My child’s school in Bethesda is very accepting of this. I know of several students who are trans or non-binary, and they are totally welcomed. We also have a non-binary teacher who goes by Mx.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary has a very proud Rainbow Club, and our circle of friends and neighbors has many diverse and wonderful kinds of families. No world is perfect, but this is the kind of world I want my kids to grow up in.

I love this! Do you mind sharing which elementary or which area?

DP but our Westland cluster ES has a rainbow club

Bethesda or Westbrook? Can you tell us any more about what it is / how it works? Would love to have something like this at Somerset.

Anonymous wrote:If this is important to your non-binary kid (it is to mine)—gender-neutral bathrooms are very scarce. Someone here tried to cite the fact that they exist in kindergarten to me (as evidence that my older kid doesn’t need anything other than that, I guess?) but bottom line is: they’re not here yet. Nurses’ office will be offered as the “fix.” Kid is nonbinary, not sick.

Welcome—even though facilities are slow to catch up.

All new builds in MCPS are now required to have gender neutral bathrooms. Poolesville HS has one on each floor in their new building.

OP I'm sorry for the terrible experience from your neighbors!

You are making a great choice - moving to one of the most inclusive areas in the country, I'd bet. Like others have said, no where is perfect, but MCPS kids are generally very well socialized around gender diversity issues. My kids have many nonbinary friends, and it seems like a nonissue to their peer group. It'll be easy for your kids to find like minded peers.

Anonymous wrote:If this is important to your non-binary kid (it is to mine)—gender-neutral bathrooms are very scarce. Someone here tried to cite the fact that they exist in kindergarten to me (as evidence that my older kid doesn’t need anything other than that, I guess?) but bottom line is: they’re not here yet. Nurses’ office will be offered as the “fix.” Kid is nonbinary, not sick.

Welcome—even though facilities are slow to catch up.

Well. I don't know how old OP's kids are, but my two high school age kids who are straight boys and not trans/nonbinary etc, don't use the bathrooms in their two DCC high school bathrooms anyway. They say they are gross, dangerous, etc. They literally don't pee all day.

Both of my nieces (in a public school in Mass and in a private school in a blue city in the SE) were claiming that a third of the kids in their class were nonbinary/trans/went by they them or opposite pronouns to what they were born with, etc. I suspect they were exaggerating.

So I asked my high school age son at Wheaton what percentage he felt fell into that category. He said he could hardly think of any. He counted five.

But a few months later I asked whether his guy friends had girlfriends and he said, "yes, they have partners."

So I found that interesting - sort of a sign that gender neutral wording is being used.

I second Takoma Park. But just make sure you stay to lower MoCo.

Anonymous wrote:Despite the PPs, MoCo is very liberal and your kids will be fine anywhere. My high schooler filled out a form to have name/pronouns changed on school documentation, even though they have not legally changed their name.

We live in one of the most progressive clusters... the schools are accepting of non binary kids and the kids will find some friends but at the middle school level (especially) they will still suffer social rejection and bullying. Be prepared to support with counseling. Children's national satellite behavioral office has group sessions and therapists specifically for gender issuss

Anonymous wrote:Yes and no. Microcosm of society. Those who are accepting will help but those who aren’t won’t.

School doesn’t matter in the end, comes to who the kid ends up having with them at lunch

Schools do matter in how they react to issues, yes? And in setting the overall culture of acceptance?

If this is important to your non-binary kid (it is to mine)—gender-neutral bathrooms are very scarce. Someone here tried to cite the fact that they exist in kindergarten to me (as evidence that my older kid doesn’t need anything other than that, I guess?) but bottom line is: they’re not here yet. Nurses’ office will be offered as the “fix.” Kid is nonbinary, not sick.

Welcome—even though facilities are slow to catch up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary has a very proud Rainbow Club, and our circle of friends and neighbors has many diverse and wonderful kinds of families. No world is perfect, but this is the kind of world I want my kids to grow up in.

I love this! Do you mind sharing which elementary or which area?

NP
Here is the thing Takoma Park would be really nice so your child can experience total and unadulterated acceptance.

But it's very expensive. So just avoid upcounty like Damascus and you will be fine but if you can afford Takoma Park you will be happiest there.

Agree, although many places are very accepting, places like TKPK or SS would be the most welcoming.

Honestly, OP. You don't have bad choices. Almost any MCPS school is going be 100% fine on this axis. You might run into a bully here or there, but certainly not at a systemic level.

I'm one of the PPs with a gender-diverse kid, and the two times my child has faced bullying based on their gender identity, I got a quick and compassionate and effective response from the relevant adult. It was the same kid both times, at different schools. The first time I emailed the classroom teacher, who separated them and submitted a report to the counselor. The second time I emailed the counselor and AP because the bullying happened in a non-classroom environment and got a prompt response.

So, yeah, it won't be perfect, but my experience has been that teachers and administrators are quick to respond.

Anonymous wrote:My trans daughter at TKMS is celebrated while she plays field hockey. In fact, she trucked a vagina-owner last year and the crowd went wild.

I know that you consider yourself to be some sort of intellectual who wants to "debate" every topic into the ground. But posts like this show that you are really nothing but a run of the mill troll and transphobe. Why do you get pleasure from posting this sort of thing in response to a mother seeking advice? Do you feel good about yourself?

Also, you are fully aware that I delete your posts as soon as they are posted. I am making an exception in this case. But what sort of psycho will continually troll a website like this when you know that your posts will be removed within minutes? That is really crazy behavior.

My trans daughter at TKMS is celebrated while she plays field hockey. In fact, she trucked a vagina-owner last year and the crowd went wild.

QO and Northwest would likely be good.

Also, most schools in Rockville or Bethesda.

Bethesda is very welcoming.