighborhood but budget is on 6's- wondering if its even worth it to hold out or if we should just move on and consider it wishful thinking ?

Yes. I found that just by doing a what sold recently on redfin. We looked at a house last year there that was in the 6s. Escalated into the 7s. Very nice house. We paid more and got a house elsewhere.

What do you mean escalated to 7's?