Anonymous
03/03/2016 22:10
Subject: Re:Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
What I haven't seen in this thread is the most important - what is in the best interests of the OP's children? If the children are more than a few years out from high school, much can change in that time. It's better to take numerous factors and blend them together: (1) good schools with a diverse curriculum (not necessarily a diverse student body); (2) purchase price of a home and its eventual resale value; (3) commute to the OP's current job and potentially future job(s); and (4) overall "feel" of the neighborhood.
My wife and I bought in Wootton, not because of the high school, but because of the elementary and middle schools. We also very much liked the neighborhood feel and knew some people who lived in our area. Our commutes suck - DW commutes to D.C. and I commute to NoVa - but we make it work (timing the traffic is key). I'm sacrificing more time in the car to have a neighborhood that we love.
Everything in life is a trade off. Perfection doesn't exist around here, and even if you managed to achieve it, something would happen to change it. You're better off prioritizing what is important to you and making your decision based on that priority. Otherwise, you're just asking to be disappointed, if not resentful, of your decision. Then again, you would only have yourself to blame.
My wife and I bought in Wootton, not because of the high school, but because of the elementary and middle schools. We also very much liked the neighborhood feel and knew some people who lived in our area. Our commutes suck - DW commutes to D.C. and I commute to NoVa - but we make it work (timing the traffic is key). I'm sacrificing more time in the car to have a neighborhood that we love.
Everything in life is a trade off. Perfection doesn't exist around here, and even if you managed to achieve it, something would happen to change it. You're better off prioritizing what is important to you and making your decision based on that priority. Otherwise, you're just asking to be disappointed, if not resentful, of your decision. Then again, you would only have yourself to blame.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 18:49
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Fair points PP, but its not like RM is full of fighting or is dangerous. Its not. There are fights in all of the schools (just a few weeks, a girl got stabbed in the face at WJ). And drugs and alcohol. Some schools may have a bit more than others, but its there. There were some fights at my high school growing up, but it was the kids that didn't give a rats ass about school, not the ones working hard, studying, playing sports, doing music, theater, etc. Rarely do the two groups meaningfully intersect.
Drugs are rampant at Churchill and Wootton. Because there is LOTS of money. And there are parents who just don't care as long as grades stay up. I know there are drugs everywhere, but maybe it's the attitude coupled with the drugs that bothers me so much. I hate it.
Exactly the same thing at Langley and McLean High Schools.
Imagine that.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 17:52
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As a happy Rockville resident..that is not an area I consider very desirable..too far from town center and metro.
NP here. The houses closest to the Town Center and metro go for the cheapest in Rockville. That is comparing apples to oranges. It isn't like anything extraordinary is popping up around there besides apartments around old houses.
The houses that were moved years back from Wootton to RM had about a $150,000 decline in their housing prices compared to their neighbors that still attended Wootton. We looked in various locations close to there about 12 years ago and we were always confused who went to what elementary, middle and high school as there is various ones depending on where you live. The houses for Wootton were always slightly more expensive than Chruchill but I think it was due to the age of most Churchill homes. Then if you entered a neighborhood that went to RM the prices dropped dramatically. We were talking $500,000 for RM homes and $700,000 for Churchill and $750,000 for Wootton. Right now I see a 55yr old basic home with an unfinished basement for sale for $950,000 in a Wootton district. Homes in Fallsgrove which are practically brand new inside and out, twice the size go for the same price or less. There is definitely a difference.
More for Wootton than Chuchhill? Prices went down 150K in the 80's when Ritchie Park was moved..that is a huge decline for 1980's prices in the area. Interesting "facts"
Anonymous
03/02/2016 17:16
Subject: Re:Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
I can't believe people are arguing that *of course* one area is better to live in, and *of course* they have better schools, because, duh, the houses cost more. C'mon people, the invisible hand isn't as infallible as you think. People pay a lot more money to buy houses on golf courses too, and there is no inherent value in it and most of us don't care. I think I might pay $200k extra just to avoid some of these posters.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 16:44
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As a happy Rockville resident..that is not an area I consider very desirable..too far from town center and metro.
NP here. The houses closest to the Town Center and metro go for the cheapest in Rockville. That is comparing apples to oranges. It isn't like anything extraordinary is popping up around there besides apartments around old houses.
The houses that were moved years back from Wootton to RM had about a $150,000 decline in their housing prices compared to their neighbors that still attended Wootton. We looked in various locations close to there about 12 years ago and we were always confused who went to what elementary, middle and high school as there is various ones depending on where you live. The houses for Wootton were always slightly more expensive than Chruchill but I think it was due to the age of most Churchill homes. Then if you entered a neighborhood that went to RM the prices dropped dramatically. We were talking $500,000 for RM homes and $700,000 for Churchill and $750,000 for Wootton. Right now I see a 55yr old basic home with an unfinished basement for sale for $950,000 in a Wootton district. Homes in Fallsgrove which are practically brand new inside and out, twice the size go for the same price or less. There is definitely a difference.
Yes, there is a difference, yes prices are overall higher, yes, it's probably because of the school demographics that make Wootton rated a "10".
No one claimed RM is a "10". It's a 7-9ish cluster, and for many, that's quite good enough. For some, it's even preferable, given the other amenities (walkability, metro access, less expensive homes, historic homes, etc) that some might be looking for, in addition to good schools.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 14:44
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:As a happy Rockville resident..that is not an area I consider very desirable..too far from town center and metro.
NP here. The houses closest to the Town Center and metro go for the cheapest in Rockville. That is comparing apples to oranges. It isn't like anything extraordinary is popping up around there besides apartments around old houses.
