Working in Silver Spring, DH in Dulles....where should we live for best public schools for kid w/ASD

[Anonymous]

Contemplating a move once DH is back from deployment back to the DMV area. I have a few very promising options in Silver Spring, he is based out of Dulles.

I have a 4.5yo DS with ASD, he will be heading into kindergarten in the fall of 2020. I am absolutely clueless on where the best place to locate ourselves would be. We will definitely be renting. McLean/Tysons is central for both of us commute wise.

[Anonymous]

What’s your budget?

Is it impossible to get a job closer? Even McLean is really far from SS.

[Anonymous]

That’s going to suckkk. But, people I know who are I the same situation find the best to be around Potomac or Rockville, near 270 to get to VA.

[Anonymous]

That sounds like a tough commute for both, OP. What's your budget?

[Anonymous]

Budget for rent would be $2,500-3,500/month. We are cool with a 2 bedroom apt, this is not going to be a move that lasts for decades. 2 years max. Honestly, I don't want to move at all, but I also can't keep doing the functionally single parent thing 5 states away anymore, especially with a kid w/ASD.

I am having a hard time weighing the benefits of familar environment with daddy only one weekend a month versus unfamilar environment/school WITH daddy.

There is a position in Silver Spring that would change into telework. Once DH gets to a high enough GS level, he will be able to apply for jobs in our hometown (S. Florida area) and I could take the position back with me.

I just have no idea how the schools compare in Silver Spring, Bethesda, Mclean or Tysons, especially given my IEP-toting little fella.

[Anonymous]

Tilden MS is Rockville and I think Barnesly ES has a GT/LD program. I think they all feed into WJ. The commute from Rockville to SS will be easy. The commute to Dulles will not but the only way for a commute to Dulles to not be painful would be to live in VA.

If you can find a good ASD program in Fairfax then the long commute to SS from VA would be shorter than the reverse. There are many more more people commuting from MD to VA than VA to MD so you would have some reverse commute advantages even though the distance is still bad.

[Anonymous]

Kent Gardens has a great special Ed dept

[Anonymous]

Sligo Creek ES in Downtown Silver Spring has an ASD program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tilden MS is Rockville and I think Barnesly ES has a GT/LD program. I think they all feed into WJ. The commute from Rockville to SS will be easy. The commute to Dulles will not but the only way for a commute to Dulles to not be painful would be to live in VA.

If you can find a good ASD program in Fairfax then the long commute to SS from VA would be shorter than the reverse. There are many more more people commuting from MD to VA than VA to MD so you would have some reverse commute advantages even though the distance is still bad.

Former Tilden teach here. It is not. I did the reverse commute for the better part of a decade and felt so sorry for the poor souls headed the opposite way. Once you get to where 270 merges onto 495, it is a nightmare.

I highly recommend the Tilden program, but there is bus service if your child is accepted. If your child isn’t accepted, having him in-bounds won’t make any difference.

[Anonymous]

That depends, do you need help paying for services or not? Moco Maryland get the most funding in the entire country for asd funding, so if is something that’s a priority, I’d make sure you are on the md side.

I’m not familiar with the special needs programs in VA.

There is a bus service to any special needs program your child attends in moco, they are very accommodating. The pick up and drop off at your house.

[Anonymous]

Rockville to Silver Spring is a horrible commute. It takes me about an hour during rush hour while taking my DD from a weekly therapy appointment at about 9 am.

[Anonymous]

I wish there was a sticky post about Tilden’s program, but I suggest using the search function, OP, and reading about who gets in and what services they receive. It’s a godsend for a specific profile. And many families still decide to supplement with outside supports. If your child doesn’t fit that profile, he, you, the staff, and other kids in ASD will likely be frustrated. I know that angers some parents in this forum, but it is true. There ought to be more options to fit more kids.

[Anonymous]

Hmm...https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/805278.page;jsessionid=8ABF4F3DE6A69B5FFFCDA14EF20BDAEB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmm...https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/805278.page;jsessionid=8ABF4F3DE6A69B5FFFCDA14EF20BDAEB

Is this link working for anyone?

[Anonymous]

OP here, thank you everyone for the feedback hubby is going to start scouting.