Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw the notion that the students in SS are just not smart enough for your child to be challenged is not...I mean for those of us who live in SS you have to understand it does make us laugh.

As I'm sure you're aware, "Silver Spring" is actually a pretty large geographic area and the schools are not all the same. I used to substitute teach and while I would be fine sending my kids to most schools in SS (and they do), some of the schools have some pretty significant challenges. You do have to pay attention.

I actually agree with you that many schools in SS have significant challenges, but my understanding is that these are behavior challenges among some children that unfortunately impact the rest of the class. Not a lack of intelligence overall.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your family sounds more like a North Bethesda/Rockville family to me than Silver Spring.

Yup. I agree with this.

+1 I was about to post that many of the Eastern European and Russian families we know live in Rockville.

I grew up in silver spring, if I couldn’t afford Bethesda I would move to North Bethesda/Rockville as the pp stated. Silver Spring is just not where I would raise a family.

And you're going to find variety on this. So I'll just give an honest counter-view. We could afford to live in Bethesda and choose to raise our kids in Silver Spring. I have friends in Bethesda and the sense of community seems better in Silver Spring. Also, I just don't feel like enough people talk about the downsides of wealthy areas. The kids I know in Bethesda are more focused on brands, appearance, clothing, etc, and sort of cliquey keeping up with the Joneses stuff. In my experience there is less of that in Silver Spring, and that's more consistent with what I'm looking for in where I raise my kids.

I live near but not in Bethesda. I know plenty of kids in Bethesda. I wouldn’t say any of the kids I know are focused on brands, appearance or clothing AT ALL, especially compared to kids I know in NY, NJ, Philly, Chicago, etc. This area is really not very fashion conscious. That’s not to say there aren’t other things that may differ from your neighborhood in Silver Spring.

Ya… this is wrong. Bethesda is incredibly materialistic, like wealthy suburbs everywhere. Guess you need to live “in” it. Raising kids in Silver Spring you avoid all that, but still get highly educated parents in a diverse community.

Why does it matter whether parents in Silver Spring are “highly educated?” You’re just elitist in your own way.

DP - when there's a common misperception that SS is mostly low SES, it's reasonable to correct the record.

Another DP. People constantly justify their choice to buy in Bethesda/Potomac/Chevy Chase because they seem to think that's where all the high achieving parents live so that's where all the high achieving kids will be. The multiple assumptions here are all wrong.

I mean, people also justify their choice by citing commute times, crime stats, access to particular amenities, available housing stock (lots of large, luxurious new construction in these neighborhoods, less in SS), re-sale ability based on perception of the value of location, etc. I don’t think people are going around trying to rub shoulders with “high achieving parents.”

You're taking this very personally. People on DCUM definitely do say they pay for houses in Bethesda so their child will have a "high achieving cohort". If you chose it for other reasons, that doesn't negate the reality that many parents have real concerns about sending their children to schools where the student body includes significant percentages of low income children and a perception that it means their child won't be challenged.

I mean, there is a reason to seek a school with a cohort. For instance, in schools with large enough of a cohort, they get compacted math in their school with a real live in-person teacher. In schools without a cohort, those kids are placed in a Zoom room with a virtual teacher. I don’t care who the parents are or how much or little money they have. I don’t care if they wear Lululemon or Walmart pants. I care if the educational environment in a particular school is legitimately subpar.

No, this is not a valid argument. This compacted math problem happened ONCE, at Highland View, which is a very small school. They also don’t have full-time music and art teachers, again because the school is very small. It’s not “subpar.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your family sounds more like a North Bethesda/Rockville family to me than Silver Spring.

Yup. I agree with this.

+1 I was about to post that many of the Eastern European and Russian families we know live in Rockville.

I grew up in silver spring, if I couldn’t afford Bethesda I would move to North Bethesda/Rockville as the pp stated. Silver Spring is just not where I would raise a family.

And you're going to find variety on this. So I'll just give an honest counter-view. We could afford to live in Bethesda and choose to raise our kids in Silver Spring. I have friends in Bethesda and the sense of community seems better in Silver Spring. Also, I just don't feel like enough people talk about the downsides of wealthy areas. The kids I know in Bethesda are more focused on brands, appearance, clothing, etc, and sort of cliquey keeping up with the Joneses stuff. In my experience there is less of that in Silver Spring, and that's more consistent with what I'm looking for in where I raise my kids.

