We are the in Olney area and love it. Olney is a small community that really feels like extended family. The kids do travel sports activities together. The teachers and school staff are pretty good at practically all the Olney area schools based on the feedback I’ve heard from parents during sporting events.

-Greenwood ES
-Olney ES
-Cashell ES

Most of the families that I know seem to like their schools. I do have a friend who is not happy with Ashburton ES. The general comment was that it was too big and I think the environment just didn't work for her child.

Oh Hi PP from Bannockburn! I didn't see you post ahead of me!!!

My kids are in high school now but we love Bannockburn neighborhood -- it's Bannockburn Elementary School, Pyle and Whitman.

It's a great neighborhood with a real community feel. Pyle kind of sucks but I also sent one kid to private middle school that also sucks - it's just the age.

But we are happy at Whitman so overall it's a win.

Love it. We moved to MoCo for the schools and we are very happy with the academics, parent community, and extra curriculars. Bannockburn ES.

We had a good experience at Diamond Elementary. Sad to leave it -- DD is headed to MS.

Anonymous wrote:We love Cold Spring elementary. Great principal. Mostly great teachers over the years. Small school. Involved and welcoming community. Downside is the old building which keeps getting pushed back for modernization. Neighborhoods that feed in are Fox Hills West, Cold Spring and Copenhaver.

Personally, for me, the other downside is that the classrooms don't have walls. Also, I don't like it when they combine grades. I think last year they had to do this because the class sizes that year were so small.

We love Cold Spring elementary. Great principal. Mostly great teachers over the years. Small school. Involved and welcoming community. Downside is the old building which keeps getting pushed back for modernization. Neighborhoods that feed in are Fox Hills West, Cold Spring and Copenhaver.

I've been thrilled with my child's years at Bannockburn ES. He's had great teachers and loves going to school. It's a very warm community, and I love all the trees and the proximity to the river/tow path.

Anonymous wrote:I feel like I hit the jackpot in terms of class size at Maryvale - 12 in K and 13 in 1st this year. So I'm pretty happy so far. I do have some issues with curriculum, but as others have said, that is consistent District wide vs school specific.

Class sizes are one major difference between the Title 1/FOCUS schools and the non. Also, overcrowded schools may have slightly larger class sizes because it’s harder to add a class if there’s no physical classroom to put it in. Underemrolled/smaller schools may have more variation in class size depending on that year’s numbers (30 = two classes of 15 but 25= one class of 25). There are also some schools that are only K-2, and then only 3-5. Those have pros and cons compared to K-5 schools.

I feel like I hit the jackpot in terms of class size at Maryvale - 12 in K and 13 in 1st this year. So I'm pretty happy so far. I do have some issues with curriculum, but as others have said, that is consistent District wide vs school specific.

In general, when I talk to MCPS families, they are happy with their child’s ES. I think some people would complain about anything, and some people would be happy with almost anything. It depends what your expectations are. The curriculum is the same accros schools. There is PE once/week, art once/week at all schools. It seems like most people are overall happy with the teachers at their child’s ES.

Yes, have loved Glenhaven Elementary and Sligo M.S. in Silver Spring. Kids have had an excellent experiences in both - thriving academically and socially. Wonderful, inclusive community. School administration is great. Certainly no regrets.

I have loved our kid's experience at a BCC cluster elementary school. Great teachers, tons of resources, motivated parents. I feared large class sizes, but never had more than 23 kids and my son is now in 2nd grade.

Anonymous wrote:OP, I have family members who go to Garrett Park ES and they love it. My kids went to Strawberry Knoll ES, (a FOCUS school, meaning FARM rates are higher but less than Title 1l). It it is a hidden gem! Great principal, caring staff, amazing PTA events, and friendly engaging community.

Just moved out of the SKES neighborhood (loved it, but we outgrew our townhouse). This was my kids’ first year at Viers Mill ES, and we are very happy here as well.