Where would you move to be IB for PK-3?

[Anonymous]

My family is looking at possibly relocating within the city to a somewhat larger home. Currently, we are IB for Thomson. Staying where we are is an option, though we are a little concerned about what we've heard about limited outdoor space at Thomson.

I am looking for thoughts on how we could be savvy about where we move, to increase our odds of being IB for a good PK-3 program. We would love to be able to stay somewhere through elementary school or even elementary school but we aren't even wedded to that. My child is in bilingual daycare, but she's English dominant. I would love to keep her in a bilingual program if possible.

I understand from reading this forum that, for example, moving to within Maury or Bancroft bounds might not be sufficient to actually be lottery-ed into those schools. What are some good options where the likelihood of acceptance IB are also good?

[Anonymous]

Sorry, didn't mean that we want to increase our odds of being IB. I meant we would like to be IB to increase our odds of getting into a good PK3.

[Anonymous]

"would love to be able to stay somewhere through elementary school or even middle school".... sheesh sorry.

[Anonymous]

I would suggest you not build your life around getting free PK3. When you are paying for aftercare and breaks and summer, you don't save that much.

If you move to Ward 5 you'll be within a good distance of plenty of charters and one will likely work out.

[Anonymous]

For any DCPS you should be more concerned about outdoor time than outdoor space. In preK they may get a second afternoon recess, but they may just get one short (20-30 minute) morning recess, IF the weather is good enough. K and up it’s just one short recess a day.

[Anonymous]

We were formerly IB for Thomson (though well before we had a child) and now live IB for Marie Reed. We're starting PK3 dual language (English dominant) next year and it's a great school! All IB families got in this year and last (though that wasn't always the case pre-COVID).

[Anonymous]

As an OOB parent praying to get off Thomson's preK-3 wait list, I'd stay put if I were you.

Despite the lack of outdoor space, you're gonna have a hard time doing better than Thomson when it comes to both elementary school and longer term options, which is why we want in so badly.

First off, it's one of the few early action schools in the district, meaning IB families (like you, but not us) automatically get in. Second, the middle school feeder is School Without Walls at Francis Stephens (a very solid choice that's likely to get even better now that they're getting a new building). The high school, Cardozo, isn't as strong, admittedly.

Third, Thomson actually has higher scores than popular nearby schools with fewer at-risk students, like Garrison, CHML and Seaton. (Except in science at Seaton). These schools are great too, just putting their data out to illustrate how strong Thomson is. Also note that teachers at Thomson are more experienced than at those other schools.

Seaton: https://stossepublicdocsprod.blob.core.windows.net/public-docs/dc-school-report-card/2021-22/profiles/001-0309(Seaton%20Elementary%20School).pdf

Garrison: https://stossepublicdocsprod.blob.core.windows.net/public-docs/dc-school-report-card/2021-22/profiles/001-0239(Garrison%20Elementary%20School).pdf

CHML: https://stossepublicdocsprod.blob.core.windows.net/public-docs/dc-school-report-card/2021-22/profiles/001-0360(Capitol%20Hill%20Montessori%20School%20@%20Logan).pdf

Thomson: https://stossepublicdocsprod.blob.core.windows.net/public-docs/dc-school-report-card/2021-22/profiles/001-0326(Thomson%20Elementary%20School).pdf

The leadership at Thomson is excellent. People who work at DCPS think very highly of the principal and consider the school a "hidden gem." (I asked around before putting Thomson high on my list).

Yes, the building could be better. And it's a bummer about the indoor play space. I didn't love it, tho some parents say it grows on you. But to my mind, academics, social-and-emotional learning, and school leadership are what matters. Facilities aren't nearly as important, at least to me.

Marie Reed, as suggested by PP, is a wonderful school too, don't get me wrong. But the feeder middle school isn't near as strong as SWW Francis Stephens.

If Spanish is really important, though, I'd move IB for Bancroft or Oyster, then you'll get Deal and JR - a great feeder pattern!

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP and should have added that it'll be hard to get in boundary for PreK-3 at Bancroft and not sure Oyster has it, but both are great options for elementary, with Spanish and strong feeders.