The houses that were moved years back from Wootton to RM had about a $150,000 decline in their housing prices compared to their neighbors that still attended Wootton. We looked in various locations close to there about 12 years ago and we were always confused who went to what elementary, middle and high school as there is various ones depending on where you live. The houses for Wootton were always slightly more expensive than Chruchill but I think it was due to the age of most Churchill homes. Then if you entered a neighborhood that went to RM the prices dropped dramatically. We were talking $500,000 for RM homes and $700,000 for Churchill and $750,000 for Wootton. Right now I see a 55yr old basic home with an unfinished basement for sale for $950,000 in a Wootton district. Homes in Fallsgrove which are practically brand new inside and out, twice the size go for the same price or less. There is definitely a difference.
I'm 13:17. This wasn't the case when I was looking a couple of years ago. Some comparable homes in RM were pricier than those in Wootton area. I think it just depends on the area - in both clusters.
Homes in Kentlands go for a lot, too, but it's zones for QO. Some of the homes are way more expensive than those in Wootton clusters. Yes, they are newer, but I think the point is that it really depends on the area within that cluster.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 14:40
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No one that can afford a W neighborhood chooses an RM neighborhood.
You can look at the housing market and know that this is simply not true. Wootton cluster starts around 6-700 for a SFH. There are many homes priced at and above this price in RM cluster, and they have no problem selling.
The same exact house in Wooton goes for about $200K more than RM. They also go up in value quicker. They also sell quicker.
Even if this were true...so what? Let me break it down for you, since you are obtuse: I don't care if there is a $500K house in RM that would sell for $700K in Wootton. The point is that a person that can pay $700K could live in either cluster, and obviously people do opt for RM, as is evidenced by the $700K and up homes that easily sell in RM.
That would be me! Better home for less money and spent the money sending my kids to private
Anonymous
03/02/2016 14:39
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
Anonymous wrote:As a happy Rockville resident..that is not an area I consider very desirable..too far from town center and metro.
NP here. The houses closest to the Town Center and metro go for the cheapest in Rockville. That is comparing apples to oranges. It isn't like anything extraordinary is popping up around there besides apartments around old houses.
The houses that were moved years back from Wootton to RM had about a $150,000 decline in their housing prices compared to their neighbors that still attended Wootton. We looked in various locations close to there about 12 years ago and we were always confused who went to what elementary, middle and high school as there is various ones depending on where you live. The houses for Wootton were always slightly more expensive than Chruchill but I think it was due to the age of most Churchill homes. Then if you entered a neighborhood that went to RM the prices dropped dramatically. We were talking $500,000 for RM homes and $700,000 for Churchill and $750,000 for Wootton. Right now I see a 55yr old basic home with an unfinished basement for sale for $950,000 in a Wootton district. Homes in Fallsgrove which are practically brand new inside and out, twice the size go for the same price or less. There is definitely a difference.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 14:12
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
As a happy Rockville resident..that is not an area I consider very desirable..too far from town center and metro.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 14:04
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No one that can afford a W neighborhood chooses an RM neighborhood.
You can look at the housing market and know that this is simply not true. Wootton cluster starts around 6-700 for a SFH. There are many homes priced at and above this price in RM cluster, and they have no problem selling.
The same exact house in Wooton goes for about $200K more than RM. They also go up in value quicker. They also sell quicker.
Evidence of this?
google and redfin are your friends. zip 20850, area around Falls rd & Wootton prkw. See for yourself
Anonymous
03/02/2016 13:58
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No one that can afford a W neighborhood chooses an RM neighborhood.
You can look at the housing market and know that this is simply not true. Wootton cluster starts around 6-700 for a SFH. There are many homes priced at and above this price in RM cluster, and they have no problem selling.
The same exact house in Wooton goes for about $200K more than RM. They also go up in value quicker. They also sell quicker.
Even if this were true...so what? Let me break it down for you, since you are obtuse: I don't care if there is a $500K house in RM that would sell for $700K in Wootton. The point is that a person that can pay $700K could live in either cluster, and obviously people do opt for RM, as is evidenced by the $700K and up homes that easily sell in RM.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 13:31
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Well, rich kids tend to have more cash to buy drugs and alcohol.
and parents with money that can dig their kids out of trouble and sweep it under the rug.
Exactly.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 13:23
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How bad is the alcohol/drugs in these schools? How much does the school admin cover up the problems?
Alcohol/drug problems in any HS. These two are no different. You just need to make sure your kid is not the one doing it.
+1000
Went to school in Silver Spring many years ago and there were plenty of drugs and alcohol for those who wanted it. It's total BS that only the "rich" kids have it. I also completely agree with the discussion on housing prices. We live near the edge of the Churchill district and my house re-sales for almost $200,000 more than the exact same cookie cutter house in some Rockville neighborhoods. I agree it's absurd, but its true and its why we bought in Churchill years ago instead of down the road a little ways.
But most homes in Potomac are also closer in to DC than a Rockville house.
I'm talking about houses less than 1.5 miles apart. My neighborhood borders Rockville and North Potomac not Potomac Village. The point is that home values are seriously affected by schools and always have been. Any time the economy takes a downward trend, home values that are perceived to be in the "better" school clusters do better.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 13:23
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
Anonymous wrote:Well, rich kids tend to have more cash to buy drugs and alcohol.
and parents with money that can dig their kids out of trouble and sweep it under the rug.
Anonymous
03/02/2016 13:21
Subject: Wooton vs Whittman vs Richard Montgomery
Well, rich kids tend to have more cash to buy drugs and alcohol.