Why so much hate with EOTP vs WOTP parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I moved to NW DC from NYC. I thought I was suffocating. It felt very, very suburban. I ended up moving to Capitol Hill where I was much happier.

Points for NWDC- definitely better schools and a better high school feeder plan. Like dramatically better middle/high schools.

Points against- you're either driving forever or on the train forever if you work for most federal agencies. The subway here blows. Almost everything is driving distance in NW DC. If you're a minority you might feel uncomfortable (I did). No one is very friendly. I made lots of friends (I'm a friendly person), but it's not like NYC where you introduce yourself to other parents at the park.

Points For EOTP (really Capitol Hill)- more diverse, closer to downtown, nicer, friendlier Neighborhoods, much more walkable. You are close to the Smithsonian. Lots more active moms/dads groups like moms on the hill (MOTH).

Points against- terrible schools in some areas, bad middle/high schools throughout

There is crime all over DC. This was a shock to me coming from NYC because crime wasn't so much a part of life as it is here. People in Ward 3 claim it's less of an issue, but that's a lie. The metro SUCKS. Driving here sucks too.

Huh? I live in NWDC and take a metro 5 stops to my federal job. I walk to tons of stuff. Maybe not the Smithsonian, but I can walk to the zoo, hike Rock Creek, etc. not to mention a movie theater, a library, restaurants and bars.

RE friendliness, we've met lots of friends in our neighborhood. Meanwhile, I have friends who live on the Hill for years who know like 3 people on their block.

Please let's not generalize and give the OP false information.

Check out those nice 18 minute metro delays today on the redline. And yes there are some old Lady restaurants and bars. Listen if I was OP I would move to NW DC just for deal since she has a 5th grader. But NW DC sucks.

You sound like an expert on NWDC! I think your type of hostility is more prevalent than in the other direction. People WOTP have no reason to hate on EOTP. They may not want to live there or deal with the schools, but they don't have such animosity, which is obviously rooted in insecurity. You covet the schools (you'd move just for Deal!), but you'd rather not because the area "sucks".

I live in a million dollar plus Victorian on Capitol Hill. I can definitely afford one of the dumpy little houses or sad condos WOTP. I don't covet Deal, but for the OP it's the right choice. I actually think deal is nothing special and it makes me sad it's the best DCPS that DC has to offer for middle school. I'm sorry you're so insecure you're projecting your issues on me. It's okay to live in the suburbs. Calm down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lived EOTP for 10+ years, and now live WOTP. People are not really much different. Most neighbors are generally good down to earth people on both sides. Most are just worried about their kids and family. There are a handful of jerks, and a handful of busy bodies, and a handful of gossips in every neighborhood, and the same is true whether you're EOTP or WOTP.

EOTP, people worry about crime and the poor state of schools, but they feel superior to the suckers who live WOTP because they are getting more house for their money and think they have a more diverse array of neighbors. EOTP, people also worry that the WOTP crowd is getting special favors from government, like more snow plows or better garbage pickup.

WOTP, people worry less about schools or crime, and seem happy to have paid more to get those benefits. The biggest school worry WOTP is that the schools are too overcrowded, especially from people outside the neighborhoods. People don't seem to think much negative about EOTP, or really at all; it's just far away "over there."

I think the level of hostility on DCUM flows mostly from the intense focus on schools here. This is where many EOTP people feel they are entitled to attend the WOTP schools because they've been planning on that for years. Their frustration at getting zoned out is understandable. But similarly, the WOTP people feel entitled to get first dibs on the WOTP schools because those are their own neighborhood schools, and the EOTP families have other schools in their own neighborhoods. Their frustration at overcrowding from OOB kids is understandable too.

That's my two cents at least.

"Frustration at getting zoned out": are you referring to actually being zoned out or just fewer OOB spots available? I'm not clear what you intended to mean in the second half of your post. Most people I know EOTP are preoccupied with their neighborhood elementary, or middle/high if Capitol Hill, and charters. No-one expects to attend janney OOB. People do attend Hearst and Eaton. Hearst is 75 percent OOB? Again just not clear on your post.

