Some of these schools (e.g. Wood Acres) are a lot bigger than others (e.g. Bannockburn). So while they're all good they're not all the same kind of school experience. Consider size and whether that matters to you (and your kids) when choosing.

Anonymous wrote:I think the schools are probably similar. You have to understand that MCPS is a monolithic bureaucratic cookie-cutter school system. All schools take their tests (regular subject tests, not state assessments) on the same days. There is no room or time for teachers to put their own personality or creativity into their teaching. Even the classrooms across the county all look the same--the same primary color laminated wall hangings, etc. It's more of a factory of education.

This pretty much sums it up as far as curriculum, but omits two key variables: teachers and kids. That said, teachers and kids at all these schools are going to be pretty similar. These schools tend to get many applicants for teaching jobs, so they attract good teachers. (Please note that I'm not saying there aren't great teachers at other schools.) These schools also tend to have kids who enter K with good preparation and whose parents have the resources to help their kids and help the school. (Again, I'm not knocking parents or kids at other schools -- there are excellent students and caring parents at every school in the county, but at the schools OP mentioned, you are going to have a critical mass across the board.) Beyond that, the difference are very slight -- e.g., one school might have an annual spring fair, another might have an annual fall fair, etc.

I believe that the neighborhood that the PPs are referring to (will now go to Bradley Hills instead of Bethesda) is Greenwich Forest, between Huntington and Wilson.

All ES you mention are fine.

None path to Hoover and BE will go strictly to Westland. I believe that a neighborhood off of Old Georgetown Road will be re-directed from BE to Bradley Hills and then Pyle. There are maps online somewhere under MCPS.

Buy a house in neighborhood you like with commute you and DH can tolerate.

Anonymous wrote:I think the schools are probably similar. You have to understand that MCPS is a monolithic bureaucratic cookie-cutter school system. All schools take their tests (regular subject tests, not state assessments) on the same days. There is no room or time for teachers to put their own personality or creativity into their teaching. Even the classrooms across the county all look the same--the same primary color laminated wall hangings, etc. It's more of a factory of education.

If that were true people wouldn't get all huffy about how the downcounty options are so much worse than the Ws. At the HS level there are certainly some standard assessment type things but the teachers do seem to have flexibility in how they structure their classes.

I think the schools are probably similar. You have to understand that MCPS is a monolithic bureaucratic cookie-cutter school system. All schools take their tests (regular subject tests, not state assessments) on the same days. There is no room or time for teachers to put their own personality or creativity into their teaching. Even the classrooms across the county all look the same--the same primary color laminated wall hangings, etc. It's more of a factory of education.

Anonymous wrote:10:07 poster - Can you explain? This is news to me about changing the feeder ES to Pyle MS

I'm not 10:07, but BE is in the process of changing articulation patterns. It used to be that a small set of BE kids went to Pyle and the rest to Westland. They are now changing it around so that all of the kids destined for Pyle will no longer attend BE but will go to Bradley Hills. Kids who were previously tracked for Westland will still go there. In the future, no BE kids will go to Pyle. At least that's my understanding based on convos w/friends at both BE and BH.

10:07 poster - Can you explain? This is news to me about changing the feeder ES to Pyle MS

Pyle is the largest middle school in the county and only getting more students.

Anonymous wrote:not all Bethesda ES go to Pyle so make sure where you decide to live is zoned for pyle.

All the ES are good. Seven Locks is a brand new building which is really nice.

Bradley Hills will also have a new building.

Aren't the changing it so that none of BE goes to Pyle? I think those kids are being moved to Bradley Hills.

Seven Locks is a great school. It does articulate to Cabin John MS and not to Hoover. HS is Churchill.

not all Bethesda ES go to Pyle so make sure where you decide to live is zoned for pyle.

All the ES are good. Seven Locks is a brand new building which is really nice.

Bradley Hills will also have a new building.

Great! Could someone elaborate on any particulars ofthe schools?
It is hard getting a off-cuff vibe of a place just looking online.

THANKS!

Personally, I think they are all good and I don't think there is enough difference between them to drive a decision about where to live.

I am looking at ES in the Bethesda area and would like to know some opinions about
Bannockburn
Bethesda
Bradley Hills
Burning Tree
Carderock Springs
Wood Acres
and Seven Locks as well

I would like the MS to be Pyle or Hoover.

THANKS!