We had been hoping a house would come on in Garrett Park but that was just not going to happen with our timeline. It felt like Bannockburn was similar and without trains so we are excited, thanks for the feedback.

Yes...I have had that response since finding out about this community. It is officially Bethesda, very close to Glen Echo Park, within 495.
https://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&q=bannockburn+MD&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-8&ei=-9KEU57oCaTf8AGW14DACA&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ

We are about to seal the deal on a house we love (like crazy love) in Bannockburn. It is further out than I originally wanted, but the community, pool and clubhouse kind of have me sold. Is the elementary school a happy place, and do families hang out, let children roam free?? Thanks!

We are considering a home in Garrett Park. We currently live in TX. I am familiar with Silver Spring and Takoma Park because I went to college at U MD/College Park. I have never been to Garrett Park. We have 3 girls (4, 8, 11 years old) and want a great family friendly, fun community. Garrett Park seems to totally fit the bill and be close to husband's work at Walter Reed. Am I missing something about this neighborhood? Please share any information you have, we are coming into town Wednesday and at this point I am nearly willing to buy a house there sight unseen, the market is kind of a bummer right now.

Hi! I was trying to locate the OP for this thread. We are in a similar boat. We are moving to MD this summer and coming to the area over memorial day weekend to buy a house. We have a child starting 6th grade this fall (as well as an 8 year old and 4 year old). I am very interested in the same school cluster, but a little lacking in information about Sligo middle school. Any info about the middle school you can share, or contacts you could email me?? Thanks!

Newport Mills is one of the Middle Schools, as well as Silver Spring International and Westland. It just really depends on what house is on the market 10 days from now, and if we feel comfortable enough to include Sligo Middle School in the mix.

I realize middle school is the weak link. However, I have been reading reviews of middle schools for about a year now and most of the information from parents (or those that claim to have information) about sligo are negative, it is less so from other middle schools. So it has made sligo stick out. There are nice houses in that area so I don't want to rule it out if the administration has changed and the school is doing better. Most info on dcurban seems to be from spring 2013. Sadly, we are buying a house over a weekend and moving in by August so touring a school with our child is not an option, unless we rent which we are trying to avoid. I am less interested in academic issues and more school culture and if families are involved, bullying problems stuff like that.

We are moving to MD from TX. We will get to town in about 2 weeks to start the house hunt. I have been avoiding homes that feed into Sligo Middle School as we prep for the house hunt. What do people think about that school? My daughter will be in 6th grade this fall. She has been moved around a great deal for schools (partly because we have moved and partly because she is smart and TX public schools are kind of crummy), she spent the last year at BASIS and did fine. Thanks for sharing your thoughts

I have loved Edie Brickell forever, and this is the best thread ever. Her defense was "what i am is what i am"

Thanks 1153! All my High School info is from reading stuff online about schools, discussion forums, reviews and here https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/regulatoryaccountability/safetyglance/fy2012/fy2012.shtm

It seems most refer to WJ and WW as "pressure cookers" and they don't say that about BCC. So it's a pretty random evaluation of the high schools, but kind of all I have from Texas.

Ok 1140...NCC resident. Do you know anything about the neighborhood behind the med center. Spring Valley Rd to Connecticut AVe. It's like 3 streets, but it's near the rec center and looks great.

Op here...husband is at NIH area. He thinks Takoma Park is too far. Everything I have read leads me to believe it's about 30 minutes, but we won't be there until late May to work it out and make a decision. I think it's no biggie and he would only catch it to drive home. In my view I live at home he lives at work so I should win this one. I would love to be in the Takoma Park Middle School cluster.

I would do garrett park, but there is one house on the market now right by the train tracks. I think it's a tough cult to buy into, sadly

OP here...My eldest daughter is quite smart (currently at the new BASIS in Texas and thriving) but super sensitive. So I'm worried about the culture of WJ from what I've read online regarding the wealth of the school population (as we can't match it) and the pressure cooker atmosphere. BCC seems a better match school wise, while we can afford 800 it is our upper limit. I think we could do well in Kensington...people need to start selling some houses though.

Anyone know about the neighborhood between Spring Valley Rd and Connecticut AVE in North Chevy Chase? It's a little island of a neighborhood but there is a great house on market there now.

https://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&q=8808+SPRING+VALLEY+Rd+CHEVY+CHASE,+MD+20815&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x89b7c9387fe21577:0x866a0b816dcf24ef,8808+Spring+Valley+Rd,+Chevy+Chase,+MD+20815&gl=us&ei=G7dfU5iiKMLC8AH274HoDg&ved=0CCcQ8gEwAA

Anyone know about this little island neighborhood between Spring Valley Road and Connecticut AVE in North Chevy Chase? I'm a little in love with it, the school cluster, and it closeness to Metro and Med center. Are there kids/families in the neighborhood?

Thanks!