Private/Parochial Schools in Rockville, Gaithersburg, North Potomac, Olney (Bethesda: houses, neighborhoods)

[kajjmlk]

Hello! We are relocating from NYC/CT to Rockville and are looking for houses in Rockville, Gaithersburg/North Potomac and potentially Olney. We have 2 daughters, neither school aged yet, but we are using the public school rankings to help us find nice, safe, family-centered neighborhoods (well, theoretically). In those areas the Elementary schools seem good, but the Middle and High Schools are disappointing. We are interested in private and parochial schools, but I haven't been able to track down a source of information to help rank/list them. I know that the public schools in Potomac, Bethesda, Kensington, CC etc are better, but at this point they are out of our price range. I'd be very grateful for any advice. The messages on this forum have been EXTREMELY useful to me in my search thus far! Thanks all.

[stjesteach]

There are many good private schools in Olney. I teach at St. John's Episcopal School and it is an excellent school. Small classes, great teachers, great community atmosphere, good academics, character and value education. Most people feel that the elementary public schools are great, but the middle schools aren't. We are currently full in our middle school for this reason--(we have 38 per grade max) In addition, there is Sandy Spring Friends and the new Good Counsel High School in Olney. Check out the website at St. John's Episcopal School in Olney, MD.