HI - we are moving into the Wayside ES boundary for Fall 2025 (from Olney, MD) and I have an incoming 4th grader, we just got an email that invited our daughter to attend Cold Spring ES to take part in the CES magnet program. Does anyone have more recent experience with choosing Cold Spring. The commute is not bad at only 2 miles from our new home.

Loved the book series!

Didn’t realize there was an actual local school named Wayside.

My kids stayed in two ESs in the area, elder one in an ES in the Wootton Catchment, and younger one in Wayside. So far the experience with Wayside is way much better. The teachers pay much attention on the academia, encouraging lower ES students to write full stories everyday (and even graded it every several days), and communicating with parents through weekly newsletter. They are very reachable, so do the administrative staffs. I couldn't be more happier, as my older one didn't get the chance to write a full essay in a whole year when he was at 3rd grade with the previous ES (both are ranked high on greatschools and schooldigger).

No experience with the actual school, but it always makes me smile when I drive by. Wayside school books are DD's favorite!

Anonymous wrote:Relatively new principal so teacher turnover is expected. I am not a fan of the principal, and the assistant principal is nice but ineffective. Lots of bento boxes for lunch, with some kids bringing their own placemats. Like any school, some kids are happy and some are not

Huh? What the heck do bento boxes have to do with anything? Or placemats, for that matter?

Anonymous wrote:We’ve had two kids go K-5 at Wayside, 2nd child just finished there. I’m really going to miss Wayside as we had an amazing experience for both kids. Almost every teacher they had was incredible. It’s a very friendly, tight, and involved community. Families and some teachers come to events and it’s just a fun place. We like the principal- she’s approachable, communicative, and truly wants the best opportunities at Wayside. I hear people complain about MCPS but I hardly ever hear complaints about Wayside. I wish your children an amazing experience like we had!

Ie don’t ruin my property value!

Teachers are miserable all over mcps...so there is no escape unless you go to private.

Thank you for your replies- they make me feel much better. Sounds like I was just near some negative nellies!

We’ve had two kids go K-5 at Wayside, 2nd child just finished there. I’m really going to miss Wayside as we had an amazing experience for both kids. Almost every teacher they had was incredible. It’s a very friendly, tight, and involved community. Families and some teachers come to events and it’s just a fun place. We like the principal- she’s approachable, communicative, and truly wants the best opportunities at Wayside. I hear people complain about MCPS but I hardly ever hear complaints about Wayside. I wish your children an amazing experience like we had!

Relatively new principal so teacher turnover is expected. I am not a fan of the principal, and the assistant principal is nice but ineffective. Lots of bento boxes for lunch, with some kids bringing their own placemats. Like any school, some kids are happy and some are not

I am a parent there and just had one of my kids finish kindergarten. I heard that one of the kindergarten teachers just left and took a position elsewhere , maybe up county but I don’t know if it’s true or not. That’s the only teacher I heard of leaving the staff this year but maybe I missed something

We are new to the area and my children are zoned for Wayside. Since we got here, I have heard rumblings at the pool about teachers not being happy at the school and some leaving. I don't feel comfortable interjecting as I am mostly eavesdropping ( ), but it does make me nervous. I have 2 kids going into two different grade levels. Is this just idle pool gossip or are there really a lot of teachers leaving because they are unhappy? Is the school a positive and happy place for kids? Is the principal supportive of staff and students?

I was a teacher and quit during Covid, so I know how much an unhappy staff can impact a school!