I'm not sure I understand your confusion. As I understand it, the zones for the various feeder schools changed, which may eventually (in several years because of grandfathering) lead for fewer EOTP children being in the zones / feeder pathways for WOTP schools like Deal and Wilson. In addition, I know the OOB rules changed, but I suspect that will have less overall impact than the zone changes. Plenty of people I know EOTP are preoccupied with finding solid school options. That might be a local elementary, but most are looking for an out before reaching middle school. It might be a charter. It might be a WOTP hook, such as a semi-valid address or rented apartment. It might be a private school. It was a point of stress for many of my friends, meaning they had to work the system and worry about the results. In almost all cases, they have to worry about transportation, because most school options are farther from home than a few blocks. By contrast, my neighbors WOTP mostly just send their kids to the local schools and don't worry much about it. They have that luxury because the local schools are all pretty good, albeit massively overcrowded.

Does that help clarify for you?

[Anonymous]

I live in a million dollar plus Victorian on Capitol Hill. I can definitely afford one of the dumpy little houses or sad condos WOTP. I don't covet Deal, but for the OP it's the right choice. I actually think deal is nothing special and it makes me sad it's the best DCPS that DC has to offer for middle school. I'm sorry you're so insecure you're projecting your issues on me. It's okay to live in the suburbs. Calm down.

You seem like a person who really knows what you think.

[Anonymous]

I lived WOTP before buying in Shepherd Park. Why is comparing them a stretch? I am really curious. Other than WOTP has fewer AAs ans houses are about $100-$200k more, crime is similar, schools are similar. Please do tell how they are "so far apart"?

Different poster. In my experience, crime is higher and schools are lower in SP than in most neighborhoods WOTP. I think the differences go far beyond race and price. I think you are being disingenuous, or maybe you're just mistaken.

[Anonymous]

Who knew so many umc women could be so insecure about their own neighborhood choices, that they'd denigrate others?

For what it is worth, living in eotp burby DC has taught me that I hate the burbs. Thing is, DC being as it is, I dont even know where we could move that would be less burby. Brookland? Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I lived WOTP before buying in Shepherd Park. Why is comparing them a stretch? I am really curious. Other than WOTP has fewer AAs ans houses are about $100-$200k more, crime is similar, schools are similar. Please do tell how they are "so far apart"?

Different poster. In my experience, crime is higher and schools are lower in SP than in most neighborhoods WOTP. I think the differences go far beyond race and price. I think you are being disingenuous, or maybe you're just mistaken.

NP. Schools, plural?? There is only one school in SP that is different than WOTP, Shepherd elementary (GS rating same or higher than any WOTP). SP's middle is Deal (better than Hardy for half of "WOTP) and high school is Wilson (same as WOTP). And crime, I think you may want to actually compare crime/heat maps before making such assertions. Shepherd Park/Colonial Village/ North Portal Estates looks no different than a majority of WOTP, better than places like Georgetown. Looks like you're the one that is mistaken/disingenuous. What, exactly is your experience?

[Anonymous]

Okay, Shepherd parents, can we have a community meeting about not having defensive chips on our shoulders? Quite obviously, to anyone with access to the Internet and and a map, SP is low crime, walkable to an urban area (dtss), and has a high-scoring elementary school in its boundaries.

Despite all those things, and it being beautiful, it is not perfect. But I will not go into that, because SP parents are scary.

I can only assume those wotp bitches are even worse.

Where do the parents who aren't defensive and competitive live? I mean aside from Baltimore

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, Shepherd parents, can we have a community meeting about not having defensive chips on our shoulders? Quite obviously, to anyone with access to the Internet and and a map, SP is low crime, walkable to an urban area (dtss), and has a high-scoring elementary school in its boundaries.

Despite all those things, and it being beautiful, it is not perfect. But I will not go into that, because SP parents are scary.

I can only assume those wotp bitches are even worse.

Where do the parents who aren't defensive and competitive live? I mean aside from Baltimore

Stating facts are not defensive. PP clearly was misinformed as she indicated lesser performing school(s). Fwiw I'm not even a Shepherd resident but it is tiresome when WOTP posters are so defensive and exclusive to think no other neighborhood belongs in same sentence. There is no perfect neighborhood, not even AU Park.

[Anonymous]

I am a Shepherd parent and I would like to clarify a point. SP residents and/or parents are not defensive or scary but we are tired of being overlooked, trashed, and/or belittled by WOTP and other DC neighborhoods.

Some of these posters do not believe there can actually be a predominately AA school with middle to upper class families that can perform just as well as them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This may not be popular to say, but DC was a Southern and very segregated city. The park was a huge part of the racial dividing line. The city has also gentrified tremendously in the last 10 years and entire neighborhoods have shifted in terms of socio-economics and race. Some of these biased opinions are directly related to sections of the city that were predominantly African-American in the recent or even distant past. I would ignore the comments and live where you feel the most comfortable.

