My main concern with Beverly Farms is that those darn power station lines run right over the school. Talk about "Potomoac Clusters" . . . I would be worried about "cancer clusters" seriously!

Beverly Farms is an excellent school. The administration, staff and PTA work together to make the school a welcoming place for all students and parents. We have had great experiences at BFES and look forward to many more.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Beverly Farms is an excellent school. The new facility is amazing. The staff and administration work hard and welcome parent volunteers.

From my family's experience, I would advise avoid moving into Beverly Farms. The staff is terrible and it has a very unwelcoming and unpleasant atmosphere for students and parents. We unfortunately have had our kids there for many years. My youngest is still in the school for a few more years but wants to move so he can go to another elementary school. My kids who are at Hoover said kids from Wayside and Potomac were much better prepared in subjects like science and social studies.

Hoover has been great but the principal changed jobs this summer and was promoted to principal at Rockville HS. The new principal at Hoover will be the principal at Wayside Elementary. From the Wayside parents perspective, they were really happy with the job she did there and that probably was a factor in her promotion to principal at Hoover.

We've only been at BFES for a year but I totally disagree with the PP. i think the staff has been lovely and very easy to work with, particularly as I was transferring my children from a different school due to a move. I have nothing but good things to say about BFES.

Anonymous wrote:Beverly Farms is an excellent school. The new facility is amazing. The staff and administration work hard and welcome parent volunteers.

From my family's experience, I would advise avoid moving into Beverly Farms. The staff is terrible and it has a very unwelcoming and unpleasant atmosphere for students and parents. We unfortunately have had our kids there for many years. My youngest is still in the school for a few more years but wants to move so he can go to another elementary school. My kids who are at Hoover said kids from Wayside and Potomac were much better prepared in subjects like science and social studies.

Hoover has been great but the principal changed jobs this summer and was promoted to principal at Rockville HS. The new principal at Hoover will be the principal at Wayside Elementary. From the Wayside parents perspective, they were really happy with the job she did there and that probably was a factor in her promotion to principal at Hoover.

Anonymous wrote:Where is the Wayside neighborhood?

Here are some areas: Falls and Glen down Glen Road to Glen Mill (includes Ambleside area, Clagett Farm, Bedfordshire, Country Place). Then up Glen Mill and all of those side streets and includes Potomac Glen. Also part of Winterset (sp?) is Wayside and part is Beverly Farms. There may be other areas but this is the general area.

Where is the Wayside neighborhood?

Carderock Springs has a fabulous reputation. The students come from both Bethesda and Potomac.

Beverly Farms is an excellent school. The new facility is amazing. The staff and administration work hard and welcome parent volunteers.

Potomac ES is good people; horible facilities. There has been lots of complaints that Wayside is going to get renovated first. Potomac ES is much more overcrowded and has had to use these awful trailers for overflow. I would prefer Wayside and Bells Mill. But Wayside is probably the most desirable in Potomac. Bells Mill is also very good and the runner up. Wayside is academically superb and they have this principal that is wildly popular. Its also just mellow and kind of a warm environment. Bells Mill is a little bigger and more bureaucratic in their approach

We love out school - Bells Mill Elementary. Check it out -- small, great staff, nice facility (new).

We live right off of Falls Rd, and while we are not in the Potomac clusters, I have several friends with children in Wayside and Potomac ES. I've heard nothing except fantastic things about Wayside. At Potomac ES, I've heard good things about the teachers and the school in general - the problem is the building. The facility is not in good shape and I don't know when it is due for renovation. Cold Spring is right across from us, and it has similiar facility issues, though my understanding is it is a very good school (the HGC center is housed at Cold Spring).

We are at Wayside and very happy. We moved here from out of state and also wanted to be in a W cluster. We landed at Wayside and later learned how desirable it is. Middle school (Hoover) is currently being rebuilt. Wayside is scheduled for renovation in a couple of years so depending on yoUr children's ages, they may be at a holding school for 18 months. But the principal and teachers are great at Wayside. Its a very caring staff -- the women in the front office know all the kids and most of the families.

Thanks.... I suppose...

I would really prefer something more constructive. If your point is that every school has their issues, I certainly understand that. I am looking for opinions on schools to either avoid or seek out, based on experience, etc.

There was a big cheating scandel at potomac es a few years back. all the high schools in the bethesda potomac area are fine. churchill had the changing of the grades and fights a few years ago, whitman just had the alcohol thing plus drug issues, b-cc had color day issues and wooton has many asians who are good in tennis

My husband and I are moving from Rockville sometime next spring. We will be looking at homes in Bethesda and Potomac (more likely Potomac). I am not from the area originally but have lived here for about 10 years (in other words, know little about the individual schools). Our children are not yet school aged, but that is what we would like to highly consider when looking at neighborhoods.

I understand that the 4 W's seem to be the most highly regarded but any insight into elementary schools? Are there any to avoid? I read some mediocre things about Potomac ES. I am not looking for the fanciest or the most competitive. I just prefer a school that has a nice reputation, overall, not too overcrowded, and somewhere where my children will come home happy. I get that is rather broad, but we are not too picky. I am looking for them to get a solid and well-rounded education without feeling too pressured or overwhelmed by their surroundings (if that exists...).

For what it's worth, we are not looking to move to those areas solely for the school systems, but it is a major consideration when we make a final decision, as this home will likely be our "forever" home.

Thanks in advance!