Bethesda or NoVa Elem/Middle Schools?

[Anonymous]

We are relocating from California. My husband will work in Bethesda and my online research shows the schools there are great. We have one child entering Kindergarten and one in 4th Grade. On this side of the country, the advice has been to live in NoVa, but it seems like the commute would be awful. If the schools in Bethesda are great, then doesn't it make sense to live and work there? If we go with Bethesda I am looking at the Whitman or Johnson cluster because they are the closest to his work and seem to have the best scores. This has all been via online research, though. Are there better areas we should focus on? This is an amazing forum and I look forward to any advice you can offer. Thanks! T.

[Anonymous]

If he's working in Bethesda, I can't imagine seeking out NoVa (but I'm a Bethesda resident, so I'm biased). Traffic around here can be simply awful, so minimizing the commute is a big deal if he wants to eat dinner w/the family or participate in after school activities (e.g. coach a soccer team). If I were you, I would not rule out the BCC cluster-- he will still be close to work and the schools are just as good, and some would say better, but that's another argument..

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP- I would definitely live in Bethesda, and the BCC cluster is also very good.

[Anonymous]

It is not too difficult to get to Bethesda from Great Falls, McLean or Vienna, and the NoVa neighborhoods are less expensive than Montgomery County. But if keeping the commuting time down is important to you, you can pay MD prices, and you can tolerate Maryland taxes and liberal politics, you should indeed keep your sights set on the Bethesda area.

[Anonymous]

I live in NoVA and commute to MD (to much farther than Bethesda) and it is not a bad commute as long as you live close to the Beltway.

[Anonymous]

OP, maybe the question should be, what are you looking for, and why do you think NoVa might be good for you?

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks I will look into BCC as well. As far as NoVa goes, I am only considering because SO many people here have suggested it over MD.

We are taking a trip out next week to get a feel for the area and I think that will help. We are willing to have a commute if the advantages are considerable in the schools, neighborhoods, etc. but because I haven't been out there yet, I thought I'd pose the question here.

[Anonymous]

I'm totally biased in favor of NOVA in general, but there's no way I'd choose a big commute.

We all seem to have very strong opinions about which side of the Potomac is the better one. Truth is, they really aren't that different.

Also note that NOVA is very big. If you live toward Montgomery County, it is easier than if you don't. What are your other needs? How do you feel about driving, walking to stores etc.

On the other hand... I suppose it has gotta be easier to get from Vienna to parts of Bethesda than it is to come in from Germantown...

[Anonymous]

OP, that commute is sensitive. One accident costs the other drivers a lot of time. Yearly you are talking days on the road. I am in favor of Bethesda. BCC is a fine school, but I just don't like all the wacky maps for zoning there. Whitman and WJ are more simple.

[Anonymous]

I'm on the Maryland side so of course I'm biased...but, still, you are crazy to voluntarily choose to work on one side, live on another when you can live so close to work. The pp is correct--your husband could waste HOURS a day commuting. Why not make those hours time with the family?

[Anonymous]

You can't go wrong with schools in either areas, so I would definitely suggest living in Bethesda to minimize commute time.

[Anonymous]

I live in Arlington and work in Bethesda (NIH to be specific). my commute is short - 20 minutes to get there, around 35 min to come home. I love where I live and love where I work. I think the schools in Arlington are excellent, but they are everywhere in this area. I like Arlington co because it is a small county and well managed - you really see where and how your taxes affect you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Arlington and work in Bethesda (NIH to be specific). my commute is short - 20 minutes to get there, around 35 min to come home. I love where I live and love where I work. I think the schools in Arlington are excellent, but they are everywhere in this area. I like Arlington co because it is a small county and well managed - you really see where and how your taxes affect you.

And we live in Bethesda near NIH and love Montgomery County! As you say, pp, schools (and many services) are great in either place. It's good that the OP is visiting for herself--and if she posts with more details of what they're looking for (price, local amenities, school specifics, etc.) I'm sure people could help her narrow down her search.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in Arlington and work in Bethesda (NIH to be specific). my commute is short - 20 minutes to get there, around 35 min to come home. I love where I live and love where I work. I think the schools in Arlington are excellent, but they are everywhere in this area. I like Arlington co because it is a small county and well managed - you really see where and how your taxes affect you.

Are you taking metro? I'm surprised that you can get from Arlington to Bethesda in 20 minutes in rush hour traffic. What route do you take?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Arlington and work in Bethesda (NIH to be specific). my commute is short - 20 minutes to get there, around 35 min to come home. I love where I live and love where I work. I think the schools in Arlington are excellent, but they are everywhere in this area. I like Arlington co because it is a small county and well managed - you really see where and how your taxes affect you.

Are you taking metro? I'm surprised that you can get from Arlington to Bethesda in 20 minutes in rush hour traffic. What route do you take?

I thought the same thing, but it can't be metro because it's about 20 mins just to ride from NIH to Metro Center I think.