Wood Acres Has been fantastic for our children

Anonymous wrote:They’re doing an ES boundary study next so nowhere is safe.

Seriously???

Sorry if I missed big news in the last year or two, my kids are in college. I still own a home in MoCo and attempt (sorta) to pay attention to things that impact our neighborhood...

The truth is MCPS is a single school system and most of the differences between schools are attributable to the demographics of the school, so if you find a neighborhood you like at a price you can afford you will probably be ok with the school.

Don’t let people stress you out too much about boundary redrawing— there were so many people here upset at going to the new middle school and now it’s just another middle school.

We've been very happy at Oakland Terrace Elementary School (OTES). Kid is in 1st grade and all her teachers have been stellar and she loves school. One thing with this school to be aware of is there is a whole school two-way Spanish/English immersion program, which was a big draw for us and so far DC enjoys it. However, I will say I do know families whose kids did not do well with Spanish immersion due to special needs, and had to switch to a different school (MCPS has a process for this that I am not super familiar with).

OTES feeds into Newport Mill MS and Einstein HS. We don't have direct experience with these schools but know kids who have graduated recently and are doing great. None of the latest boundary options change this articulation - we are very close to Einstein HS.

The neighborhood is lovely and it's a walking school meaning only a small number of kids get a bus. Very nice families. Also, when we were house hunting I did not realize how nice it is to be part of a swim club for summers - but Kenmont is my happy place in the summer months now.

Voice of reason here OP

Yes the boundries are changing.

I would do the Whittman, Churchill, or Wootton (not dufief given current boarders changing )clusters. Any of the elementary and middle schools is fine.

MCPS is a great school system. All school systems this large have movement.

It's about how you parent how you value education.

No school is perfect. MCPS comes dam close in most schools. Every school can have a bad teacher or crappy administration.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the only safe place is Whitman, close to the school.

Whitman has had its issues. Its not any safer than any other school.

https://www.mymcmedia.org/whitman-high-school-students-involved-in-altercation-at-school/

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/11/22/fight-walt-whitman-posted-to-social-media/

Many more ...

you misunderstand. Whitman is the only guaranteed school if you move now.

Elementary schools are largely dependent on the principal. And unfortunately good ones get moved around or up to Central Office pretty fast.

I would not pick a high school cluster until after the boundary lines are redrawn for Crown.

Anonymous wrote:the only safe place is Whitman, close to the school.

Whitman has had its issues. Its not any safer than any other school.

https://www.mymcmedia.org/whitman-high-school-students-involved-in-altercation-at-school/

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/11/22/fight-walt-whitman-posted-to-social-media/

Many more ...

the only safe place is Whitman, close to the school.

They’re doing an ES boundary study next so nowhere is safe.

Anonymous wrote:OP here: We do care a lot about elementary school and would love to hear the feedback at that level, too.

The only safe place to move in right now is Whitman. Poolsville maybe if you like rural feelings over suburban.

I love our MS but it might be destroyed if regional plan is passed, so it’s hard to recommend anything at this time.

OP here: We do care a lot about elementary school and would love to hear the feedback at that level, too.

They are doing boundary redraw for MS/HS countywide now. Unless you only care mostly about ES since your kid is little, or else I will wait not making a move now.

Please name your school and tell me all the reasons why you love / have loved it! We're planning to move into the area and trying to pick the right school line-up.

Kids are preschool-aged now.

Thanks!!