I live near but not in Bethesda. I know plenty of kids in Bethesda. I wouldn’t say any of the kids I know are focused on brands, appearance or clothing AT ALL, especially compared to kids I know in NY, NJ, Philly, Chicago, etc. This area is really not very fashion conscious. That’s not to say there aren’t other things that may differ from your neighborhood in Silver Spring.

Ya… this is wrong. Bethesda is incredibly materialistic, like wealthy suburbs everywhere. Guess you need to live “in” it. Raising kids in Silver Spring you avoid all that, but still get highly educated parents in a diverse community.

Why does it matter whether parents in Silver Spring are “highly educated?” You’re just elitist in your own way.

DP - when there's a common misperception that SS is mostly low SES, it's reasonable to correct the record.

Another DP. People constantly justify their choice to buy in Bethesda/Potomac/Chevy Chase because they seem to think that's where all the high achieving parents live so that's where all the high achieving kids will be. The multiple assumptions here are all wrong.

I mean, people also justify their choice by citing commute times, crime stats, access to particular amenities, available housing stock (lots of large, luxurious new construction in these neighborhoods, less in SS), re-sale ability based on perception of the value of location, etc. I don’t think people are going around trying to rub shoulders with “high achieving parents.”

You're taking this very personally. People on DCUM definitely do say they pay for houses in Bethesda so their child will have a "high achieving cohort". If you chose it for other reasons, that doesn't negate the reality that many parents have real concerns about sending their children to schools where the student body includes significant percentages of low income children and a perception that it means their child won't be challenged.

I mean, there is a reason to seek a school with a cohort. For instance, in schools with large enough of a cohort, they get compacted math in their school with a real live in-person teacher. In schools without a cohort, those kids are placed in a Zoom room with a virtual teacher. I don’t care who the parents are or how much or little money they have. I don’t care if they wear Lululemon or Walmart pants. I care if the educational environment in a particular school is legitimately subpar.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw the notion that the students in SS are just not smart enough for your child to be challenged is not...I mean for those of us who live in SS you have to understand it does make us laugh.

As I'm sure you're aware, "Silver Spring" is actually a pretty large geographic area and the schools are not all the same. I used to substitute teach and while I would be fine sending my kids to most schools in SS (and they do), some of the schools have some pretty significant challenges. You do have to pay attention.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw the notion that the students in SS are just not smart enough for your child to be challenged is not...I mean for those of us who live in SS you have to understand it does make us laugh.

As I'm sure you're aware, "Silver Spring" is actually a pretty large geographic area and the schools are not all the same. I used to substitute teach and while I would be fine sending my kids to most schools in SS (and they do), some of the schools have some pretty significant challenges. You do have to pay attention.

Anonymous wrote:Btw the notion that the students in SS are just not smart enough for your child to be challenged is not...I mean for those of us who live in SS you have to understand it does make us laugh.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your family sounds more like a North Bethesda/Rockville family to me than Silver Spring.

Yup. I agree with this.

+1 I was about to post that many of the Eastern European and Russian families we know live in Rockville.

I grew up in silver spring, if I couldn’t afford Bethesda I would move to North Bethesda/Rockville as the pp stated. Silver Spring is just not where I would raise a family.

And you're going to find variety on this. So I'll just give an honest counter-view. We could afford to live in Bethesda and choose to raise our kids in Silver Spring. I have friends in Bethesda and the sense of community seems better in Silver Spring. Also, I just don't feel like enough people talk about the downsides of wealthy areas. The kids I know in Bethesda are more focused on brands, appearance, clothing, etc, and sort of cliquey keeping up with the Joneses stuff. In my experience there is less of that in Silver Spring, and that's more consistent with what I'm looking for in where I raise my kids.

I live near but not in Bethesda. I know plenty of kids in Bethesda. I wouldn’t say any of the kids I know are focused on brands, appearance or clothing AT ALL, especially compared to kids I know in NY, NJ, Philly, Chicago, etc. This area is really not very fashion conscious. That’s not to say there aren’t other things that may differ from your neighborhood in Silver Spring.

