Apologies for the pedestrian question, but my husband and I are planning a trip to Washington ahead of moving there (from the UK) later in the summer. We need to find a house to rent - does anyone recommend a particular realtor? I will be looking on Craigslist too ... Not quite sure what area yet but we would like to look in a few, from Bethesda to Wesley Heights. Thank you so much!

Really helpful. Am making a list of all suggestions ahead of a visit this month. Any others? Most grateful.

Thank you so much.

Thank you all. That is a very helpful list of RC schools.

Final Q, which public schools in northwest DC have made you and your children happy? Anyone reading, please tell me!

In the UK there are Church of England and Catholic government schools, which are often among the best (partly because they are somewhat selective or self-selecting anyway)

eldest is 8-year-old boy

Any particular recommendations in Bethesda, school-wise?

And are there any particularly well thought of Catholic private schools, before I check the fees? Thank you!

Thank you both. Budget is flexible because we are not paying the rent (but we don't have funds for private schooling by the sounds of it). I think up to $5,000 a month would be considered acceptable.

Hello,
I'd be really grateful for some advice. My husband and I, with our three children, are moving to Washington this summer and we are trying to work out where we should live. Our commutes will be to the northwest of the city but the area we live in will be determined by schools, inevitably enough. I know that lots of different elements make a "good" school but our eldest is currently at a fairly academic (relatively speaking) state (public) schools in London which is very disciplined and focused and he happens to love it; I know school starts a year later in the states and the system is different but I would like to give him as much continuity as possible. Which are the most academic elementary schools in the suburbs (since we cannot afford Georgetown and would like as much outdoor space as possible)? We have been told by many friends that Bethesda has good schools and is a good place to live - is there anywhere else we should be considering? I would like to know of all the best options, regardless of budget, so that I can make comparisons. And one final Q: are there any public Catholic schools and if not what are the private ones like? Which should I be looking at? Thank you so much for any suggestions.