We've loved Kensington Parkwood. A few clarifications: the building isn't all that old (2005) but the school population has grown dramatically so the school needs more space already. It is in the pipeline for additional renovations through MCPS. A pp is correct that Walter Johnson HS doesn't have IB; it does have a special "APEX program" for students wanting more challenge (http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/wjhs/programs/apex/program_info.aspx).

Anonymous wrote:
-Parkwood Elementary in Kensington has the CETA program, which pairs them with the Kennedy Center for some really interesting exposure to the arts, feeds up to Walter Johnson HS which has International Baccalaureate: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/parkwoodes/artsintegration/ I've heard good things about this school from a community perspective, downside is that the building is older and I think they're looking to renovate it, though I'm not sure when that will happen. Here's a link to the last I saw published on that, though there's likely more updated info out there somewhere: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/construction/studies/Docs/KensingtonParkwoodESFeasibility.pdf

We are a military family and anticipate being in the area 5-10 years. We have 2 children. The oldest wont start school until 2015, so there is a good possibility we will be moving prior to the start of MS for either of them. A great MS would be a BONUS, but it is far enough away that we could consider moving again if we are still in the area.

We are open to any neighborhood that is safe and within a 45 min commute to Bethesda. The closer the better. Seems like to be closer we will have to choose something little older/outdated to stay in our budget, but we are ok with that if we will have better resale value, safety, and or quailty of school.

I am not looking for the Harvard of elementary schools, and they are both too young to have shown a strong interest in any particular thing yet. We are trying to raise grounded, resilient, altruistic kids. Hopefully we can find a school environment that will encourage those things as well.

We are looking safe place, where they will get a solid foundational education, with a strong sense of community, a principal who is liked and respected, and where parental involvement will be encouraged. (Some other threads seems to imply some schools were only inclusive to parents when fundraising was involved)

Sorry this sounds so idealistic...I know every school will have it's mean kids and give too much homework, etc. Just want to feel like we are part of a team. We do not want to feel like the school is stretched too thin, and the parents are all mad at the world, and everyone is just counting down the days till the end of the year.

Again, thank you all for taking the time to respond. I am feeling much more optimistic than when just perusing the other threads!

What kind of envirornment are you looking for long term?

The parent community and principal stand out for me at Westbrook Elementary School. I have never seen such dedicated and friendly involvement in a school. Definitely check this school out and the surrounding neighborhood. It is a gem.

Agree that it seems nearly all the elementary are all solid.
My kids are young, but we strongly considered the HS and MS. All those schools likely great.
I have heard great things about them all. MS standouts with good HS for us and what we were looking for included: North Bethesda Middle School (NBMS), Pyle, Tilden and Westland. Good luck.

OP...Thanks everyone! Trying to sort this out cross country is tough. I appreciate all the constructive feedback. Glad to know there are good options!

Anonymous wrote:My child is not elementary age age so no personal experience, but we're looking to move to one of the neighborhoods you mentioned by the time she starts K. There's some interesting programs I've been looking at, here's a few:

-Parkwood Elementary in Kensington has the CETA program, which pairs them with the Kennedy Center for some really interesting exposure to the arts, feeds up to Walter Johnson HS which has International Baccalaureate: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/parkwoodes/artsintegration/ I've heard good things about this school from a community perspective, downside is that the building is older and I think they're looking to renovate it, though I'm not sure when that will happen. Here's a link to the last I saw published on that, though there's likely more updated info out there somewhere: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/construction/studies/Docs/KensingtonParkwoodESFeasibility.pdf

-College Gardens Elementary School in Rockville: Has Chinese language immersion and International Baccalaureate starting in Kindergarten, feeds up to Richard Montgomery High School: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/collegegardenses/chineseimmersion/ Upside would be the exposure to be bilingual, downside is that CGES is overcrowded and RMHS has mixed reviews, seems to be very challenging if you're in the IB program (which you have to test in to), but less positive reviews for students outside the program.

-Potomac Elementary School: has both CETA and Chinese immersion, feeds up to Winston Churchill HS: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/potomaces/ . I've also heard positive reviews about Cold Spring, which also has a Center for the Highly Gifted for qualified older elementary school kids- I don't recall if this feeds up to Wootton or Churchill? Both are great high schools though.

