Moving to Area - Need Advice

I'm sorry this response is coming so late! I also have 2 boys, ages 4 and 4mos, an a 13yr old daughter, and we just moved to Columbia, MD last summer. You should be able to look it up right on Wikipedia, but it is an amazing family oriented city. It is made up of 5 'neighborhoods' each with its own shopping center, schools, pools, community center, etc. You can also join the Columbia Association which gives you access to their 3 gyms, many pools and discounts at tons of other places and/or events. There is always something going on either at the waterfront(such as Friday night outdoor movies) or at the different neighborhoods. Here's the website for the communtiy: www.columbiaassociation.com
Now for the preschool, my son started at Christ Memorial Christian Preschool at 3, going 2 days a week from 9-noon and he will be going 3 days a week this upcoming school year. The price this past year was $120/month plus a supply fee at the beginning of the year. It is a very small school with only 3 classrooms, one of which is a 5 day class. It is also right on the edge of Columbia, so there was no commute which made me very happy. :) It was perfect for what we were looking for and my son was very happy there. Here is their website: www.cmpcusa.org/old-site/preschool.(hopefully that works, as they're updating it right now).
On the topic of churches, we have attended Cornerstone Community Church for 4 1/2 years now. It is also located in Columbia and is quite small, but it definitely lives up to its name in being a community. Its website is: www.cornerstone-cares.org
Also, one of the sites that my husband and I used when researching areas to move to and later to decide which neighborhood to live in is: www.greatschools.net. Very helpful.
My last suggestion would be to join a MOPS group this upcoming school year. Great support and lots of fun!
I hope this is all very helpful to you and let me know if you would like any more info on anything!

~ C.

We love Ellicott City. It has everything you would need in a community. There are a couple houses for sale in the Rockburn neighborhood, which is a very nice neighborhood and in a good school district. It is across the street from our neighborhood, but hardly any homes go up for sale on our street (maybe one is for sale now in Montgomery Meadows).

My daughter went to Children's Manor Montessori School, then I switched her to The Goddard School. My son attends there now. I really like it, but it is a little pricey. The Young School has also had favorable comments from my friends, and Grace Episcopal Church and St. John's Church preschools as well.

Good luck and let me know if you move close by. My 3 year old son could always use a new friend (his time is often overshadowed by his older sister). ____@____.com

I like Howard County... the traffic isn't near as bad as in Montgomery County:-) and I just like it better. Couldn't really tell you about the prices though from what I hear Montgomery county can be more expensive. Depending on what school you are districted too check out their RECC programs. My son did his Pre-k year as a peer at Ilchester Elementary School in Ellicott City and he loved it. The teachers were great. It is a class where they combine children with special needs and peers so both groups get the best of both worlds and the student teacher ratio is great. When my son attended it was 3:1 and he did a 4 hr day 5 days a week but they also have 2.5 hr days as well. My son also attended the RECC at Running Brook ES in Columbia as a peer too and that was also awesome. From what I hear all the RECC's are great. Good luck.

We live in Dunloggin in Ellicott City. A very nice neighborhood with nice sized yards and mature trees etc. My daughter goes to Mt. Hebron Preschool and I am very happy with it. I can't say enough about how great her teachers are. And it is not too expensive. St. John's is also very good, but pricier - more competetive to get in. The schools in EC are among the best in the state.

I grew up in Columbia (right next to EC), then lived in AZ and CA before returning and living in Baltimore before moving to EC a year ago. There is a lot of diversity in the area and proximity to Baltimore, Annapolis and DC is good.

I live in Howard County and it ISa good place... I have friends in Ellicott City and they're also happy with lots of elementary aged kids in their neighborhood. I'm in one of the neighborhoods of Columbia...what drew us here was the sidewalks/community/family-oriented and kick-butt elementary school with the crazy-active PTA (not REALLY crazy :-) ) People are outide talking to each other an know their neighbors...and their kids... this has come in handy with my own kids :-) John & Angela Toner are agents that specialize in the neighborhood that I live in.

As far as Ellicott City preschools... none of mine went but here in Columbia(next town over) there are a variety of church/non-church/Montessorri/co-op preschools available.

Your choice may also depend on your budget... I'm not as familiar with Rockville/Silver Spring but any of the Rockville niehgborhoods I've been in have been generally more pricey.

In a nutshell... even within these twns/cities the neighborhoods vary in persoanlity/age/affordability... Good Luck!

I agree that Ellicott City and Columbia are probably less pricey than Rockville/Silver Spring. The traffic is worse as well. I have lived in all three areas.

I recommend Lornewood daycare if you decide on Columbia.