Anonymous wrote:Do any parents of high-schoolers have suggestions for how to weigh commute in the decision process? DC is an excellent fit for RMIB, but the bus ride from us is an hour+. DC is a perfectly adequate fit for CAP, which is 10 min/bikable.

Any wisdom?? We’re going in circles. (Kid’s priorities aside for the moment as he’s been an unreliable reporter.)

If you can move closer to RM, do so if you are saying it is an excellent fit. If you can not move near RM, go with Blair. Getting to school and after school activities will make for a very long day on top of the work RMIB. Prioritize health.

Nope nope nope. Not worth it. Blair is a great school and your child will have a good experience

Anonymous wrote:I have a kid at RM and I agree that a 2 hour commute every day is not really feasible. Is that by bus? We ended up doing a carpool for our neighborhood to save the kids the morning bus ride. The afternoon was not as bad because we were the first stop so it was only 30 minutes.

OP here: All the feedback in the thread is really helpful, thanks.

To PP, yes, we’re the first stop on the route according to this year’s bus schedule, with a pick-up of 6:10 am. I have an elementary and middle schooler to get out the door and wouldn’t be available to drive that far in the morning. We could also drop at Blair for a different RM route, I suppose, which has a slightly later pick-up time (6:40) and a more direct schedule.

It’s good to hear that CAP is a strong program—it’s the only open house we missed and I’m feeling the lack of exposure. But DC likes all the program subjects (mostly because DC likes all subjects 😂).

It seems like the broad consensus is that no school is awesome enough to make up for the commute/early hours/distance from home community trifecta. Oof, that hurts my heart but is the reality check I needed. Thanks!

Commute was a big part of my kids' decision to stay at their home school and not apply to a magnet. They had a sane high school experience with extracurriculars and local friends.

If RMIB were a specialized program your child cared passionately about like if it was a theatre/performing arts program or a STEM program - something really unique that fits your child - I might make a different recommendation but that kind of commute is not worth it for an IB program which is so general.

Your child is really lucky to have the choice of a great magnet program 10 minutes from their house.

The only kid I know who did the RMIB commute from SS/Takoma area did not really fit in socially at their home school.

I have a kid at RM and I agree that a 2 hour commute every day is not really feasible. Is that by bus? We ended up doing a carpool for our neighborhood to save the kids the morning bus ride. The afternoon was not as bad because we were the first stop so it was only 30 minutes.

It’s not worth an hour long commute for your kid.

Ours decided not to partly because of commute (partly because of courses), but friend did it and said it wasn't a that bad. Kid loved RM.

I have a kid in RMIB and think it’s an awesome program. But my kid only commutes 20 minutes each way.

I would not do it for an hour commute.

My child was in exactly the same position two years ago, and chose Blair. It wasn't an easy choice, but given what we know about teen circadian rhythms, an extra hour of sleep every day weighed very heavily.

Given that my child would also be staying after school for sports, it was starting to look like a day that began with a 6:15 bus ride and ended with me or her dad driving across town every day in fall and spring because the sport would run later than the bus.

So, yeah, not worth it for my particular child. Zero regrets by the way. CAP is an exceptional program if that's your child's interest and Blair is a well run school with great opportunities.

Anonymous wrote:I would weigh it hugely. I have two high schoolers who stay after school almost every day or come home for an hour or two and then go back for a game or rehearsal or something. Plus they can sleep until 7:00 instead of lord knows how early with an hour ride. Go close by!

This. DC is in a school that is far away from home and you can't do this and it is a really big deal for a high schooler to be able to have a break before games, rehearsals, etc.

Don't do it. DC's friend tried and by the second quarter of 9th was dying and regretted it tremendously. The program was fine but just not worth the 2 hours every day.

It impacts the ability to do extracurriculars and feel close to the school too. Coming from Silver Spring Blair will be your community and he won't feel as connected to Rockville.

Academic's standpoint, RM/IB hands down but 1 hr+ commute for 4 years is hard to overcome.

I would weigh it hugely. I have two high schoolers who stay after school almost every day or come home for an hour or two and then go back for a game or rehearsal or something. Plus they can sleep until 7:00 instead of lord knows how early with an hour ride. Go close by!

Do any parents of high-schoolers have suggestions for how to weigh commute in the decision process? DC is an excellent fit for RMIB, but the bus ride from us is an hour+. DC is a perfectly adequate fit for CAP, which is 10 min/bikable.

Any wisdom?? We’re going in circles. (Kid’s priorities aside for the moment as he’s been an unreliable reporter.)