New Hampshire Estates ES, Immersion Lottery, or Private???

[Anonymous]

If DC doesn't get into an immersion program, his assigned school is New Hampshire Estates for K-2. I haven't actually visited the school yet, but I drove by and it kind of freaked me out a little that I would be sending DC to this school - it's really far from our house (totally bizarre that the boundary includes us - we probably have at least 5 elementary schools that are MUCH closer to our house), and to be honest, it's not in the nicest part of town. That, and the FARM rate is the highest I've seen on the MCPS website, and the test scores aren't impressive. The classes are apparently really small because it's a Title I school, and that seems unusual enough for montgomery county, so I guess that is a plus. I'm really hoping DC gets into one of the immersion programs do I can avoid the dilemma of having to decide whether to just give NHE a chance, or drop thousands of dollars to send DC to a private school those years. I'm so frustrated that MCPS has drawn boundaries that have nothing to do with proximity to the school - it just doesn't seem right.

And if we do go Private, I have no idea where to send him - especially since the plan would be to integrate him back into the public school system in 3rd grade.

Does anyone have any thoughts? Does anyone have a child at NHE? Is there ANY chance of getting into the immersion programs through the lottery? What private schools are affordable in Silver Spring? Moving is not an option. TIA

[Anonymous]

I post every time I see a Q about New Hampshire Estates, so sorry if I'm the anti-booster but ... don't do it.

Here's an illuminating thread, one in which I've posted:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/33113.page#376401

[Anonymous]

Certainly there is a chance that your child will be admitted to one of the immersion programs (did you apply to more than one?), but there are no guarantees and you do need a Plan B.

If NHE is not acceptable, you need a different Plan B. Are there lower-cost private schools that are an option? What about St. Bernadette in Woodmoor? I don't believe it's too expensive and it would get you to where you want to be (grade 2).

[Anonymous]

Grace Episcopal in Silver Spring is a lovely less expensive private school that may have spots open after the immersion lottery results come in. We're there (like most, did not get in from language lottery back in the day) and love it.