Are you open to Chevy Chase? It's the suburb between Bethesda and DC and also has some very good schools.

There's no IB at WJ

I moved close to downtown Bethesda specifically for the Bethesda Elementary school.

It is as diverse a school as you will get west of DC, particularly due to its "downtown" location, international community (parents working for NIH, the World Bank, etc), and inclusive character.

My son is multicultural, and also needs speech therapy, so I knew he would be a good fit
So far, so good.

Many programs you cite are "place-in" programs, not merely neighborhood/local programs.

You mention many nice areas. With very good school clusters. Find a house you like and can afford (not sure where you are moving from but much of Potomac and Bethesda are the upper-brackets prices) that has a reasonable commute. Coming into Bethesda will be traffic central during rush hour.

-College Gardens Elementary School in Rockville: Has Chinese language immersion and International Baccalaureate starting in Kindergarten, feeds up to Richard Montgomery High School: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/collegegardenses/chineseimmersion/ Upside would be the exposure to be bilingual, downside is that CGES is overcrowded and RMHS has mixed reviews, seems to be very challenging if you're in the IB program (which you have to test in to), but less positive reviews for students outside the program.


College Gardens is a great school but know that the partial Chinese Immersion program is a magnet open to the whole county. The neighborhood kids do not participate unless they are selected for the magnet program. They have a (very) small amount as part of the IB/PYP curriculum..but it is far from immersion. On the plus side, kids in the cluster have much easier access to the IB magnet at the high school than the rest of the county.

ES are usually great in MCPS. Survey the MS because they are the weakest links.


Most Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac schools are great so u have nothing to worry about.

My child is not elementary age age so no personal experience, but we're looking to move to one of the neighborhoods you mentioned by the time she starts K. There's some interesting programs I've been looking at, here's a few:

-Parkwood Elementary in Kensington has the CETA program, which pairs them with the Kennedy Center for some really interesting exposure to the arts, feeds up to Walter Johnson HS which has International Baccalaureate: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/parkwoodes/artsintegration/ I've heard good things about this school from a community perspective, downside is that the building is older and I think they're looking to renovate it, though I'm not sure when that will happen. Here's a link to the last I saw published on that, though there's likely more updated info out there somewhere: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/construction/studies/Docs/KensingtonParkwoodESFeasibility.pdf

-College Gardens Elementary School in Rockville: Has Chinese language immersion and International Baccalaureate starting in Kindergarten, feeds up to Richard Montgomery High School: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/collegegardenses/chineseimmersion/ Upside would be the exposure to be bilingual, downside is that CGES is overcrowded and RMHS has mixed reviews, seems to be very challenging if you're in the IB program (which you have to test in to), but less positive reviews for students outside the program.

-Potomac Elementary School: has both CETA and Chinese immersion, feeds up to Winston Churchill HS: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/potomaces/ . I've also heard positive reviews about Cold Spring, which also has a Center for the Highly Gifted for qualified older elementary school kids- I don't recall if this feeds up to Wootton or Churchill? Both are great high schools though.

Are you open to Chevy Chase? It's the suburb between Bethesda and DC and also has some very good schools.

[quote=Anonymous]We are moving to the area in the fall. My husband will be working in Bethesda. We have 2 children that will do the majority of elementary school while we are there. In looking at neighborhoods, we will likely try to live in Bethesda, Kensington, Rockville, Potomac, or North Potomac. I have looked at great schools, and read lots of these forum posts. What I would love to hear in trying to narrow our school search is what makes your school unique (good and bad). Extracurriculars, great principal, involved parents, etc...anyone really love their kids school?[/quote]


Cold Spring. I love the principal, the school counselor, the teachers, the other parents! Just a happy place.

Flora Singer. Brand new building. Wonderful principal. Hand picked, energetic and talented staff. Great PTA! The Kids After Hour program is great too. No complaints at all. Love this school and neighborhood.

We are moving to the area in the fall. My husband will be working in Bethesda. We have 2 children that will do the majority of elementary school while we are there. In looking at neighborhoods, we will likely try to live in Bethesda, Kensington, Rockville, Potomac, or North Potomac. I have looked at great schools, and read lots of these forum posts. What I would love to hear in trying to narrow our school search is what makes your school unique (good and bad). Extracurriculars, great principal, involved parents, etc...anyone really love their kids school?