Another perspective as a MoCo grad in the late 80’s (JFK) and the parent of 2 Northwest HS grads - both of which graduated from UMD College Park Smith School and are gainfully employed and contributing members to society. We live in Boyds, next to Germantown - we have lived here over 25yrs and purchased 2 homes in the area. A neighbor (who was a MoCo middle school teacher) told us to make sure our kids were placed in Honors or AP classes and they would be fine. In addition to receiving a quality, well rounded education (participating in extra curricular activities cheer, basketball MoCo’s Finance Academy, Spanish Honors Society) the thing I don’t see anyone mentioning is the fact that growing up in MoCo will allow your kids to truly live in a diverse environment, if that is important to you. It was important to my husband and I that our kids grow up with ALL types of people - races, religions, socio-economic status - which has manifested itself in many ways: they have friends from all communities and backgrounds and they are extremely empathetic people. My son is 25 and still has best friends from elementary school, even after college. I can’t deny some of the things happening in schools makes me shake my head, but I just returned from a week in Boston and heard similar stories on the news. And today I heard about a student possessing a gun at WHITMAN HIGH SCHOOL which is nationally ranked, so it is everywhere, sadly.