Anonymous
Post 09/28/2014 22:15     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:As a Rock View parent my feelings are hurt that you don't want your child to go to school with mine.


I guess you weren't there when the wig-wearing principal was running the show.

Good Lord! What a nightmare those years were!


Who was that?
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2014 22:15     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:As a Rock View parent my feelings are hurt that you don't want your child to go to school with mine.


I guess you weren't there when the wig-wearing principal was running the show.

Good Lord! What a nightmare those years were!


Who was that?
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2014 21:05     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
Anonymous wrote:New parent here trying to learn how the public school system works. DS is a few years away from school yet, but we're trying to decide if we should move into a different school district. Based on some parent feedback, I'd rather he attend the school in the next boundary over, but I don't know if that's even possible and if so, how hard you have to fight for it.


OP, for what it's worth, if you want to move to a different school district, you will have to move to a different county or state. There is only one school district in Montgomery County: Montgomery County Public Schools.
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2014 20:58     Subject: Re:Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
Anonymous wrote:To the OP: I would set up an appointment to meet with the principal at Rock View. I have several friends who have children there and are thrilled with the school. These are all parents who are involved and value education. The class sizes are small. A principal can really set a tone for a school....and the current one at Rock View has a great reputation.

I do know that these same friends plan to move before their children go to middle school.


Now my feelings are hurt that your friends consider my older child's school to not be good enough for their kids.
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2014 20:33     Subject: Re:Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
To the OP: I would set up an appointment to meet with the principal at Rock View. I have several friends who have children there and are thrilled with the school. These are all parents who are involved and value education. The class sizes are small. A principal can really set a tone for a school....and the current one at Rock View has a great reputation.

I do know that these same friends plan to move before their children go to middle school.
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2014 19:44     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
Anonymous wrote:As a Rock View parent my feelings are hurt that you don't want your child to go to school with mine.


I guess you weren't there when the wig-wearing principal was running the show.

Good Lord! What a nightmare those years were!
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2014 16:21     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Rock View ES.


I don't know if this is the OP or not, but Rock View and Garrett Park do not border each other's boundary. There's a sliver of Beach Dr. where they're close, but another school's boundary is in between. If it is the OP, you're not as close to GPES as you think you are.

But as other PPs have stated, your proximity or being "the next boundary over" has pretty much no value in your COSA application.

This comes up often, and I have written several times about my experience. My kids attend school on a COSA that matches their grandparents' address, and is close to my work. In our application, I stated as much and said that without a COSA, they would be in before and aftercare at school, which was a financial stretch (but not impossible) for us, and with the COSA, they would be with their grandparents when not in school. I didn't exaggerate, just stated my reasons and hoped for the best, and it was approved. I think it helped that the school we were trying for was "less desirable" than our home school, in that it's a Title I school.


I know a handful of people whose children attend OOB elementary schools on COSAs due to childcare. If there is space in the receiving school, I think it fairly easy to get approved (principal's approve these). I think the bigger issue is what to do when they are in MS and HS. It is much more difficult to get an OOB spot. Rock View is a great school by the way. If you don't want to move, I would give it a try.
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2014 15:39     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
Anonymous wrote:Rock View ES.


I don't know if this is the OP or not, but Rock View and Garrett Park do not border each other's boundary. There's a sliver of Beach Dr. where they're close, but another school's boundary is in between. If it is the OP, you're not as close to GPES as you think you are.

But as other PPs have stated, your proximity or being "the next boundary over" has pretty much no value in your COSA application.

This comes up often, and I have written several times about my experience. My kids attend school on a COSA that matches their grandparents' address, and is close to my work. In our application, I stated as much and said that without a COSA, they would be in before and aftercare at school, which was a financial stretch (but not impossible) for us, and with the COSA, they would be with their grandparents when not in school. I didn't exaggerate, just stated my reasons and hoped for the best, and it was approved. I think it helped that the school we were trying for was "less desirable" than our home school, in that it's a Title I school.
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2014 12:05     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
I'm not sure if it was the OP who said that she zoned for Rock View or if that was just another guess, but I had clients - two college professors who are very serious about school quality for their one elementary school aged child - who looked at a house there seriously enough that they toured the school and spoke with the principal. They ended up in another DCC district because they ended up liking another house better for reasons related to the house, but they were very impressed with the school.
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2014 11:23     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Alot depends on the capacity of the school you would like your child ren to attend. If it is over capacity your chances are small. You need to have a very valid reason..not just we heard good things but couldn't afford it. A valid reason would be like you rely on grandparents for child care and the bus to their house is from the other school.


This is the most often-used reason for approval, but PP is right you will get denied at first and then need to appeal. MCPS would rather have the situation be up front than play the residency games folks use in DC (e.g. change address of child to grandparents house so in-boundary anyway.)


You can read the appeals online. The vast majority of appeals are denied again. You have to have a unique hardship. Home prices, childcare, work, bad fit with the present school - none of these qualify for "hardship". Also arguing that the receiving school is a "better fit" is irrelevant. You do not have a right to the "best education" just an appropriate one.

My advice is to move.


My advice is to try the school you're zoned for.
Anonymous
Post 09/28/2014 10:38     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Alot depends on the capacity of the school you would like your child ren to attend. If it is over capacity your chances are small. You need to have a very valid reason..not just we heard good things but couldn't afford it. A valid reason would be like you rely on grandparents for child care and the bus to their house is from the other school.


This is the most often-used reason for approval, but PP is right you will get denied at first and then need to appeal. MCPS would rather have the situation be up front than play the residency games folks use in DC (e.g. change address of child to grandparents house so in-boundary anyway.)


You can read the appeals online. The vast majority of appeals are denied again. You have to have a unique hardship. Home prices, childcare, work, bad fit with the present school - none of these qualify for "hardship". Also arguing that the receiving school is a "better fit" is irrelevant. You do not have a right to the "best education" just an appropriate one.

My advice is to move.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2014 22:03     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
As a Rock View parent my feelings are hurt that you don't want your child to go to school with mine.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2014 17:21     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
Rock View ES.
Anonymous
Post 09/27/2014 11:29     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
Anonymous wrote:Garret Park instead of what?


I'll guess, just for fun. Twinbrook? Wheaton Woods? Viers Mill? Probably not Ashburton or Kensington-Parkwood, which I think border GPES, too.
Anonymous
Post 09/26/2014 23:19     Subject: Is is possible to go to an elementary school not in your boundary?
Garret Park instead of what?