How hard is is in DC if you're not zoned for a good school, really?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bought a house in a "bad" school boundary 5 years ago. Cheap house lets me work a dream job, instead of law firm job. Kids just started an excellent charter school. And, if we had not gotten into the charter, I would have happily sent them to PK and K at the local school (might have happily gone further than that, too...).

DH and I can commute to work by bike in under 20 minutes.

Don't buy more house than you can afford or more commute than you can live with. DC schools are getting better and in 3-5 years will be better still.

And the pace of change is actually accelerating. Add to that the fact that more wealthy and middle-class people are choosing to move into the city, and more poor people are living in the suburbs, and we could be looking at folks moving into the city for the schools in another decade. Certainly for the commute.

[Anonymous]

ITA about the city BUT my kid needs a good school NOW. We've done DCPS and charter, and while some would say they're excellent, the reality is that they're woefully lacking in many ways. If I had 5 years+, no problem but some of us need an immediate solution.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bought a house in a "bad" school boundary 5 years ago. Cheap house lets me work a dream job, instead of law firm job. Kids just started an excellent charter school. And, if we had not gotten into the charter, I would have happily sent them to PK and K at the local school (might have happily gone further than that, too...).

DH and I can commute to work by bike in under 20 minutes.

Don't buy more house than you can afford or more commute than you can live with. DC schools are getting better and in 3-5 years will be better still.

And the pace of change is actually accelerating. Add to that the fact that more wealthy and middle-class people are choosing to move into the city, and more poor people are living in the suburbs, and we could be looking at folks moving into the city for the schools in another decade. Certainly for the commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:ITA about the city BUT my kid needs a good school NOW. We've done DCPS and charter, and while some would say they're excellent, the reality is that they're woefully lacking in many ways. If I had 5 years+, no problem but some of us need an immediate solution.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bought a house in a "bad" school boundary 5 years ago. Cheap house lets me work a dream job, instead of law firm job. Kids just started an excellent charter school. And, if we had not gotten into the charter, I would have happily sent them to PK and K at the local school (might have happily gone further than that, too...).

DH and I can commute to work by bike in under 20 minutes.

Don't buy more house than you can afford or more commute than you can live with. DC schools are getting better and in 3-5 years will be better still.

And the pace of change is actually accelerating. Add to that the fact that more wealthy and middle-class people are choosing to move into the city, and more poor people are living in the suburbs, and we could be looking at folks moving into the city for the schools in another decade. Certainly for the commute.

Could you give more examples of specific ways they were lacking? Curriculum? Specials? Fun?

[Anonymous]

Yes, the city is changing demographically, and that may mean the schools imiprove somewhat. However, there have always been wealthy people living in DC (they never left!), and that group has never sent their kids to public school and never will. So you're really counting on the highly educated, middle income workers (non-profits, govt., etc.) to stay and help improve the schools, and lots of those families eventually give up and move. It's one thing to stay in your sketchy but gentryfying neighborhood when your kids are small, but come middle and high school is when people tend to throw in the towel. Deal may be a good school (and while it's the best DC has to offer, it's not THAT good), but the MS and HS offerings in Md. and Va are so much better and will be for the foreseeable future. And I've lived in DC for over 30 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, the city is changing demographically, and that may mean the schools imiprove somewhat. However, there have always been wealthy people living in DC (they never left!), and that group has never sent their kids to public school and never will. So you're really counting on the highly educated, middle income workers (non-profits, govt., etc.) to stay and help improve the schools, and lots of those families eventually give up and move. It's one thing to stay in your sketchy but gentryfying neighborhood when your kids are small, but come middle and high school is when people tend to throw in the towel. Deal may be a good school (and while it's the best DC has to offer, it's not THAT good), but the MS and HS offerings in Md. and Va are so much better and will be for the foreseeable future. And I've lived in DC for over 30 years.

