Advice on Schools - moving from Ireland

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Poster (NP). OP, I’d recommend that you post on the DC Schools Forum if you want to know about DC schools. People who live in Virginia and Maryland often look down on DC schools. Parents with kids in DC schools are usually happy with and prefer their schools.

Different strokes for different folks.

Hence the daily postings by DC parents contemplating moving to close-in suburbs for the schools?

This is accurate. DC parents are constantly trying to figure out when and how to move to the suburbs when they don’t win the high school lotteries.

Some, not all, obviously, since DC many schools are crowded, and most people there are not getting in by lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Thank you.
Have been recommended Tenleytown/ AU park / Chevy Chase as potential areas to live. Ideally with a metro line into the city to avoid traffic 😅

If you live in DC, traffic isn't that bad. The horrid traffic DC is known for (e.g. the bridge on the beltway b/w MD and VA) is actually outside of DC itself, and those who live in DC only experience it when needing to go to VA or MD during rush hour. I've lived in DC for over 30 years and use the beltway maybe 10 times a year, if that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Poster (NP). OP, I’d recommend that you post on the DC Schools Forum if you want to know about DC schools. People who live in Virginia and Maryland often look down on DC schools. Parents with kids in DC schools are usually happy with and prefer their schools.

Different strokes for different folks.

Hence the daily postings by DC parents contemplating moving to close-in suburbs for the schools?

This is accurate. DC parents are constantly trying to figure out when and how to move to the suburbs when they don’t win the high school lotteries.

If I may ask, what do you mean by “win?” Aren’t all the schools good ?

[Anonymous]

Dear god please put your kids in DC public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New Poster (NP). OP, I’d recommend that you post on the DC Schools Forum if you want to know about DC schools. People who live in Virginia and Maryland often look down on DC schools. Parents with kids in DC schools are usually happy with and prefer their schools.

Different strokes for different folks.

Hence the daily postings by DC parents contemplating moving to close-in suburbs for the schools?

This is accurate. DC parents are constantly trying to figure out when and how to move to the suburbs when they don’t win the high school lotteries.

If I may ask, what do you mean by “win?” Aren’t all the schools good ?

don't be a troll

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:European, but not Irish, neighbor was happy with Washington Intl School. Worth a look-see.

Montgomery County public schools are generally good. Several Red Line metro stations are in Montgomery County just north of DC. Look at those neighborhoods also.

I believe 5th grade is still part of the full immersion program so entry at that point may not be possible or at least inadvisable. Some kids join in 6th grade but I believe they need pretty intensive language training (at school) to get to the level required in middle school. Best to ask to speak to other families who have done that to find out about their experiences.

I'm not sure what school you are talking about -- you are respoding to a comment about MCPS, and the schools up the red line in MoCo are not immersion schools.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP!

What did you ultimately decide as far as schools for your child?

[Anonymous]

Live in Burleith. Your middle school kids can walk to Hardy MS (public school), it's like 1-2 blocks away.

British International School is also in walking distance in the off-chance you want to go private in a UK-style school. WIS lower school is also here.

Tons of Brits and Europeans in our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

I lived in the UK for a few years. When we returned to the US, my child attended a DC public school. They found the instruction in English, foreign language, and math to be more challenging than in their non-selective London comprehensive. Science was a bit better taught in the UK.

One of the reasons for this is that US secondary schools have students taking fewer subjects than European schools, and offer fewer subjects like Design and Technology or Food Tech. They therefore offer more instructional time in academics. US schools also have continuous assessment, so more daily assignments. Most large US secondary schools enable students to find their own balance between academics and sports

Unlike in Ireland, public schools in the US don't have religious instruction. You would need a private religious school if you are interested in that.

Catholic schools in the US vary in terms of academic rigor. Some Catholic communities in the DC area are insular and some are very open, so I would ask around and visit, if interested.

The public schools in NW DC, Montgomery County, Fairfax County, and Arlington County are generally fine.

If you ask on the Private School Board, you will get more feedback on private schools. I wouldn't use the British School in DC. It is small with lots of turnover.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Thank you.
Have been recommended Tenleytown/ AU park / Chevy Chase as potential areas to live. Ideally with a metro line into the city to avoid traffic 😅

If you live in DC, traffic isn't that bad. The horrid traffic DC is known for (e.g. the bridge on the beltway b/w MD and VA) is actually outside of DC itself, and those who live in DC only experience it when needing to go to VA or MD during rush hour. I've lived in DC for over 30 years and use the beltway maybe 10 times a year, if that.

Have you never driven 16th. Mass Ave, Wisconsin, Connecticut, 14th, etc. during rush hour, which lasts most of the day?

That said, I would also consider MoCo schools. We moved out from DC and have been very happy here (whitman cluster).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Thank you.
Have been recommended Tenleytown/ AU park / Chevy Chase as potential areas to live. Ideally with a metro line into the city to avoid traffic 😅

If you live in DC, traffic isn't that bad. The horrid traffic DC is known for (e.g. the bridge on the beltway b/w MD and VA) is actually outside of DC itself, and those who live in DC only experience it when needing to go to VA or MD during rush hour. I've lived in DC for over 30 years and use the beltway maybe 10 times a year, if that.

Have you never driven 16th. Mass Ave, Wisconsin, Connecticut, 14th, etc. during rush hour, which lasts most of the day?

That said, I would also consider MoCo schools. We moved out from DC and have been very happy here (whitman cluster).

+1 to both points above.