Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what is your price range? Is it max $280K because I might suggest moving a little further out if that is the case.

We ended up with a little more money than we thought after the sale of our Texas house, so my husband was able to put a contract down on a small house near downtown. Olney was looking pretty great, though!

Anonymous wrote:So what is your price range? Is it max $280K because I might suggest moving a little further out if that is the case.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond! I work in the assessment and accountability office for a public school district here in Texas, so I did look over the schools at a glance and other information like the course guides and graduation plans (impressive!). Just from my perspective, having worked at poor and middle class schools, and now as a data analyst for a very mixed, albeit small, district, it's generally easier for affluent schools to post great scores, so we're looking for big gaps--if a school is very affluent, but not doing significantly better than a school with a much higher FARM population, I have to wonder about the true overall quality of the more affluent school. I really do appreciate all the different perspectives, and we went over them last night on the phone.

My husband is going to look at a house located at 5550 Burnside Drive, and one on Parkvale right around the corner, both condos. We currently live in a very old house on an acre of land and we need a break from maintenence. Old houses eat their young! Also, it's my understanding that there is a great deal of choice when it comes to high schools, and that our son is not obligated to go to Rockville HS if he can get into a magnet program, so we are more concerned about safety and proximity right now (husband is working for HHS near the Twinbrook station).

Yes there is some other opprtunities for HS but it is not that easy to get in. The programs are very competitive to get in. Many kids are rejected so wherever you choose to live be sure you like the HS because it is most likely that's where you'll go.

You are getting good advice from this PP. For what it's worth, the area around Parkvale and Bauer Drive, that you are looking at, is not great. Since you are open to a condo or town house. I agree with PPs who have suggested looking in Olney. Much better schools and easy commute to DH's job. I know tons of people who commute from Olney to HHS at Twinbrook.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond! I work in the assessment and accountability office for a public school district here in Texas, so I did look over the schools at a glance and other information like the course guides and graduation plans (impressive!). Just from my perspective, having worked at poor and middle class schools, and now as a data analyst for a very mixed, albeit small, district, it's generally easier for affluent schools to post great scores, so we're looking for big gaps--if a school is very affluent, but not doing significantly better than a school with a much higher FARM population, I have to wonder about the true overall quality of the more affluent school. I really do appreciate all the different perspectives, and we went over them last night on the phone.

My husband is going to look at a house located at 5550 Burnside Drive, and one on Parkvale right around the corner, both condos. We currently live in a very old house on an acre of land and we need a break from maintenence. Old houses eat their young! Also, it's my understanding that there is a great deal of choice when it comes to high schools, and that our son is not obligated to go to Rockville HS if he can get into a magnet program, so we are more concerned about safety and proximity right now (husband is working for HHS near the Twinbrook station).

Yes there is some other opprtunities for HS but it is not that easy to get in. The programs are very competitive to get in. Many kids are rejected so wherever you choose to live be sure you like the HS because it is most likely that's where you'll go.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks so much for taking the time to respond! I work in the assessment and accountability office for a public school district here in Texas, so I did look over the schools at a glance and other information like the course guides and graduation plans (impressive!). Just from my perspective, having worked at poor and middle class schools, and now as a data analyst for a very mixed, albeit small, district, it's generally easier for affluent schools to post great scores, so we're looking for big gaps--if a school is very affluent, but not doing significantly better than a school with a much higher FARM population, I have to wonder about the true overall quality of the more affluent school. I really do appreciate all the different perspectives, and we went over them last night on the phone.

My husband is going to look at a house located at 5550 Burnside Drive, and one on Parkvale right around the corner, both condos. We currently live in a very old house on an acre of land and we need a break from maintenence. Old houses eat their young! Also, it's my understanding that there is a great deal of choice when it comes to high schools, and that our son is not obligated to go to Rockville HS if he can get into a magnet program, so we are more concerned about safety and proximity right now (husband is working for HHS near the Twinbrook station).