Damascus or Sherwood

[Anonymous]

How would you compare these two high school and feeder tracks? Both seem to have a small-town feel and stress athletics, but what else is important to know if we are considering moving to one of these places?

[Anonymous]

OP here: Yes I am aware of the hazing incident at Damascus and that there has a change in principal and AD in the last year.

[Anonymous]

Sherwood is the better school. Team Sherwood.

[Anonymous]

I was going to say that Sherwood is more diverse, but they are pretty similar. So are their FARMS rates. Their graduation rates and suspension rates are pretty similar. And their SAT scores are close as well. Sherwood is a bit bigger.

I feel Olney is more diverse, but maybe I'm wrong about that.

There isn't much out in Damascus, but I guess you can get to Germantown easy enough.

[Anonymous]

OP, why are you considering moving to Olney or Damascus?

[Anonymous]

Bumping this thread to see if anyone has tidbits of knowledge.

Answering the question PP had above me, we’re considering moving to Damascus or Sherwood districts as we want a more relaxed small town feel without the hyper competitiveness of the W schools, but with some academic rigor. For what it’s worth we’re also considering Quince Orchard but that’s less likely since the elementary districts that we’d prefer there are a little pricier.

[Anonymous]

Oh dang we’re another family in the same pickle. Hope someone answers this, though I don’t think many folks in DCUM live in Damascus or Olney. Too far for most…

[Anonymous]

I think they are both very similar towns but Olney has a more upscale vibe about it? Gets you closer to Columbia and 29 etc.

They look very similar on paper

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04701.pdf

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/glance/currentyear/schools/04503.pdf

[Anonymous]

Sherwood 100%

Damasus is filled with MAGA and the hazing the community was horrible.

Damasus filled with rw nuts who are not bright.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bumping this thread to see if anyone has tidbits of knowledge.

Answering the question PP had above me, we’re considering moving to Damascus or Sherwood districts as we want a more relaxed small town feel without the hyper competitiveness of the W schools, but with some academic rigor. For what it’s worth we’re also considering Quince Orchard but that’s less likely since the elementary districts that we’d prefer there are a little pricier.

I live in East Montgomery Village (which I like a lot) and have spent many years driving around Damascus-Clarksburg-Germantown-Gaithersburg-Olney for various kid activities. I would move to Olney over Damascus. It has a tighter community feel. Olney has several neighborhoods with big swim teams (Tanterra, Olney Mills, Hallowell). I see groups of teens eating out all the time around Olney town center. I like think Rosa Parks MS (friends kid went there) is nicer than Wood MS (not impressed - my kid was bussed there for math in 5th grade).The Clarksburg build out is ridiculous IMO and they will still be shifting articulation patterns between ES, MS, and HS as they try to deal with the huge demographic bump of kids for the next 20 years. Schools are more stable in the Olney area.

Team Sherwood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sherwood 100%

Damasus is filled with MAGA and the hazing the community was horrible.

Damasus filled with rw nuts who are not bright.

So is Sherwood. A lot of racists too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would you compare these two high school and feeder tracks? Both seem to have a small-town feel and stress athletics, but what else is important to know if we are considering moving to one of these places?

Consider middle school. For example if you are looking at houses assigned to Hallie Wells MS in Clarksburg, you need to know that the school split articulates between Damascus HS and Clarksburg HS. Not sure if you would want your kids to go through that. I don't believe there's a split articulation for Rosa Parks MS in Olney.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you compare these two high school and feeder tracks? Both seem to have a small-town feel and stress athletics, but what else is important to know if we are considering moving to one of these places?

Consider middle school. For example if you are looking at houses assigned to Hallie Wells MS in Clarksburg, you need to know that the school split articulates between Damascus HS and Clarksburg HS. Not sure if you would want your kids to go through that. I don't believe there's a split articulation for Rosa Parks MS in Olney.

Also Damascus is a huge football school and their cheerleaders are one of the best in the state. So sports is king there and so are the athletes. Just trying to give you a view on what the culture is like there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sherwood 100%

Damasus is filled with MAGA and the hazing the community was horrible.

Damasus filled with rw nuts who are not bright.

Didn’t Sherwood ES parents just raise a raucous about the inclusive books recently added to MCPS libraries?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How would you compare these two high school and feeder tracks? Both seem to have a small-town feel and stress athletics, but what else is important to know if we are considering moving to one of these places?

Consider middle school. For example if you are looking at houses assigned to Hallie Wells MS in Clarksburg, you need to know that the school split articulates between Damascus HS and Clarksburg HS. Not sure if you would want your kids to go through that. I don't believe there's a split articulation for Rosa Parks MS in Olney.

No, but there is a huge split for Farquhar MS. They go on to Sherwood, Blake, Paint Branch, and Spring Brook.