OP, regarding St. Andrew's, do take a serious look. We are Jewish and I was like you -- I was not going to look at any school with any religious affiliation. But so many people raved about the place we decided to look. We've had several children there for almost a dozen years. They have gotten great educations, made good friends, enjoyed nurturing relationships with many teachers, and picked up good life-skills.

The religious program overwhelmingly on balance has been a plus, not a minus, at the school and is so much broader than the mandatory weekly brief service. It is really a framework --and endeavors o be an inclusive framework -- for emphasizing values that most people would hope to instill in their children -- kindness, generosity, helping others, honesty, trying one's best, learning to get back up when you fall short on the first effort, etc. The religion department actually changed its name some years ago to Philosophy and Religion --and that is what it is. And percentage wise, the Jewish population of the high school historically has been equal to or greater than that of Montgomery County generally. Go see for yourself. Talk to parents. It may not be the right fit for your child, but don't write it off without a look because of the name of the school and whatever assumptions that leads you to make. And then come back and post what you thought.

I think a lot of parents also work in the District, and can just drop their kids off at the school on their way in from MoCo.

Ditto on the Maret post. Very kind school with very bright and creative kids. Wonderful high school experience for both of my very different than each other children.

Burke is right at the Van Ness station on the Red line. Lots of kids metro there.

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I'm sorry this has gone off target. We will do our homework in reaching out to schools, but I was just interested in some general thoughts about places to target. Regarding St. Andrews, we are not Episcopalian or Catholic, so not sure that would be a good fit for us. Also, coming from Mont County, I'm not sure I'd want DS sitting on Metro for an hour each way to get to Burke, GDS, etc.

Do whatever you feel comfortable with, but I walk to the bus stop, take a bus, then take two trains and walk to school, two hours each way. It's not all that bad, I get all my work done on my commute and always have time to read or listen to music, and it's actually kind of nice. Plus, many of my neighbors and friends who go to local public HS spend that much time or more on the school bus.