How permanent is the Shepherd -> Deal feeder?

[Anonymous]

Looking at moving within the District, and giving some strong consideration to something IB for Shepherd, both based on its performance, as well as the fact that it's in the Deal feeder pattern.

My understanding from previous discussions on here is that it's long standing, and has a court case to back it up. Can anyone provide a link/discussion as to the background of this? I'm sure the folks in Crestwood thought that they'd be feeding into Deal forever, but that seems to be coming to an end. I'd like to see what kind of assurances we have (or don't) about sticking to the Deal feeder pattern before investing in a new house.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking at moving within the District, and giving some strong consideration to something IB for Shepherd, both based on its performance, as well as the fact that it's in the Deal feeder pattern.

My understanding from previous discussions on here is that it's long standing, and has a court case to back it up. Can anyone provide a link/discussion as to the background of this? I'm sure the folks in Crestwood thought that they'd be feeding into Deal forever, but that seems to be coming to an end. I'd like to see what kind of assurances we have (or don't) about sticking to the Deal feeder pattern before investing in a new house.

Thanks!

Ask the folks in the Eaton community, who have been feeding into Deal since their grandfathers attended, about assurances.

[Anonymous]

If DC does this right - unlikely - we'll do a boundary review every 10 years or so (my estimate of how often would be good).

In 10 years Deal will be full and a new renovation will be taking place to add capacity.

A new middle school will be in place in Ward 4 and a new one will be on the way. I see that situation as a toss up from a technocratic perspective.

The political perspective is that Shepherd's community is the most-wired/highest socioeconomic status African-American community in DC, which even in 10 years will still be dominated politically by African-Americans. Shepherd families will get what they want. And unless something dramatic happens in Ward 4 on quality/attractiveness to higher-income African-American families, they will want to send their children to Deal.

So that's a speculative analysis, a long way of telling you "very likely yes, Shepherd will continue to feed to Deal."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If DC does this right - unlikely - we'll do a boundary review every 10 years or so (my estimate of how often would be good).

In 10 years Deal will be full and a new renovation will be taking place to add capacity.

A new middle school will be in place in Ward 4 and a new one will be on the way. I see that situation as a toss up from a technocratic perspective.

The political perspective is that Shepherd's community is the most-wired/highest socioeconomic status African-American community in DC, which even in 10 years will still be dominated politically by African-Americans. Shepherd families will get what they want. And unless something dramatic happens in Ward 4 on quality/attractiveness to higher-income African-American families, they will want to send their children to Deal.

So that's a speculative analysis, a long way of telling you "very likely yes, Shepherd will continue to feed to Deal."

I think this analysis is mostly correct with some caveats. Those caveats suggest it is likely as PP states, but certainly not assured. In short, you should never count on your school boundaries. They can change.

On Deal, it is undergoing a renovation right now. I think that expansion will be it. Deal will not be able to expand further. On the new Ward 4 middle school, in some of the earlier DME proposals Shepherd was flagged as moving there at some point. I would expect that to at least come up. Finally, the 10 years is only for a full review. The plan has a mechanism to review overcrowded schools sooner. Deal falls into that camp.

[Anonymous]

I would not buy with the assumption that it will stay inbounds for Deal and Wilson. I would buy because you like the elementary school and then be prepared to move for middle/high school if you need to. Maybe you won't have to, but you could have to do so.

[Anonymous]

I highly doubt that Shepherd will ever be zoned away from Deal. Even when the new W4 middle school opens, you can't suggest moving Shepherd without talking about Bancroft and Lafayette (ward 4).

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I highly doubt that Shepherd will ever be zoned away from Deal. Even when the new W4 middle school opens, you can't suggest moving Shepherd without talking about Bancroft and Lafayette (ward 4).

If the new North Ward 4 middle school were to open, there would be an effort to feed Shepherd to it. Big "if" though.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I highly doubt that Shepherd will ever be zoned away from Deal. Even when the new W4 middle school opens, you can't suggest moving Shepherd without talking about Bancroft and Lafayette (ward 4).

If the new North Ward 4 middle school were to open, there would be an effort to feed Shepherd to it. Big "if" though.

An effort by who? I can't imagine that being supported by Mayor Bowser or Mayor Catania let alone the politically connected folk in SP/CV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I highly doubt that Shepherd will ever be zoned away from Deal. Even when the new W4 middle school opens, you can't suggest moving Shepherd without talking about Bancroft and Lafayette (ward 4).

If the new North Ward 4 middle school were to open, there would be an effort to feed Shepherd to it. Big "if" though.

