We have had a great experience at Oakland Terrace and really value the dual immersion approach. There was very positive leadership from Ms Royal and Mr Howard through virtual schooling, when zoom is particularly challenging with two languages, and now.

Anonymous wrote:Avoid Bethesda Elementary. Otherwise there are lots of good choices.

Doesn’t BE still have the wonderful Black principal who was there for many years?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general I think lower performing school have more of a testing focus as more kids struggle with them.

Our experience was the opposite at a Silver Spring school we loved. Very low pressure on standardized tests compared to friends at Bethesda and Kensington schools. People don’t choose our school based on test scores, but on parent recommendations.

Which school is this? I am searching for those special schools -- I am not as concerned about test scores. I am looking for teacher quality.

We had a fantastic experience at our SS school. The teachers were wonderful and our kids seemed to be doing much better than our friend's kids in Bethesda who had much larger classes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general I think lower performing school have more of a testing focus as more kids struggle with them.

Our experience was the opposite at a Silver Spring school we loved. Very low pressure on standardized tests compared to friends at Bethesda and Kensington schools. People don’t choose our school based on test scores, but on parent recommendations.

Which school is this? I am searching for those special schools -- I am not as concerned about test scores. I am looking for teacher quality.

Highland View, although DD is in high school now, so there’s a different principal at HVES. Neighbors still rave about the school though.

There are some Montessori publics in Virginia, I think (a friend's family was there), but not in MCPS.

Here are just a few additional thoughts on the conversation:

-> Principals matter. A LOT. If you choose a house based on a school and the principal changes, the school can change, too, whether in a direction you like or a direction you don't.

-> Even generally great schools (by anyone's definition of great) can have not-so-great teachers in them. I am a HUGE believer in our local elementary, and my kids have also had very positive experiences with their teachers. Where I think there is more credit due is that even my friends whose kids have encountered maybe less great teachers are still also believers in the school itself. That says a lot.

-> An ES in particular can be a reflection of its immediate neighborhood in many, many ways, not just demographically, but in terms of its general disposition or attitude. A great community (and there are so very many ways to define that) can help to foster the kind of school environment you'd want for your kid. See what the school community at large does to support and engage families. See what the neighborhood association does to help other people. See what the communication is like between the school and the community.

I'm really not sure what else you are looking for, OP. If you want a Reggio or Montessori-inspired experience, that just isn't going to be found at an MCPS school.

Anonymous wrote:bump

What else do you want to know?

bump

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding another element-- with the schools that you have named-- do any of these schools seem to be hands on -- more progressive. As I preview- I am trying to avoid schools that have heavy testing/ worksheet vibe. For early childhood I would rather have more play based and experiential. Your thoughts?

North Chevy Chase ES
Burning Tree

Kensington
Kensington Parkwood
Rock Creek Forest
Rock View ES


Silver Spring
Flora Singer Elementary
Oakland Terrace Elementary
East Silver Spring Elementary School
TKPK: Takoma Park (outside of Silver Spring)


Silver Spring:
Woodlin Elementary School
Highland View Elementary School
Forest Knolls Elementary School

Is this a joke? Yes, some of these schools will have a different "vibe", but, none of them are play-based or experiential. They are all MCPS public schools.

Keep your kids in preschool or pay for private if you want that.

I don't know much about MC Schools, but I find it hard to believe that all schools have the exact same culture. I understand curricular demands -- but are you saying there are no Reggio or Montessori inspired schools?

You don’t sound like public school will work for you.

No public school is Reggio or Montessori inspired. All mcps schools have the same curriculum and testing (aside from immersion and hgcs).

The only difference: people. The one-pagers for each school have demographic info that includes socioeconomics.

I don't know much about MC Schools, but I find it hard to believe that all schools have the exact same culture. I understand curricular demands -- but are you saying there are no Reggio or Montessori inspired schools?

Not public schools, no. We don't have charters here so the only choice programs in elementary are language immersion programs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding another element-- with the schools that you have named-- do any of these schools seem to be hands on -- more progressive. As I preview- I am trying to avoid schools that have heavy testing/ worksheet vibe. For early childhood I would rather have more play based and experiential. Your thoughts?

North Chevy Chase ES
Burning Tree

Kensington
Kensington Parkwood
Rock Creek Forest
Rock View ES


Silver Spring
Flora Singer Elementary
Oakland Terrace Elementary
East Silver Spring Elementary School
TKPK: Takoma Park (outside of Silver Spring)


Silver Spring:
Woodlin Elementary School
Highland View Elementary School
Forest Knolls Elementary School

Is this a joke? Yes, some of these schools will have a different "vibe", but, none of them are play-based or experiential. They are all MCPS public schools.

Keep your kids in preschool or pay for private if you want that.

I don't know much about MC Schools, but I find it hard to believe that all schools have the exact same culture. I understand curricular demands -- but are you saying there are no Reggio or Montessori inspired schools?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adding another element-- with the schools that you have named-- do any of these schools seem to be hands on -- more progressive. As I preview- I am trying to avoid schools that have heavy testing/ worksheet vibe. For early childhood I would rather have more play based and experiential. Your thoughts?

North Chevy Chase ES
Burning Tree

Kensington
Kensington Parkwood
Rock Creek Forest
Rock View ES


Silver Spring
Flora Singer Elementary
Oakland Terrace Elementary
East Silver Spring Elementary School
TKPK: Takoma Park (outside of Silver Spring)


Silver Spring:
Woodlin Elementary School
Highland View Elementary School
Forest Knolls Elementary School

Is this a joke? Yes, some of these schools will have a different "vibe", but, none of them are play-based or experiential. They are all MCPS public schools.

Keep your kids in preschool or pay for private if you want that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In general I think lower performing school have more of a testing focus as more kids struggle with them.

Our experience was the opposite at a Silver Spring school we loved. Very low pressure on standardized tests compared to friends at Bethesda and Kensington schools. People don’t choose our school based on test scores, but on parent recommendations.

Which school is this? I am searching for those special schools -- I am not as concerned about test scores. I am looking for teacher quality.

We are also at Oakland Terrace. I pick my kid up after school and we walk home the 2 blocks together. He and his friends are always smiling and shouting and happy. I take that as a good sign. I have not heard the kids complain.

Anonymous wrote:Adding another element-- with the schools that you have named-- do any of these schools seem to be hands on -- more progressive. As I preview- I am trying to avoid schools that have heavy testing/ worksheet vibe. For early childhood I would rather have more play based and experiential. Your thoughts?

North Chevy Chase ES
Burning Tree

Kensington
Kensington Parkwood
Rock Creek Forest
Rock View ES


Silver Spring
Flora Singer Elementary
Oakland Terrace Elementary
East Silver Spring Elementary School
TKPK: Takoma Park (outside of Silver Spring)


Silver Spring:
Woodlin Elementary School
Highland View Elementary School
Forest Knolls Elementary School

I recommend all those Silver Spring schools based on our experiences and those of our friends. But none of these schools make their own decisions on testing, recess, etc. MCPS is a countywide school district. Curriculum and scheduling are pretty standard across schools.