I was searching for info and decided to add our experience. We started at OCES this school year and it has not been a good experience. There is a lot of communication issues, the principal is a windbag, there has been teacher turnover so there are a lot of first year teachers and we were blown off about our concerns around reading (and then I heard from moms with older kids that this happened to them too). We came from an area that everyone here assures us is inferior (southern state) in education and I wish we were back there.

On the positive side, the kids and parents have been nice but the school is unimpressive.

Anonymous wrote:Funny, this seems outdated so maybe an update is in order. We moved in around 2010, and haven't yet found "a place to belong" in the OCES community. Socially, it's insular - you're either "in" or "out" as far as adult socialization goes. Kids are similarly excluded.

I agree with this. We are also a little on the excluded side socially but our kids seems to be fine? The neighborhood is turning over and some people seem really nice but we do not get invited to a lot of the social events that are happening around us.

Funny, this seems outdated so maybe an update is in order. We moved in around 2010, and haven't yet found "a place to belong" in the OCES community. Socially, it's insular - you're either "in" or "out" as far as adult socialization goes. Kids are similarly excluded.

Anonymous wrote:If you buy there and stay long enough for your kids to go to middle school and you will be extremely happy that your kids can walk to school and you do not have to deal with the nightmare kiss and ride. It is nice that the ES is in the neighborhood also.

It is nice that the area is so compact! We are excited about our twins starting there in the fall, but our neighborhood (Somerset South) isn't walking distance, except maybe by cutting through the woods.

If you buy there and stay long enough for your kids to go to middle school and you will be extremely happy that your kids can walk to school and you do not have to deal with the nightmare kiss and ride. It is nice that the ES is in the neighborhood also.

Really helpful, PPs, esp. 16:02. Thanks!!

We love it. We've been there quite a few years, and I'm active with the PTA, so I can address the afterschool activity question as well.

It's a small school where the principal and nearly every teacher knows each child by name. (We love the principal, BTW--caring, efficient, and such a fantastic role model.) Several of the teachers have children attending and/or live in the surrounding neighborhoods, which adds to the family atmosphere. Parental involvement is welcome and is very high. I can truly say that my kids have had some of the best teachers I've ever encountered while attending Olde Creek. We've had others who are fine; so far, no out-and-out bad teachers in either upper or lower grades.

I can't compare with other PTAs, but I would say we are very active and welcoming to new members. This year we really stepped up the number of afterschool activities, bringing in several outside vendors like Digital Kidz and adding homegrown clubs like Game & Puzzle Club. In the latter, which is free, kids gather after school one afternoon a week to play board games and build puzzles, and we ended up with a long waiting list. Other afterschool activities include Boy and Girl Scouts, art club, dance programs, acting programs, jump rope club, a new glee club...I'm sure there are more, but those are the ones off the top of my head.

Yes, Olde Creek is diverse by any measure. I can't think of a minority population that isn't represented. In addition, the principal and the assistant VP are both African-American.

Obviously can't say enough about this school, and of course, you then end up in the Frost/Woodson pyramid. Great value for your housing money.

We will be sending our DS there next year. Our neighbors seem to really like it. I did notice it doesn't seem to have a lot of after-school programs (compared to other schools I reviewed). Is this because the PTA is not very active or because there is just not alot of school interested in such programs?

great school (I think it is one of the smaller elem in ffx co.) and we love living in the neighborhood. there are a ton of kids!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hated it.

But that was in 1978, when I was one of maybe 4 minorities there.

thankfully that has changed- at least according to FCPS, it is 50% non-white these days.

OP here - thanks, PPs. Glad to hear positive things. We are a minority family, so I hope things aren't the same as in 1978!!

Anonymous wrote:I hated it.

But that was in 1978, when I was one of maybe 4 minorities there.

thankfully that has changed- at least according to FCPS, it is 50% non-white these days.

I hated it.

But that was in 1978, when I was one of maybe 4 minorities there.

We love it! It is a small school with good kids and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. We have been really happy with it.

A friend of mine has two students at Olde Creek and says only good things about it.

We have looked at a couple houses in the Olde Creek/Frost/Woodson district. I've heard a lot about Frost and Woodson, but I don't know much about Olde Creek. Does anyone have any postive/negative experiences? Thanks!