Anonymous wrote:I was looking at Flower Valley Elementary school report card and realized that the grades have fallen compared to 2011 school year. Anyone has an idea why this is so? We are interested in a house near FV.

Thanks

I can only assume that is because of the transition year with the new principal. We are a FV family and happen to like her. We are also not planning on staying through high school in the neighborhood unless we have to since we have outgrown our house and do not want to put an addition on (we feel it would price us right out of the neighborhood if we ever wanted to move). Our decision is to move to have more space instead. We, however, are not in a hurry to move this instant, but probably in the next 2-3 years.

Rockville was rebuilt a few years ago...smaller school historically than the surrounding schools. No recent experience with the school.

I was looking at Flower Valley Elementary school report card and realized that the grades have fallen compared to 2011 school year. Anyone has an idea why this is so? We are interested in a house near FV.

Thanks

13:29 here. We never planned on staying this long. This is not our forever house. Our house has been outgrown. We are in need if more space. I do not like the traffic on Norbeck. Economy issues have forced us to stay. So far far fv has been good, so we are here for some or all Es.

PP, thank you for your input! Sounds like this make be a good fit for us.

13:35 -- Our plan to move is not a reflection on the schools at all. When we bought here, we knew it was likely we wouldn't stay past elementary age for job reasons (although its possible) so did not pay a great deal of attention to secondary schools. That said, we haven't heard anything negative from our neighbors and are in no rush to leave the neighborhood. It's very family friendly, and at least for us, was a good balance between being affordable and commute-able. We looked at homes both in Flower Valley (where the neighbors of the house we looked at raved about the elementary school) and across Norbeck where we ended up off Bauer drive. Our kids aren't in school yet, but there are plenty of older kids playing in each others yards, walking to school together, and I love that there is a lot of green space in the vicinity as well (Rock Creek trail, Lake Frank, Meadowside Nature Center etc). I'd love to live somewhere a bit more walkable, but as un-scenic as it is, the Safeway shopping center has most things we need (coffee and good margaritas for starters) and its pretty easy to get to the metro and downtown Rockville from here.

OP here, thanks for the feedback. That is encouraging! A couple PPs said they are moving away in the long term - is that any reflection of the neighborhood or schools, or other factors? We are looking for a long term house. We are priced out of Bethesda but can't be too far out from DC for the commute. I also like the idea of leisure world being right there because I plan to take care of my grandparents in the foreseeable future and I want them living either with me or nearby. I'm really hoping this neighborhood is the right fit in terms of family friendly and nice schools.

Anonymous wrote:I live in Manor Woods and am zoned for Rock Creek elementary, but there are a few families at our preschool with kids at Flower Valley and they have spoken highly of it. We will probably be moving before high school and middle, but our neighbors all have had good things to say about Woods Middle (not sure if that would be your school or not) and Rockville High, although they may be a biased sample.

I'm the PP that mentioned about Barnsley. I believe on Bauer to the right goes to Rock Creek and the left Barnsley (I think). Anyway, yes, FV is zoned for Wood and Rockville.

I live in Manor Woods and am zoned for Rock Creek elementary, but there are a few families at our preschool with kids at Flower Valley and they have spoken highly of it. We will probably be moving before high school and middle, but our neighbors all have had good things to say about Woods Middle (not sure if that would be your school or not) and Rockville High, although they may be a biased sample.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I meant the country club. But we like that area all around. Do you like FV?

PP here. Sorry, I didn't even realize that neighborhood had a separate name. Yes, we do like FV. It has a new principal this year and she seems to be a very nice person and responsive. I can honestly say I am very impressed with my DD's teacher as well. We just started at the school as my DD is in K, so I do not know about other grades yet (as far as teachers go). All I know is that my DD is having a very good year. I'm not sure about the middle school or high school (honestly do not know if we will be here that long anyway).

Yes, I meant the country club. But we like that area all around. Do you like FV?

Anonymous wrote:Please share your experiences! We like the Manor Park area but not sure what the schools are like. (I did check the stats on schools at a glance) so I'm mostly interested in info that I can't get from just the raw numbers. (Oldest will start K next year)
TIA!

Do you mean Manor Lake? Accross Norbeck goes to Barnsley not to Flower Valley. Houses around the country club are zoned for FV though. I know b/c we go to FV.

Flower Valley ES is a good school in very nice neighborhood. Not sure about Rockville HS (physically, it looks like it is new or recently renovated)...

Please share your experiences! We like the Manor Park area but not sure what the schools are like. (I did check the stats on schools at a glance) so I'm mostly interested in info that I can't get from just the raw numbers. (Oldest will start K next year)
TIA!