Want to live btwn DC and Baltimore...Help?! (Columbia, Ellicott City: elementary school, square footage)

[JerseyGirl83]

I will be working in downtown baltimore (inner harbor area)! I would love to find an area that is between DC and Baltimore. I do have a 4 year old and I am looking for a good elementary school with an after school program. Any advice?

[barante]

Search for my earlier discussions of Linthicum. It is on the light-rail line near BWI Airport, near interestates and MARC and Amtrak to Baltimore and Washington.
I know absolutely nothing about schools. Google Anne Arundel public schools and see what comes up. Good luck.

[KRB97]

I agree with barante, Linthicum is very nice, and has easy access to both places. Anne Arundel county schools are very good.

[bawlmer]

I wouldn't say linthicum is between Baltimore and Washington. It's basically a suburb of Baltimore. Think about Crofton or Bowie as more in the middle. The Crofton schools are better than Linthincum also, imo.

[sobo16]

Originally Posted by bawlmer

I wouldn't say linthicum is between Baltimore and Washington. It's basically a suburb of Baltimore. Think about Crofton or Bowie as more in the middle.

True, but if she's working in downtown Baltimore, Linthicum makes more sense. A shorter commute and the option of taking light rail would surely beat driving 30-45 minutes in traffic from Crofton or Bowie.

[bawlmer]

Originally Posted by sobo16

True, but if she's working in downtown Baltimore, Linthicum makes more sense. A shorter commute and the option of taking light rail would surely beat driving 30-45 minutes in traffic from Crofton or Bowie.

Obviously, but her original post said between Baltimore and Washington. She didn't mention wanting a short commute or using light rail.

[JerseyGirl83]

Thanks for all of the advice. I would rather have a shorter commute but I don't want to use public transporation! Should I be looking in Bowie, Crofton or Linthicum?

[sobo16]

Originally Posted by JerseyGirl83

Thanks for all of the advice. I would rather have a shorter commute but I don't want to use public transporation! Should I be looking in Bowie, Crofton or Linthicum?

Without traffic, the drive from Linthicum to downtown Baltimore is about 10 minutes. From Crofton, it's about 30-35 minutes. From Bowie, 35-40 minutes.

[itlchick]

Columbia and Ellicott City are great. Great place to live and fantastic schools. Both expensive, of course. Might have to take a hit on square footage.

The commute into Baltimore wouldn't be that bad (about 1/2 hour - 45 min). Into DC will take a little longer, especially during rush hour.

[hairmetal4ever]

Anywhere in Southern or Eastern Howard County. West and North are nice but very expensive and farther from both DC and Baltimore.

Agreed on Columbia/EC, also North Laurel (anywhere in Laurel mailing address and 20723 zip code, which is all in Howard County) is also good. Laurel spans 3 counties but it's all by zip code. Laurel 20707 and 20708 (Prince George's County) are mostly nice but there are some rough areas. Laurel 20724 (Anne Arundel Co) are OK but feed into the Meade school cluster, which are the absolute WORST schools in Anne Arundel County. Crimewise it's also not as nice as it "looks like" it is, if that makes any sense.

You could also try Crofton, as suggested, or possibly somewhere like Odenton, both in Anne Arundel County.

However, Howard County schools are better than AA or PG as a whole.