I really think that listening to someone who has "lived in DC for over 30 years" or in the case of the other PP "for 40 years" won't get us very far. It's like listening to someone who lived in NYC from 1900 to 1960 talk about how no one will ever live in the suburbs, and the city will rein supreme forever. The last 3-4 decades must have been very traumatic, and with that history, it's very difficult to accept the changes that are underway and accelerating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bought a house in a "bad" school boundary 5 years ago. Cheap house lets me work a dream job, instead of law firm job. Kids just started an excellent charter school. And, if we had not gotten into the charter, I would have happily sent them to PK and K at the local school (might have happily gone further than that, too...).

DH and I can commute to work by bike in under 20 minutes.

Don't buy more house than you can afford or more commute than you can live with. DC schools are getting better and in 3-5 years will be better still.

This is Op - thanks for this! You are describing my ideal life

You can make it work. I am certainly not alone. And seriously, all of my neighbors and friends who stayed in the city have a school option for their 2-6 year olds that they are happy with. Everyone! Some where way down on waitlists and got in to great charters, some won the lottery at the start, some are in DCPS schools for PK and are really happy, some waited in line at 7:30 am for the Stokes lottery and are super happy they did. You probably can't buy a house in Columbia Heights and work a dream job anymore. But, you can buy a house in Brookland or Petworth. Knowing today what I know now, I'd buy a house in Brookland that was walking distance to the metro. Lots of charters over there. Lots of families with little kids over there. Lots of development going in around the metro. And, if you have to move in 5 years, your house will almost certainly be worth more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bought a house in a "bad" school boundary 5 years ago. Cheap house lets me work a dream job, instead of law firm job. Kids just started an excellent charter school. And, if we had not gotten into the charter, I would have happily sent them to PK and K at the local school (might have happily gone further than that, too...).

DH and I can commute to work by bike in under 20 minutes.

Don't buy more house than you can afford or more commute than you can live with. DC schools are getting better and in 3-5 years will be better still.

This is Op - thanks for this! You are describing my ideal life

You can make it work. I am certainly not alone. And seriously, all of my neighbors and friends who stayed in the city have a school option for their 2-6 year olds that they are happy with. Everyone! Some where way down on waitlists and got in to great charters, some won the lottery at the start, some are in DCPS schools for PK and are really happy, some waited in line at 7:30 am for the Stokes lottery and are super happy they did. You probably can't buy a house in Columbia Heights and work a dream job anymore. But, you can buy a house in Brookland or Petworth. Knowing today what I know now, I'd buy a house in Brookland that was walking distance to the metro. Lots of charters over there. Lots of families with little kids over there. Lots of development going in around the metro. And, if you have to move in 5 years, your house will almost certainly be worth more.

Don't forget Bloomingdale and Eckington. There are some very large houses those neighborhoods, and there's quite a baby boom as well.

[Anonymous]

Varies from school to school but here goes

DCPS = low academic standards, varying teacher quality, poor admin, weak central office, rough peer group starting in mid-elementary, no G&T

Charter = tough to get in more established schools, new schools have changing and unknown permanent locations, high teacher turnover, poor facilities, less $$$ per pupil, higher costs for meals and aftercare, less community feel, making up curriculum as they go along, limited MS and HS alternatives

It's not all bad but just know what you are buying into so you aren't surprised. It helps if you are okay with experimentation and a risk taker with plenty of time to devote to the school and PTA. If not, look at closer in suburban publics and privates. Good luck in your decision.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:ITA about the city BUT my kid needs a good school NOW. We've done DCPS and charter, and while some would say they're excellent, the reality is that they're woefully lacking in many ways. If I had 5 years+, no problem but some of us need an immediate solution.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bought a house in a "bad" school boundary 5 years ago. Cheap house lets me work a dream job, instead of law firm job. Kids just started an excellent charter school. And, if we had not gotten into the charter, I would have happily sent them to PK and K at the local school (might have happily gone further than that, too...).

