Pre-pandemic, I loved my kids' elementary school, Glenallan Elementary. But post-pandemic and with a new principal, the school has declined and I don't love it as much as I once did.

There's very little to like about MCPS post-pandemic. I hope the system recovers but who knows if or how long that will take.

Strawberry Knoll Elementary - Gaithersburg - FARM school - Principal Scott is an incredible individual - really makes the parent feel like a partner in the process. All the students love him and you truly feel like he recognizes you and knows you personally as much as he knows your children personally. That attitude trickles down to a very caring and empathetic staff. Teachers do their best to ensure each student gets their needs met. FARM school so the class sizes are very small. With our students being a bit above average the small class size does help to get them the instructional tweaks to make sure its still a very enriching and challenging (in a healthy way) environment. Eldest child moved on to a CES program for 4th grade and next one up recieved the gifted and talented designation w.e that means.

Moved here to love the schools - DESPISED our W elementary…and left. What else to say? There are over 30 pages on the MCPS is atrocious for solid reasons.

Anonymous wrote:We have been very happy at Rock View, and neighbors like Newport Mill and Einstein. There has been some admin turnover that made the end of last year uncharacteristically uneven, but we have had only good to great teachers and staff. I have a good feeling from the incoming principal and the teachers seem to like her, so I think things will return to the usually-awesome normal.

Where did Kris Alexander go? I didn’t read any info in the principal appointments thread.

I think the administration at Oak View is some of the strongest I've encountered in many years as an MCPS parent. The school is calm and well-run, but the large (and somewhat erratic) geographic area cuts into the "community" feel.

I’m not sure I would say love but I think most of the parents in our neighborhood are pretty happy with WYngate and North Bethesda. WYngate had a rough couple of years with a principal that wasn’t a good fit for the teachers or families but now has a new principal in place so will be back on track. NB has a lot going for it but is not perfect—kids will have up to 21 teachers during their time there so they won’t all be home runs and the McPS MS curriculum is notoriously boring.

We've had a great experience at Oakland Terrace (kids there currently). Our oldest starts at Newport Mill MS this fall and we've heard consistently great things from parents of recent students there and also from friends who work there. Also good feedback on Einstein.

We have been very happy at Rock View, and neighbors like Newport Mill and Einstein. There has been some admin turnover that made the end of last year uncharacteristically uneven, but we have had only good to great teachers and staff. I have a good feeling from the incoming principal and the teachers seem to like her, so I think things will return to the usually-awesome normal.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Following and would especially like to hear positive feedback on schools in the Eastern part of the county. We are looking to move and being on the Eastern side would simplify commutes a lot.

It isn’t MCPS, but I recommend looking into West Laurel - Bond Mill Elementary, specifically. It’s a great school.

We lived in eastern MoCo at one point but moved the couple minutes drive into PG. Very happy here.

I have friends whose children recently attended and currently attend Bond Mill and they love/d it!

Oh- except Bond Mill is Howard County.

No, it isn’t.

"Contrary to that, my kid’s ES kind of stinks. They do very little (if any) enrichment for kids who are at or above grade level. We have had 2 different principals and 3 Assistant Prinicpals since my kid has been there. We have an insane amount of disciplinary problems. PE and Music are only once a week. We get no foreign language instruction. I could go on…"

PE and Music are once a week in every MCPS school. Foreign language instruction is found only in language immersion programs, or at after school clubs, it is not part of the ES curriculum. Discipline problems are absolutely everywhere, even in the much-admired/much vilified W schools. Check out the new principal thread here if you want to see how much admins come and go. So your child's school is no different from most others in these regards.

Anonymous wrote:Asking for testimonials about LOVING a school is a tall order. I've had three kids in Bradley Hills with one still there and I really like the school and would encourage anyone to send their kids there. The teachers are most very good and are engaged. The community is strong. The administration is responsive and cares about the kids. All around an extremely positive experience. I'm just not one to say I love a school and I think a lot of people are probably the same.

Interesting.

I LOVED my ES growing up in another state. And my parents (immigrants) also really loved it. They felt the teachers were supportive and it was a great academic environment. Solid sense of community and excellent enrichment when necessary. Wonderful music program and a great Principal - who was there the entire time I was at the school.

Contrary to that, my kid’s ES kind of stinks. They do very little (if any) enrichment for kids who are at or above grade level. We have had 2 different principals and 3 Assistant Prinicpals since my kid has been there. We have an insane amount of disciplinary problems. PE and Music are only once a week. We get no foreign language instruction. I could go on…

We loved a really good teacher at Bradley Hills Elementary school. She brought the confidence out in our DD who had experienced a particularly brutal previous ES teacher (who was removed from the school after years of complaints).

At Pyle there was one really very kind and effective female counselor and the French teacher (female, head of Dept) was wonderful.

At Whitman there were a handful of amazing teachers

Chinese / AP Gov't / English Lit -

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Asking for testimonials about LOVING a school is a tall order. I've had three kids in Bradley Hills with one still there and I really like the school and would encourage anyone to send their kids there. The teachers are most very good and are engaged. The community is strong. The administration is responsive and cares about the kids. All around an extremely positive experience. I'm just not one to say I love a school and I think a lot of people are probably the same.

Interesting way of trying to justify the lackluster response in this thread.

Interesting way of mischaracterizing my response.

Anonymous wrote:Asking for testimonials about LOVING a school is a tall order. I've had three kids in Bradley Hills with one still there and I really like the school and would encourage anyone to send their kids there. The teachers are most very good and are engaged. The community is strong. The administration is responsive and cares about the kids. All around an extremely positive experience. I'm just not one to say I love a school and I think a lot of people are probably the same.

Interesting way of trying to justify the lackluster response in this thread.

My kid likes Woodlin. But we had some lovely teachers. I know one kid who had a different set of teachers and was not as happy.it js so teacher dependent for ES.