Westland is a huge school and unless you live right near it, bus rides to are often long from the neighborhoods that feed to it. Sligo is a much smaller school and I know people who think it's fine. Being in the downcounty consortium is a big plus because there is more choice for high school. I also much prefer the culture and vibe of SS to areas west. Lived in both.

Have friends with kids at Westland but live in SS. Have also heard good things about new principal at Sligo. You might also consider SSI, which people are happy with.

Westland atmosphere appears to be ritzier focus, more catty and mature for girls, from what I've heard, than some of the SS schools. If your daughter isn't really into fitting in with the crowd at a level that may be hard on your income, you may want to factor that into your choice.

12:22 here. I actually have a child at Westland due to the immersion program and it's a very nice, very good school. I don't see that the academics are much different from the East county school my daughter attends, though. And there's a lot of social stuff related to how much money people have, which I find not surprising but unfortunate.

There is a new principal at Sligo and I hear it is much better this year. The demographics at Sligo are different than Westland and Sligo is a much smaller school.

Die-hard Silver Spring mom here -- have also heard bad things about Sligo, due to poor management/administration.

There are other middle schools in Silver Spring that people like -- Takoma Park MS and Silver Spring International are two.

Westland.

I have not heard good things about Sligo.

I may be separating from my dh and would probably move into Silver Spring, around 16th St. area. It seems that depending on where i actually move, my dd would either go to Sligo or Westland, is one better than the other (taking away the issue of high school)? Thanks for any ideas.