Just moved to DC post-divorce and COMPLETELY confused about public schools - Please Help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The metro intentionally does not go to Georgetown (back when it was being built I understand Georgetown did not want to be on it)

This is a myth but otherwise PP is correct.

Pretty sure they want metro now, regardless! Good luck OP, let us know how it shakes out. IB for Hearst would probably work really well for you from what it sounds like, and would ensure you Deal for your older children, which is what most would do given the choice between Hardy and Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies! It seems that living in Georgetown is out since it's not in the Deal area. What are good options to live in the Deal area? As in, close to a metro stop where I can go to Gerogetown? I don't have a car or anything so are there areas that I can navigate walking? I looked at the map of the area but I don't know anything about what I am looking for! And I should look for something in the Shepherd or Hearst Elementary School area, correct?

Georgetown isn't easy to get to by any means even if you had a car (in which you'll get stuck). Your best bet from upper NW, which where you seem to focus your attention, are any of the buses going down Wisconsin and right through the (congested) heart of Georgetown. However, I have a hard time thinking that anything zoned for Deal would be much cheaper than a decent size apartment in Glover Park, North Georgetown, pool, front desk service, and all included. Try those apartment complexes along Mass Ave, north of Embassy Row. You'd have proximity to Georgetown (and your sister), your kids would be at an excellent middle school which is not overwhelmingly big for them to enter mid-way and which, as Deal, feeds to Wilson HS and also does well placing kids in application high schools.

Op I am still confused why you won't consider Rosslyn? The circulator goes to GT every 10 minutes, it's an easy walk, and excellent schools. Is there some cache to DC that you value? I know you can rent a 3000 sq ft 3 bedroom townhouse for 4k in highgate, so seems to meet all your needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies! It seems that living in Georgetown is out since it's not in the Deal area. What are good options to live in the Deal area? As in, close to a metro stop where I can go to Gerogetown? I don't have a car or anything so are there areas that I can navigate walking? I looked at the map of the area but I don't know anything about what I am looking for! And I should look for something in the Shepherd or Hearst Elementary School area, correct?

Georgetown isn't easy to get to by any means even if you had a car (in which you'll get stuck). Your best bet from upper NW, which where you seem to focus your attention, are any of the buses going down Wisconsin and right through the (congested) heart of Georgetown. However, I have a hard time thinking that anything zoned for Deal would be much cheaper than a decent size apartment in Glover Park, North Georgetown, pool, front desk service, and all included. Try those apartment complexes along Mass Ave, north of Embassy Row. You'd have proximity to Georgetown (and your sister), your kids would be at an excellent middle school which is not overwhelmingly big for them to enter mid-way and which, as Deal, feeds to Wilson HS and also does well placing kids in application high schools.

Op I am still confused why you won't consider Rosslyn? The circulator goes to GT every 10 minutes, it's an easy walk, and excellent schools. Is there some cache to DC that you value? I know you can rent a 3000 sq ft 3 bedroom townhouse for 4k in highgate, so seems to meet all your needs.

Also, what is your college funding plan? VA had a number of good to excellent public university options, and with your kids already in middle school this should be a consideration for where you put down roots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies! It seems that living in Georgetown is out since it's not in the Deal area. What are good options to live in the Deal area? As in, close to a metro stop where I can go to Gerogetown? I don't have a car or anything so are there areas that I can navigate walking? I looked at the map of the area but I don't know anything about what I am looking for! And I should look for something in the Shepherd or Hearst Elementary School area, correct?

I would suggest looking on Wisconsin by the Tenleytown/Friendship Heights area, where there should be apartment buildings where you can rent. They will be near the 30 buses, which go from Friendship Heights to Georgetown and then toward downtown. These addresses should be inbounds for Deal/Wilson, but you can make sure they are by checking the address against find.myschooldc.org. Tenleytown would be ideal, as Deal and Wilson are both there. Good luck!

I was one of the poster recommending Shepherd Park. Now that I know more of your situation I would say this advice is better. Bus down Wisconsin is really easy. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies! It seems that living in Georgetown is out since it's not in the Deal area. What are good options to live in the Deal area? As in, close to a metro stop where I can go to Gerogetown? I don't have a car or anything so are there areas that I can navigate walking? I looked at the map of the area but I don't know anything about what I am looking for! And I should look for something in the Shepherd or Hearst Elementary School area, correct?

Georgetown isn't easy to get to by any means even if you had a car (in which you'll get stuck). Your best bet from upper NW, which where you seem to focus your attention, are any of the buses going down Wisconsin and right through the (congested) heart of Georgetown. However, I have a hard time thinking that anything zoned for Deal would be much cheaper than a decent size apartment in Glover Park, North Georgetown, pool, front desk service, and all included. Try those apartment complexes along Mass Ave, north of Embassy Row. You'd have proximity to Georgetown (and your sister), your kids would be at an excellent middle school which is not overwhelmingly big for them to enter mid-way and which, as Deal, feeds to Wilson HS and also does well placing kids in application high schools.