Was wondering when someone would bring up the obvious answer. It's based on attitudes seeping from good ol' racism & segregation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, Shepherd parents, can we have a community meeting about not having defensive chips on our shoulders? Quite obviously, to anyone with access to the Internet and and a map, SP is low crime, walkable to an urban area (dtss), and has a high-scoring elementary school in its boundaries.

Despite all those things, and it being beautiful, it is not perfect. But I will not go into that, because SP parents are scary.

I can only assume those wotp bitches are even worse.

Where do the parents who aren't defensive and competitive live? I mean aside from Baltimore

Stating facts are not defensive. PP clearly was misinformed as she indicated lesser performing school(s). Fwiw I'm not even a Shepherd resident but it is tiresome when WOTP posters are so defensive and exclusive to think no other neighborhood belongs in same sentence. There is no perfect neighborhood, not even AU Park.

I am WOTP and I think Shepherd is a lovely area. Every neighborhood has its pluses and minuses, including my own. Our decision to buy here was based on two main criteria-- easy access to the red line and a good walkable school. Simple as that. I like the 16th Street area but it would have made for a difficult commute so we didn't look there. Shepherd is a great school and we would have been happy to go there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Okay, Shepherd parents, can we have a community meeting about not having defensive chips on our shoulders? Quite obviously, to anyone with access to the Internet and and a map, SP is low crime, walkable to an urban area (dtss), and has a high-scoring elementary school in its boundaries.

Despite all those things, and it being beautiful, it is not perfect. But I will not go into that, because SP parents are scary.

I can only assume those wotp bitches are even worse.

Where do the parents who aren't defensive and competitive live? I mean aside from Baltimore

They live all over DC, but are not posting here (except for me).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a Shepherd parent and I would like to clarify a point. SP residents and/or parents are not defensive or scary but we are tired of being overlooked, trashed, and/or belittled by WOTP and other DC neighborhoods.

Some of these posters do not believe there can actually be a predominately AA school with middle to upper class families that can perform just as well as them.

I would like to clarify that "WOTP" is not doing any of that. A few caustic DCUM posters are doing that.

And I always have the sneaking feeling that the people on here who say the worst things about DC schools, wherever they are, do not have children who attend them and feel the need to keep beating the same old drum to justify their reasons.

And lets face it, the header of this thread was designed to attract those people and bring out their venom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, Shepherd parents, can we have a community meeting about not having defensive chips on our shoulders? Quite obviously, to anyone with access to the Internet and and a map, SP is low crime, walkable to an urban area (dtss), and has a high-scoring elementary school in its boundaries.

Despite all those things, and it being beautiful, it is not perfect. But I will not go into that, because SP parents are scary.

I can only assume those wotp bitches are even worse.

Where do the parents who aren't defensive and competitive live? I mean aside from Baltimore

They live all over DC, but are not posting here (except for me).

+1 me too
There are judgmental jerks everywhere in the city. The exact type may vary by location, but it's pretty universal.

In non-DCUM (real life) most people in most neighborhoods are decent people, or at least behave well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Okay, Shepherd parents, can we have a community meeting about not having defensive chips on our shoulders? Quite obviously, to anyone with access to the Internet and and a map, SP is low crime, walkable to an urban area (dtss), and has a high-scoring elementary school in its boundaries.

Despite all those things, and it being beautiful, it is not perfect. But I will not go into that, because SP parents are scary.

I can only assume those wotp bitches are even worse.

Where do the parents who aren't defensive and competitive live? I mean aside from Baltimore

Stating facts are not defensive. PP clearly was misinformed as she indicated lesser performing school(s). Fwiw I'm not even a Shepherd resident but it is tiresome when WOTP posters are so defensive and exclusive to think no other neighborhood belongs in same sentence. There is no perfect neighborhood, not even AU Park.

I am WOTP and I think Shepherd is a lovely area. Every neighborhood has its pluses and minuses, including my own. Our decision to buy here was based on two main criteria-- easy access to the red line and a good walkable school. Simple as that. I like the 16th Street area but it would have made for a difficult commute so we didn't look there. Shepherd is a great school and we would have been happy to go there.

I think most people are rational and make rational decisions like this poster. You tend to see the extremes on DCUM. FYI, a lot of Shepherd/North Portal is 5-6 blocks from red line.