Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christ Episcopal in Rockville could work for you - it's convenient from Gaithersburg and a few blocks from Rockville metro/MARC station. Small classes, nice families, and I feel like my kids are getting an excellent, well-ounded education.

If you have a parent who isn't commuting downtown, you could also try Barnesville. We had to rule it out because of long commutes in the opposite direction, but I know people there and they love the school.

One I don't really know much about, other than it would be convenient, is Seneca Academy. I believe it only goes through 5th or 6th grade though.

Regarding Christ Episcopal School. If your DC visits for the day, he/she may want to start there the next day. That was our DC's reaction and the reaction of some others who looked at and now attend the school. It's that good. For the reasons listed above and more we've been very happy there. It's definitely worth being among the schools you consider. Good luck.

+1 for CES if you are interested in K-8. We live just outside of Gaithersburg and chose it after looking at different options. Good luck with your decision.

What do you do about 9-12?

Public, Holton/Landon, St Andrews, Stone Ridge, Sandy Spring, Holy Child, Bullis, Good Counsel, etc....

Looks like this thread re-started for different reasons, but I'll post for others looking in the Gaithersburg/Germantown/North Potomac area.

Barnesville has a bus from Kentlands. Great program and teachers. Full gym and lots of outdoor time. Less expensive than private schools inside the Beltway. Goes up to 8th grade. Kids go on to public magnets (mainly Poolesville) as well as different private and Catholic schools.

Opinions do vary. As for enrollment, it has actually been increasing from what I understand. Some have left but from what I can tell many families have stayed and new families have enrolles. And I'm glad you brought up their PE program. True they do not have a gym but I would put CES daily PE program up against any in MoCo. True they don't have a gym but they make great use of the facilities they do have as well as resources in the surrounding community. It all contributes, in my opinion, to well-rounded kids who go on to top area public and private high schools well-prepared. Can't tell from your post PP but I assume you found a school that is right for you and your family. If so, I'm happy for you and wish you and your DCs the best of luck.

Glad to know you have had good experiences where as we and other families have not. Attrition rate in my DC's class > 40%!! As I mentioned, the academics average or even subpar compared to other private schools in the area for 1/2 the cost. The school also lacks structural resources (no gymnasium). Children conduct physical education outdoors or in a hall, the school also lacks adequate and specialized teachers. The "specials" do not have background degrees in science/math. They are general elem ed teachers. Class size is small, so if that is what families need, then yes CES is a good choice, otherwise, shop around, you will find better schools with true community support.

Anonymous wrote:Regarding experiences at Christ Episcopal School:

Proceed with caution if you are thinking of enrolling your DC at CES. Teachers (lower school) uncaring and uninterested. We left CES and have noted other schools have higher academic benchmarks and much more affordable. Class size small for a reason, as attrition occurs in the lower school due to limited resources of the school and unfriendly/uncaring environment.

Sorry that was your experience at CES. However, ours has been completely opposite. We have been there a few years now and find the environment in lower and middle school to be very caring and nurturing. And it's not just the teachers. There is a strong community, even a family, feel at CES. Older students are friends with younger ones and parents volunteer regularly. We also have been very impressed with the academics and enrichment opportunities. I will not say it's right for everyone (no school is). But for us and many other families at Christ Episcopal School, past and present (they are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year), it has been a great experience. I highly recommend anyone looking at private schools in Rockville/Montgomery County to consider CES.

Regarding experiences at Christ Episcopal School:

Proceed with caution if you are thinking of enrolling your DC at CES. Teachers (lower school) uncaring and uninterested. We left CES and have noted other schools have higher academic benchmarks and much more affordable. Class size small for a reason, as attrition occurs in the lower school due to limited resources of the school and unfriendly/uncaring environment.

A number of kids at Sandy Spring Friends School live in Gaithersburg. My kid loves it there!

We live in Rockville and go to Barnesville. It's about 25 minutes from Rockville, would be less from Gaithersburg.

Barnesville has posted their latest 8th grade acceptances here:
http://www.barnesvilleschool.org/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=92

We live in Gaithersburg and send our kids to Norwood. It takes 25 minutes in the morning (we go back roads and avoid the congestion on 270 and River Road)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christ Episcopal in Rockville could work for you - it's convenient from Gaithersburg and a few blocks from Rockville metro/MARC station. Small classes, nice families, and I feel like my kids are getting an excellent, well-ounded education.

If you have a parent who isn't commuting downtown, you could also try Barnesville. We had to rule it out because of long commutes in the opposite direction, but I know people there and they love the school.

One I don't really know much about, other than it would be convenient, is Seneca Academy. I believe it only goes through 5th or 6th grade though.

Regarding Christ Episcopal School. If your DC visits for the day, he/she may want to start there the next day. That was our DC's reaction and the reaction of some others who looked at and now attend the school. It's that good. For the reasons listed above and more we've been very happy there. It's definitely worth being among the schools you consider. Good luck.

+1 for CES if you are interested in K-8. We live just outside of Gaithersburg and chose it after looking at different options. Good luck with your decision.

What do you do about 9-12?

Most (if not all) K-8 privates list on their websites where their students go on to high school. From what I've seen at the ones I've looked at it's a mix of private and public high schools.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everybody! We have a lot of work to do (selling/buying house, changing one job, figuring out commute downtown for other job...). My sense is that I'm going to be much happier with the school options you all have noted than our current Bethesda public (and we moved here for the schools, darn it).

I live in Gaithersburg and have one in school at Bethesda, and one in DC.