Ya… this is wrong. Bethesda is incredibly materialistic, like wealthy suburbs everywhere. Guess you need to live “in” it. Raising kids in Silver Spring you avoid all that, but still get highly educated parents in a diverse community.

Why does it matter whether parents in Silver Spring are “highly educated?” You’re just elitist in your own way.

DP - when there's a common misperception that SS is mostly low SES, it's reasonable to correct the record.

Another DP. People constantly justify their choice to buy in Bethesda/Potomac/Chevy Chase because they seem to think that's where all the high achieving parents live so that's where all the high achieving kids will be. The multiple assumptions here are all wrong.

I mean, people also justify their choice by citing commute times, crime stats, access to particular amenities, available housing stock (lots of large, luxurious new construction in these neighborhoods, less in SS), re-sale ability based on perception of the value of location, etc. I don’t think people are going around trying to rub shoulders with “high achieving parents.”

You're taking this very personally. People on DCUM definitely do say they pay for houses in Bethesda so their child will have a "high achieving cohort". If you chose it for other reasons, that doesn't negate the reality that many parents have real concerns about sending their children to schools where the student body includes significant percentages of low income children and a perception that it means their child won't be challenged.

I mean, there is a reason to seek a school with a cohort. For instance, in schools with large enough of a cohort, they get compacted math in their school with a real live in-person teacher. In schools without a cohort, those kids are placed in a Zoom room with a virtual teacher. I don’t care who the parents are or how much or little money they have. I don’t care if they wear Lululemon or Walmart pants. I care if the educational environment in a particular school is legitimately subpar.

If you feel it's justified to choose Bethesda schools based on what you just wrote, then why so defensive? If you believe something, stand by it.

I don’t live in Bethesda. I just don’t think it’s necessary to act like it’s some horrible area filled with terrible people who aren’t down to earth in an effort to draw a distinction between it and SS. There are good things about both places and nice people in both. You can be happy in SS without knocking other neighborhoods.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your family sounds more like a North Bethesda/Rockville family to me than Silver Spring.

Yup. I agree with this.

+1 I was about to post that many of the Eastern European and Russian families we know live in Rockville.

I grew up in silver spring, if I couldn’t afford Bethesda I would move to North Bethesda/Rockville as the pp stated. Silver Spring is just not where I would raise a family.

And you're going to find variety on this. So I'll just give an honest counter-view. We could afford to live in Bethesda and choose to raise our kids in Silver Spring. I have friends in Bethesda and the sense of community seems better in Silver Spring. Also, I just don't feel like enough people talk about the downsides of wealthy areas. The kids I know in Bethesda are more focused on brands, appearance, clothing, etc, and sort of cliquey keeping up with the Joneses stuff. In my experience there is less of that in Silver Spring, and that's more consistent with what I'm looking for in where I raise my kids.

I live near but not in Bethesda. I know plenty of kids in Bethesda. I wouldn’t say any of the kids I know are focused on brands, appearance or clothing AT ALL, especially compared to kids I know in NY, NJ, Philly, Chicago, etc. This area is really not very fashion conscious. That’s not to say there aren’t other things that may differ from your neighborhood in Silver Spring.

Ya… this is wrong. Bethesda is incredibly materialistic, like wealthy suburbs everywhere. Guess you need to live “in” it. Raising kids in Silver Spring you avoid all that, but still get highly educated parents in a diverse community.

Why does it matter whether parents in Silver Spring are “highly educated?” You’re just elitist in your own way.

DP - when there's a common misperception that SS is mostly low SES, it's reasonable to correct the record.

Another DP. People constantly justify their choice to buy in Bethesda/Potomac/Chevy Chase because they seem to think that's where all the high achieving parents live so that's where all the high achieving kids will be. The multiple assumptions here are all wrong.

I mean, people also justify their choice by citing commute times, crime stats, access to particular amenities, available housing stock (lots of large, luxurious new construction in these neighborhoods, less in SS), re-sale ability based on perception of the value of location, etc. I don’t think people are going around trying to rub shoulders with “high achieving parents.”

You're taking this very personally. People on DCUM definitely do say they pay for houses in Bethesda so their child will have a "high achieving cohort". If you chose it for other reasons, that doesn't negate the reality that many parents have real concerns about sending their children to schools where the student body includes significant percentages of low income children and a perception that it means their child won't be challenged.