DH and I can commute to work by bike in under 20 minutes.

Don't buy more house than you can afford or more commute than you can live with. DC schools are getting better and in 3-5 years will be better still.

And the pace of change is actually accelerating. Add to that the fact that more wealthy and middle-class people are choosing to move into the city, and more poor people are living in the suburbs, and we could be looking at folks moving into the city for the schools in another decade. Certainly for the commute.

Could you give more examples of specific ways they were lacking? Curriculum? Specials? Fun?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why not try renting a nice apartment on Conn. Ave. in upper NW? You would be in district for a good school, have easy access to metro, restaurants, shops, etc. Schools like Eaton and Murch have quite international student bodies, especially Murch, which is in bounds for the embassies in that complex near Van Ness. If you are not thrilled with the situation, you can always move or buy elsewhere.

You realize that these embassy children go to schools where they live, not where their parents work? I spent four years toiling in one of the embassies you mentioned, and children of diplomatic staff went either to Langley (where they lived), or to Maret (because their country gave them an allowance for private schooling.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I totally agree! People are SO judgemental not just in here but even in real life. I come across this NOW when I tell collegues/friends that I am moving from safe and quiet Loudoun County to Petworth and I will put my 2 chilren in public school there. I am happy about my decision.

Maybe that's because Loudoun is safe and quiet and Petworth is stlll largely a hood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I totally agree! People are SO judgemental not just in here but even in real life. I come across this NOW when I tell collegues/friends that I am moving from safe and quiet Loudoun County to Petworth and I will put my 2 chilren in public school there. I am happy about my decision.

Maybe that's because Loudoun is safe and quiet and Petworth is stlll largely a hood.

I think it's because she's talking to people like you, who haven't been to Petworth (or probably Louden) in years.

[Anonymous]

It's true yes, it's people who judge from what they hear on FOX News. Loudoun is nice don't get me wrong, but not worth the commute to DC. Also, I am not blond so I'll fit right in among everyone else in Petworth.

[Anonymous]

A vote for Conn. Ave. corridor in upper NW--easy to do without a car, and there are many zip car locations when a car is needed. It has a feel of NYC lifestyle, with its walkability and easy mass-transit access. There are a lot of kids in the Conn. Ave apartments. Quite a few international kids at Hearst/Murch/Deal whose parents are mid-level embassy staff who might be in DC for a 2-4 year rotation, at NIH, Carnegie Institute, int'l agencies for fellowships.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A vote for Conn. Ave. corridor in upper NW--easy to do without a car, and there are many zip car locations when a car is needed. It has a feel of NYC lifestyle, with its walkability and easy mass-transit access. There are a lot of kids in the Conn. Ave apartments. Quite a few international kids at Hearst/Murch/Deal whose parents are mid-level embassy staff who might be in DC for a 2-4 year rotation, at NIH, Carnegie Institute, int'l agencies for fellowships.

No, it doesn't feel at all like New York. It's really sad when people in the District try to convince themselves and others otherwise. It feels like Upper Caucasia, which is a nice place, but it is what it is. Own it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A vote for Conn. Ave. corridor in upper NW--easy to do without a car, and there are many zip car locations when a car is needed. It has a feel of NYC lifestyle, with its walkability and easy mass-transit access. There are a lot of kids in the Conn. Ave apartments. Quite a few international kids at Hearst/Murch/Deal whose parents are mid-level embassy staff who might be in DC for a 2-4 year rotation, at NIH, Carnegie Institute, int'l agencies for fellowships.

No, it doesn't feel at all like New York. It's really sad when people in the District try to convince themselves and others otherwise. It feels like Upper Caucasia, which is a nice place, but it is what it is. Own it.

Yes, I agree. Personally, I prefer DC to NYC. I don't like the congestion, awful smells and dirty sidewalks with trash piled up. I understand there are WAY more people in NYC, but I prefer DC as it has the city feeling without the smell , so don't compare, appreciate the differences.