Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

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.

Agree with what you're saying re: resourcing and a culture that values education contributes to a positive environment. With that in mind, are there any schools from the original list that are stronger in these areas than others? You mentioned that several of those schools are just a few clicks behind NHES; which ones would you put on that list?

Its complicated as many of those are split for younger kids and different for older kids resulting in 2 ES on that school track. Example NHES feeds to Oak View or TPES feeds (simply OK) Piney branch ES, while others are strong but feed lesser middle schools and high schools like Woodlin. The bests tracks are IMO are RCF and then TPES. Problem then is at those prices you start to hit entry level $$$ into the stronger school zones in the western portions of the county but that could be a crap shoot with the boundary assessment unless you go up another price point into entrenched communities like old Bethesda. The middle areas between the west county and the east county are simply the areas that will change the most no matter how it plays out. The balance between neighborhood, proximity to work, poverty and amenities is the choices we all make and people make different ones and thats ok. You need to figure out your comfort levels and go from there. Great kids will do great just about anywhere, what we are really talking about is what distractions Avg kids will be exposed to and how many resources are there to go around for kids who need extra help.

Rolling Terrace is a two-way Spanish immersion school, FYI.

Also, Oak View is a paired school with New Hampshire Estates. NHE goes up to 2nd, then OV is 3rd-5th.

The same split exists with Takoma Park and Piney Branch.

The rest of the schools on your list are more standard K-5 elementaries.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of flux right now. It isn't just boundary studies it also looking at reimagining our entire cluster structure.I'd rent in-bounds for an ES that I'm happy with then buy something once the boundary study and program analysis is done.

That makes a ton of sense. Is there a timeline on when boundary studies will be complete? Or a website that talks in detail about this?

Boundary decisions will be made in March 2026, to begin taking effect in August 2027 (at middle and high schools).

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/facilities/boundary-study/

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of flux right now. It isn't just boundary studies it also looking at reimagining our entire cluster structure.I'd rent in-bounds for an ES that I'm happy with then buy something once the boundary study and program analysis is done.

That makes a ton of sense. Is there a timeline on when boundary studies will be complete? Or a website that talks in detail about this?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

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.

I know families at NHES that have had positive experiences.

There is a lot of flux right now. It isn't just boundary studies it also looking at reimagining our entire cluster structure.I'd rent in-bounds for an ES that I'm happy with then buy something once the boundary study and program analysis is done.

Anonymous wrote:Take into account the feeder pattern unless you are leaving or going private at or before middle school.

OP here, and that is a very fair point. I know that there are several boundary studies going on right now, so some of this is in flux. But are the area of middle schools all fairly equal (in terms of education quality, resourcing, etc.)? Or are some stronger than others?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

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.

Agree with what you're saying re: resourcing and a culture that values education contributes to a positive environment. With that in mind, are there any schools from the original list that are stronger in these areas than others? You mentioned that several of those schools are just a few clicks behind NHES; which ones would you put on that list?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

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.

Anonymous wrote:Take into account the feeder pattern unless you are leaving or going private at or before middle school.

Difficult to do at the moment with the boundary study going on!

Although Takoma Park and ESS both look like they will probably solidly remain TPMS and Blair.

Anonymous wrote: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.

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.

Take into account the feeder pattern unless you are leaving or going private at or before middle school.

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.

We're at Highland View and like it. We've liked our teachers, and there's a great sense of community. There is A LOT of screen time, but I think that all MCPS schools are like that these days. We found the administration responsive the one time we had an issue.

That said, it's moving to a holding school during renovations for a year and a half starting next January. That would make me shy away if I had a choice, but I love the school/neighborhood.

Hi all. My family and I are moving cross-country to MoCo this summer. We have a rising 1st grader who will enroll in MCPS. As we're exploring housing, we're also wanting to be mindful of the elementary school we would be zoned to. Has anyone had kids who have recently (post-COVID) had kids go through any of the below schools and be open to sharing feedback about their experiences:

Highland View ES
Sligo Creek ES
Oak View ES
Takoma Park ES
Rock Creek Forest ES
Woodlin ES
East Silver Spring ES
Rolling Terrace ES
Rosemary Hills ES

I've looked up these programs' school report cards on eportcard.msde.maryland.gov, and while that's helpful I recognize that it doesn't come close to painting as full of a picture as qualitative feedback from recent families who have had kids at these schools. I would appreciate any feedback on how you liked these schools, particularly how teachers and administrators were (were they engaging with students, responsive to parents, etc.), use of screen time (this is a big issue at our current school), and community involvement.

Thank you in advance!