Reply to Looking for feedback on Downtown Silver Spring and Takoma Park area elementary schools

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Reply to "Looking for feedback on Downtown Silver Spring and Takoma Park area elementary schools"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Elementary schools are all very similar, the only differences are the kids and the resources the parents bring to the table. A few of them have unique attributes built in to their curriculum like better fields/playgrounds, both dedicated gym/stages AND cafeterias and a few even have a pool or planetarium. Some have programs such as immersion or CES but those typically draw from outside their zones.

Focus on the peer group you want for your kids knowing it will be amplified at middle and more so high school and which resources are important to you.  IMHO peer groups are almost as influential to child development as the parents. They will parent your child 8 hours a day and many times the child will care more about their opinions than yours. [/quote]

Although IME the things you cite as differences can make a pretty big difference in the experience of a school.

I’ll also add that the current principal and ability to retain teachers can make a very big difference.  You won’t be able to predict this very well long term, but this is an immediate term question.  I wouldn’t recommend ESS right now, unfortunately.  I’m not exactly sure what to expect for the coming school year, but the last couple of years, teachers have been leaving in droves.  I would avoid the school for that reason.

Woodlin is about to be classified as a Focus school which will mean smaller classes.  SCES and RCF both host immersion programs which can have pros and cons — the PTAs are large, involved, and well funded (especially compared to a school like ESS) but sometimes the immersion v academy divide can foster feelings of the haves v the have nots.

Takoma Park has a good reputation but is absolutely massive, for what that’s worth.[/quote]

I agree they make a huge difference, its why I was hinting that they should be the OP's focus instead putting weight on random anonymous testimonials from people who think their house will go up in value if more people like their school. Rich PTAs, a culture that values education (and enforce it) and ample facilities make for a positive environment. Positive environments make staff appreciation more likely which in turns increases staff stability which empowers management to be more selective. It's all related. Schools with less can preserver and students can become problems at any income, but the ratios are what they are.  No one would recommend New Hampshire Estates Elementary (which feeds Eastern and Blair) so everyone has a limit, serval of those schools are just a few clicks behind NHES.

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I know families at NHES that have had positive experiences. [/quote]

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