My son is at NB and I have a couple of friends whose kids are at Tilden. Honestly, I don't think there is much to differenciate them. I'm very happy with NBMS and this was after struggling at Ashburton. I think the administration is great and my son loves all of his teachers. I don't think you can go wrong with either school.

Yes, almost without exception I think you'll find middle schools are considered the "weak link" in most school clusters. I think it's the age. It's just a tough age developmentally.

I'm districted for NB. I've heard nothing special about it. I've heard it's not as strong as our Elementary (Wyngate) but fine. PPL with older kids say WJ is great, elementary is great and NB is fine. . . . I don't know anything about Tilden.

I did read somewhere recently in a WP column that you should ignore any comments about a neighborhood middle school being not great becase middles schools are largely perceived as not great. Made me chuckle because that is the story in my neighborhood.

Really? They are MCPS west county middle schools. You are splitting hairs.

OP again: is one more intense academically than the other? Is one more nurturing?

How do they compare? Anything special about either one?