An effort by who? I can't imagine that being supported by Mayor Bowser or Mayor Catania let alone the politically connected folk in SP/CV.

Won't it be at least 2019 before new North opens? Could be Mayor Wells by then

[Anonymous]

How come the lawsuit that kept Shepard in Deal was no help to 16th Street Heights/Crestwood being left out of Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I highly doubt that Shepherd will ever be zoned away from Deal. Even when the new W4 middle school opens, you can't suggest moving Shepherd without talking about Bancroft and Lafayette (ward 4).

If the new North Ward 4 middle school were to open, there would be an effort to feed Shepherd to it. Big "if" though.

An effort by who? I can't imagine that being supported by Mayor Bowser or Mayor Catania let alone the politically connected folk in SP/CV.

By everyone who is not at Shepherd that stands to gain if Shepherd moves. The other schools that feed Deal would probably be happy to see them go due to over-crowding. The other schools that would feed McFarland would be happy to have them come too, as they would be seen as a relatively desirable addition to the academic cohort.

It would be rather similar to Eaton at Hardy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How come the lawsuit that kept Shepard in Deal was no help to 16th Street Heights/Crestwood being left out of Deal.

Was there a lawsuit or is that just conjecture?

My understanding is that Shepherd went to Deal after Paul went charter (before that door was closed). Deal wasn't full at the time, so it really didn't bother anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking at moving within the District, and giving some strong consideration to something IB for Shepherd, both based on its performance, as well as the fact that it's in the Deal feeder pattern.

My understanding from previous discussions on here is that it's long standing, and has a court case to back it up. Can anyone provide a link/discussion as to the background of this? I'm sure the folks in Crestwood thought that they'd be feeding into Deal forever, but that seems to be coming to an end. I'd like to see what kind of assurances we have (or don't) about sticking to the Deal feeder pattern before investing in a new house.

Thanks!

Besides the fact that the neighborhood and school are very good and worthy on their own merits, residents are likely to retain feeder rights to Deal for at least the next ten years. Beyond that, no one can say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at moving within the District, and giving some strong consideration to something IB for Shepherd, both based on its performance, as well as the fact that it's in the Deal feeder pattern.

My understanding from previous discussions on here is that it's long standing, and has a court case to back it up. Can anyone provide a link/discussion as to the background of this? I'm sure the folks in Crestwood thought that they'd be feeding into Deal forever, but that seems to be coming to an end. I'd like to see what kind of assurances we have (or don't) about sticking to the Deal feeder pattern before investing in a new house.

Thanks!

Besides the fact that the neighborhood and school are very good and worthy on their own merits, residents are likely to retain feeder rights to Deal for at least the next ten years. Beyond that, no one can say.

OP here.

Interesting inputs, all. Thanks. I clearly understand that feeder rights are by no means guaranteed, but I wanted to hear perspectives on people more plugged into the issue than I am.

As for the neighborhood, it's gorgeous...but kind of boring and not very accessible by transit (a hike to the SS metro, which is itself a hike to downtown...or a bus that sits in lots of traffic) compared to our current place in Columbia Heights. So working through that debate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at moving within the District, and giving some strong consideration to something IB for Shepherd, both based on its performance, as well as the fact that it's in the Deal feeder pattern.

My understanding from previous discussions on here is that it's long standing, and has a court case to back it up. Can anyone provide a link/discussion as to the background of this? I'm sure the folks in Crestwood thought that they'd be feeding into Deal forever, but that seems to be coming to an end. I'd like to see what kind of assurances we have (or don't) about sticking to the Deal feeder pattern before investing in a new house.

Thanks!

Besides the fact that the neighborhood and school are very good and worthy on their own merits, residents are likely to retain feeder rights to Deal for at least the next ten years. Beyond that, no one can say.

OP here.

Interesting inputs, all. Thanks. I clearly understand that feeder rights are by no means guaranteed, but I wanted to hear perspectives on people more plugged into the issue than I am.

As for the neighborhood, it's gorgeous...but kind of boring and not very accessible by transit (a hike to the SS metro, which is itself a hike to downtown...or a bus that sits in lots of traffic) compared to our current place in Columbia Heights. So working through that debate.

By "boring", yes, it certainly qualifies by new urbanism standards. However, within five years the new Walter Reed development should begin to come on line and I think that will change the landscape significantly for the better: new shops, restaurants, grocery store, etc.

The S4 and S9 buses aren't bad for heading downtown...the Express bus is 10 to 12 mins to Columbia Heights.