Op I am still confused why you won't consider Rosslyn? The circulator goes to GT every 10 minutes, it's an easy walk, and excellent schools. Is there some cache to DC that you value? I know you can rent a 3000 sq ft 3 bedroom townhouse for 4k in highgate, so seems to meet all your needs.

Also, what is your college funding plan? VA had a number of good to excellent public university options, and with your kids already in middle school this should be a consideration for where you put down roots.

This is a REALLY good point OP about college being soon. You would be geographically close to your sister and it might make more sense economically. Will you plan to buy a car? Seems like it would be tough to have 3 kids even in DC with zero car. Just a guess. (I live in DC and love it btw, just responding to what might be best for the OP.)

[Anonymous]

Glad to see you were able to get a divorce in Pakistan. Hopefully it's becoming easier for women there and less taboo.

Hearst is excellent. Near metro and good for Deal. But the PPs point about college is important too.

[Anonymous]

There are many large apartment buildings on Connecticut Avenue zoned for Murch or Hearst that could be much less pricey than other options mentioned here you could check out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are many large apartment buildings on Connecticut Avenue zoned for Murch or Hearst that could be much less pricey than other options mentioned here you could check out.

And construction at Murch (starting in summer 2016) should be finishing up during your 2 1/2 year old's K year. So if you found a place for Murch, your youngest would start Murch in "yet-to-be-determined swing space" during Murch construction and be in a new Murch building by 1st grade. Hearst construction will be complete when your youngest starts school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look a McLean Gardens (WI just south of Fannie Mae)

You can walk to Giant - Metro Bus to Deal - Metro to Georgetown

How, pray tell, does one Metro from McLean Gardens to Georgetown?

error - metro bus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the replies! It seems that living in Georgetown is out since it's not in the Deal area. What are good options to live in the Deal area? As in, close to a metro stop where I can go to Gerogetown? I don't have a car or anything so are there areas that I can navigate walking? I looked at the map of the area but I don't know anything about what I am looking for! And I should look for something in the Shepherd or Hearst Elementary School area, correct?

I would suggest looking on Wisconsin by the Tenleytown/Friendship Heights area, where there should be apartment buildings where you can rent. They will be near the 30 buses, which go from Friendship Heights to Georgetown and then toward downtown. These addresses should be inbounds for Deal/Wilson, but you can make sure they are by checking the address against find.myschooldc.org. Tenleytown would be ideal, as Deal and Wilson are both there. Good luck!

I was one of the poster recommending Shepherd Park. Now that I know more of your situation I would say this advice is better. Bus down Wisconsin is really easy. Good luck!

+1. Yet another Shepherd PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Glad to see you were able to get a divorce in Pakistan. Hopefully it's becoming easier for women there and less taboo.

Hearst is excellent. Near metro and good for Deal. But the PPs point about college is important too.

DC also has program where every graduating student can receive $10,000 in college funding per year. It's designed to help DC students when they attend out of state with out of state tuition. It's called DC TAG if you want to look it up.

[Anonymous]

I would look into a rental property on/near Wisconsin Ave in bounds for Hearst, ideally near the Macomb/Wisconsin intersection. McLean Gardens is a good option (condo community with lots of green space), and there are other apartment buildings on Wisconsin Ave around there too. That area is walkable to Hearst, Deal, and Wilson, there is a large grocery store/pharmacy there as well, and easy bus access down Wisconsin Ave to Georgetown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Glad to see you were able to get a divorce in Pakistan. Hopefully it's becoming easier for women there and less taboo.

Hearst is excellent. Near metro and good for Deal. But the PPs point about college is important too.

This belongs in the Pakistan forum

[Anonymous]

Janney parent here. I'd encourage you to consider our school. There's been a huge amount of progress over the last several years, including an amazing musical, a new arts program, spectacular renovations, and a driven teaching staff. The PTA leadership is truly awe-inspiring at the school. The energy, and more importantly heart, that the PTA brings to their volunteer roles makes me proud to be a member of this close-knot community. The principal works with us to mold the values of the community like experimentation and reflection. There is a constant stream of new ideas being tested and evaluated, like the outdoor oriented science program. I don't think that any school in DC, MD, or VA serves children to the extent Janney does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would look into a rental property on/near Wisconsin Ave in bounds for Hearst, ideally near the Macomb/Wisconsin intersection. McLean Gardens is a good option (condo community with lots of green space), and there are other apartment buildings on Wisconsin Ave around there too. That area is walkable to Hearst, Deal, and Wilson, there is a large grocery store/pharmacy there as well, and easy bus access down Wisconsin Ave to Georgetown.

Just be sure if you want Hearst/Deal/Wilson that you get a place inbounds for it. I think half of McLean Gardens is inbounds for Hearst/Deal/Wilson and the other half is Eaton/Hardy/Wilson.