Anonymous wrote:Nowhere near downtown Bethesda is going to be down to earth. If you really want to get away from the luxury car market families, you’re going to need to head way out to areas where houses go for under a million.

OP here - I fully agree with that. I used "Bethesda/CC/etc" more generally, but don't want to be close to downtown. I didn't want to say "Mont County" as that is huge.

Thoughts on the areas that are far from luxury car owners? I mean that seriously.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bannockburn or Carderock Springs for lovely ES with strong SN elements.

Thank you! And thanks to the other posters who gave specific examples of schools above.

Any thoughts on Bethesda Elementary or any other schools/neighborhoods?

You won't find diversity of any kind there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you considered Silver Spring/Takoma Park?

We have, and it seems like a lovely area in terms of people/diversity, but were advised against it due to my special needs kid and the school options there. However, if the schools are good for neurotypical kids and otherwise fits our needs, we could look into loans for private school I guess. Are there specific neighborhoods you are thinking of?

Why?

Nowhere near downtown Bethesda is going to be down to earth. If you really want to get away from the luxury car market families, you’re going to need to head way out to areas where houses go for under a million.

BE is usually the standard answer when someone is looking for a good public school in the area for sn

Anonymous wrote:Bannockburn or Carderock Springs for lovely ES with strong SN elements.

Thank you! And thanks to the other posters who gave specific examples of schools above.

Any thoughts on Bethesda Elementary or any other schools/neighborhoods?

If you can afford to live in Bethesda or Chevy Chase, you’ll be welcomed just fine. You won’t find any socioeconomic diversity, if that’s an aspect of diversity that matters to you. Some parts are cliquey and judgmental, but mostly towards people who can’t afford to live in the same neighborhoods.

Bannockburn or Carderock Springs for lovely ES with strong SN elements.

Check out the Rosemary Hills catchment, which includes parts of Chevy Chase, Kensington, and Silver Spring.

Luxmanor

Anonymous wrote:Rock Creek Forest in Chevy Chase.

+1 or Rosemary Hills in Silver Spring but feeds into Chevy Chase schools.

Rock Creek Forest in Chevy Chase.

Westbrook ES?

Have you considered Silver Spring/Takoma Park?

We are looking to move to Bethesda/Chevy Chase from upper NW DC. We are not happy with the public schools here and can’t afford private, and we hate the parent community (super cliquey, judgmental, and everyone drives the same Lexus SUV). I have one kid with mild special needs, and 2 neurotypical kids, all in elementary school. We’d really like a diverse neighborhood, with down to earth people who aren’t competitive and who value community and inclusivity. I’m not looking for recs on special needs schools (I posted in that board), but rather I’d like some intel on what the various Bethesda/Chevy Chase/Cabin John/Woodacres/etc neighborhoods and schools are like, and if any of them fit what I am looking for.