I mean, there is a reason to seek a school with a cohort. For instance, in schools with large enough of a cohort, they get compacted math in their school with a real live in-person teacher. In schools without a cohort, those kids are placed in a Zoom room with a virtual teacher. I don’t care who the parents are or how much or little money they have. I don’t care if they wear Lululemon or Walmart pants. I care if the educational environment in a particular school is legitimately subpar.

If you feel it's justified to choose Bethesda schools based on what you just wrote, then why so defensive? If you believe something, stand by it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your family sounds more like a North Bethesda/Rockville family to me than Silver Spring.

Yup. I agree with this.

+1 I was about to post that many of the Eastern European and Russian families we know live in Rockville.

I grew up in silver spring, if I couldn’t afford Bethesda I would move to North Bethesda/Rockville as the pp stated. Silver Spring is just not where I would raise a family.

And you're going to find variety on this. So I'll just give an honest counter-view. We could afford to live in Bethesda and choose to raise our kids in Silver Spring. I have friends in Bethesda and the sense of community seems better in Silver Spring. Also, I just don't feel like enough people talk about the downsides of wealthy areas. The kids I know in Bethesda are more focused on brands, appearance, clothing, etc, and sort of cliquey keeping up with the Joneses stuff. In my experience there is less of that in Silver Spring, and that's more consistent with what I'm looking for in where I raise my kids.

I live near but not in Bethesda. I know plenty of kids in Bethesda. I wouldn’t say any of the kids I know are focused on brands, appearance or clothing AT ALL, especially compared to kids I know in NY, NJ, Philly, Chicago, etc. This area is really not very fashion conscious. That’s not to say there aren’t other things that may differ from your neighborhood in Silver Spring.

Ya… this is wrong. Bethesda is incredibly materialistic, like wealthy suburbs everywhere. Guess you need to live “in” it. Raising kids in Silver Spring you avoid all that, but still get highly educated parents in a diverse community.

Why does it matter whether parents in Silver Spring are “highly educated?” You’re just elitist in your own way.

DP - when there's a common misperception that SS is mostly low SES, it's reasonable to correct the record.

Another DP. People constantly justify their choice to buy in Bethesda/Potomac/Chevy Chase because they seem to think that's where all the high achieving parents live so that's where all the high achieving kids will be. The multiple assumptions here are all wrong.

I mean, people also justify their choice by citing commute times, crime stats, access to particular amenities, available housing stock (lots of large, luxurious new construction in these neighborhoods, less in SS), re-sale ability based on perception of the value of location, etc. I don’t think people are going around trying to rub shoulders with “high achieving parents.”

You're taking this very personally. People on DCUM definitely do say they pay for houses in Bethesda so their child will have a "high achieving cohort". If you chose it for other reasons, that doesn't negate the reality that many parents have real concerns about sending their children to schools where the student body includes significant percentages of low income children and a perception that it means their child won't be challenged.

I mean, there is a reason to seek a school with a cohort. For instance, in schools with large enough of a cohort, they get compacted math in their school with a real live in-person teacher. In schools without a cohort, those kids are placed in a Zoom room with a virtual teacher. I don’t care who the parents are or how much or little money they have. I don’t care if they wear Lululemon or Walmart pants. I care if the educational environment in a particular school is legitimately subpar.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your family sounds more like a North Bethesda/Rockville family to me than Silver Spring.

Yup. I agree with this.

+1 I was about to post that many of the Eastern European and Russian families we know live in Rockville.

I grew up in silver spring, if I couldn’t afford Bethesda I would move to North Bethesda/Rockville as the pp stated. Silver Spring is just not where I would raise a family.

And you're going to find variety on this. So I'll just give an honest counter-view. We could afford to live in Bethesda and choose to raise our kids in Silver Spring. I have friends in Bethesda and the sense of community seems better in Silver Spring. Also, I just don't feel like enough people talk about the downsides of wealthy areas. The kids I know in Bethesda are more focused on brands, appearance, clothing, etc, and sort of cliquey keeping up with the Joneses stuff. In my experience there is less of that in Silver Spring, and that's more consistent with what I'm looking for in where I raise my kids.

I live near but not in Bethesda. I know plenty of kids in Bethesda. I wouldn’t say any of the kids I know are focused on brands, appearance or clothing AT ALL, especially compared to kids I know in NY, NJ, Philly, Chicago, etc. This area is really not very fashion conscious. That’s not to say there aren’t other things that may differ from your neighborhood in Silver Spring.

Ya… this is wrong. Bethesda is incredibly materialistic, like wealthy suburbs everywhere. Guess you need to live “in” it. Raising kids in Silver Spring you avoid all that, but still get highly educated parents in a diverse community.

Why does it matter whether parents in Silver Spring are “highly educated?” You’re just elitist in your own way.

DP - when there's a common misperception that SS is mostly low SES, it's reasonable to correct the record.

Another DP. People constantly justify their choice to buy in Bethesda/Potomac/Chevy Chase because they seem to think that's where all the high achieving parents live so that's where all the high achieving kids will be. The multiple assumptions here are all wrong.

I mean, people also justify their choice by citing commute times, crime stats, access to particular amenities, available housing stock (lots of large, luxurious new construction in these neighborhoods, less in SS), re-sale ability based on perception of the value of location, etc. I don’t think people are going around trying to rub shoulders with “high achieving parents.”

You're taking this very personally. People on DCUM definitely do say they pay for houses in Bethesda so their child will have a "high achieving cohort". If you chose it for other reasons, that doesn't negate the reality that many parents have real concerns about sending their children to schools where the student body includes significant percentages of low income children and a perception that it means their child won't be challenged.

Anonymous wrote:DH and I have two preschool age children and we are looking to buy a home in Montgomery County in the next two years.

Many people have recomended Silver Spring as an affordable family friendly option, but we are hesitant abut the schools. For context, our kids had developmental delays from birth but are in private therapy, private preschool, etc. and have technically caught up on milestones but are still behind most of their peers with language.

We want the best education possible for our kids and we cannot compromise on an unsafe environment like fights in schools, etc. We are also wary of the pressure cooker environment of somewhere like the Whitman district.

Can anyone recommend a good Silver Spring cluster? Should we just suck it up and live in a cardboard box in a Bethesda?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your family sounds more like a North Bethesda/Rockville family to me than Silver Spring.

Yup. I agree with this.

+1 I was about to post that many of the Eastern European and Russian families we know live in Rockville.

I grew up in silver spring, if I couldn’t afford Bethesda I would move to North Bethesda/Rockville as the pp stated. Silver Spring is just not where I would raise a family.

And you're going to find variety on this. So I'll just give an honest counter-view. We could afford to live in Bethesda and choose to raise our kids in Silver Spring. I have friends in Bethesda and the sense of community seems better in Silver Spring. Also, I just don't feel like enough people talk about the downsides of wealthy areas. The kids I know in Bethesda are more focused on brands, appearance, clothing, etc, and sort of cliquey keeping up with the Joneses stuff. In my experience there is less of that in Silver Spring, and that's more consistent with what I'm looking for in where I raise my kids.

I live near but not in Bethesda. I know plenty of kids in Bethesda. I wouldn’t say any of the kids I know are focused on brands, appearance or clothing AT ALL, especially compared to kids I know in NY, NJ, Philly, Chicago, etc. This area is really not very fashion conscious. That’s not to say there aren’t other things that may differ from your neighborhood in Silver Spring.

Ya… this is wrong. Bethesda is incredibly materialistic, like wealthy suburbs everywhere. Guess you need to live “in” it. Raising kids in Silver Spring you avoid all that, but still get highly educated parents in a diverse community.

Why does it matter whether parents in Silver Spring are “highly educated?” You’re just elitist in your own way.

DP - when there's a common misperception that SS is mostly low SES, it's reasonable to correct the record.

Another DP. People constantly justify their choice to buy in Bethesda/Potomac/Chevy Chase because they seem to think that's where all the high achieving parents live so that's where all the high achieving kids will be. The multiple assumptions here are all wrong.

I mean, people also justify their choice by citing commute times, crime stats, access to particular amenities, available housing stock (lots of large, luxurious new construction in these neighborhoods, less in SS), re-sale ability based on perception of the value of location, etc. I don’t think people are going around trying to rub shoulders with “high achieving parents.”