What’s your HS “back up” option?

Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have JR as a backup (and I wish I did), but I do think it is fair to acknowledge that it is also an imperfect school that is not everyone’s top choice.


Your backup plan is renting an apartment in bounds for JB for semester or year. You are then allowed to stay through the terminal grade.

That said, I have two kids IB for JR, and for one kid it was plan A - a good fit. And for one kid it is back-up plan. The plan A kid had a great experience at Deal and JR seemed more of the same. The back up plan kid is having a not great experience at deal and JR seems more of the same.


Can you say more about the characteristics of kids who thrive at these schools and those who don’t? Weighing a move.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Wr are planning on moving to a hardy feeder but high school is 4 years away. Any thoughts on MacArthur. Wr may have an option to lottery into a dea/Jr school. I'm not clear they are better.


I’m genuinely excited for McArthur, it’ll be great in 4-5 years


I agree. It is going through some growing pains, as all new schools do, but I am confident it will be an excellent option soon (and it may already be—I’ve been hearing a lot of good things!).
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have JR as a backup (and I wish I did), but I do think it is fair to acknowledge that it is also an imperfect school that is not everyone’s top choice.


Your backup plan is renting an apartment in bounds for JB for semester or year. You are then allowed to stay through the terminal grade.

That said, I have two kids IB for JR, and for one kid it was plan A - a good fit. And for one kid it is back-up plan. The plan A kid had a great experience at Deal and JR seemed more of the same. The back up plan kid is having a not great experience at deal and JR seems more of the same.


Not in bound for JR, high school is far off and I love our ES and am satisfied with its feeder middle, so I'm not asking for me...just curious...

Is this something people really do? Do they actually move to the rental property or just pretend to? Does DCPS care? Do they rent for the whole year? Just a few months?

The high and mighty part of me sees this as cheating and opportunity hoarding. Plus, I'd personally be worried about getting caught. On the other hand, I get it, especially for JR, given the dearth of good high school options here.

Does this really happen? For JR? For middle and elementary schools?

I've heard of families using the address of an investment property (or in a different situation, a relative in MoCo) to attend a particular school or get out of DCPS. But not the renting thing. Real or DCUM urban legend?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have JR as a backup (and I wish I did), but I do think it is fair to acknowledge that it is also an imperfect school that is not everyone’s top choice.


Your backup plan is renting an apartment in bounds for JB for semester or year. You are then allowed to stay through the terminal grade.

That said, I have two kids IB for JR, and for one kid it was plan A - a good fit. And for one kid it is back-up plan. The plan A kid had a great experience at Deal and JR seemed more of the same. The back up plan kid is having a not great experience at deal and JR seems more of the same.


Not in bound for JR, high school is far off and I love our ES and am satisfied with its feeder middle, so I'm not asking for me...just curious...

Is this something people really do? Do they actually move to the rental property or just pretend to? Does DCPS care? Do they rent for the whole year? Just a few months?

The high and mighty part of me sees this as cheating and opportunity hoarding. Plus, I'd personally be worried about getting caught. On the other hand, I get it, especially for JR, given the dearth of good high school options here.

Does this really happen? For JR? For middle and elementary schools?

I've heard of families using the address of an investment property (or in a different situation, a relative in MoCo) to attend a particular school or get out of DCPS. But not the renting thing. Real or DCUM urban legend?

What are you trying to ask? JR and many of its feeders are naturally half-full of kids who really genuinely live in apartments near the schools. Why would that be cheating?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have JR as a backup (and I wish I did), but I do think it is fair to acknowledge that it is also an imperfect school that is not everyone’s top choice.


Your backup plan is renting an apartment in bounds for JB for semester or year. You are then allowed to stay through the terminal grade.

That said, I have two kids IB for JR, and for one kid it was plan A - a good fit. And for one kid it is back-up plan. The plan A kid had a great experience at Deal and JR seemed more of the same. The back up plan kid is having a not great experience at deal and JR seems more of the same.


Can you say more about the characteristics of kids who thrive at these schools and those who don’t? Weighing a move.


Kid for whom deal worked is a solid student, social, hard working not bothered by distractions. Student applying out is "twice eceptional" so really smart but has adhd and other challenges. Deal is too big, too distracting, too boring.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have JR as a backup (and I wish I did), but I do think it is fair to acknowledge that it is also an imperfect school that is not everyone’s top choice.


Your backup plan is renting an apartment in bounds for JB for semester or year. You are then allowed to stay through the terminal grade.

That said, I have two kids IB for JR, and for one kid it was plan A - a good fit. And for one kid it is back-up plan. The plan A kid had a great experience at Deal and JR seemed more of the same. The back up plan kid is having a not great experience at deal and JR seems more of the same.


Not in bound for JR, high school is far off and I love our ES and am satisfied with its feeder middle, so I'm not asking for me...just curious...

Is this something people really do? Do they actually move to the rental property or just pretend to? Does DCPS care? Do they rent for the whole year? Just a few months?

The high and mighty part of me sees this as cheating and opportunity hoarding. Plus, I'd personally be worried about getting caught. On the other hand, I get it, especially for JR, given the dearth of good high school options here.

Does this really happen? For JR? For middle and elementary schools?

I've heard of families using the address of an investment property (or in a different situation, a relative in MoCo) to attend a particular school or get out of DCPS. But not the renting thing. Real or DCUM urban legend?


You sound really hostile. People are literally just talking about renting and living in an apartment or house in the JR zone. Nothing shady about this.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have JR as a backup (and I wish I did), but I do think it is fair to acknowledge that it is also an imperfect school that is not everyone’s top choice.


Your backup plan is renting an apartment in bounds for JB for semester or year. You are then allowed to stay through the terminal grade.

That said, I have two kids IB for JR, and for one kid it was plan A - a good fit. And for one kid it is back-up plan. The plan A kid had a great experience at Deal and JR seemed more of the same. The back up plan kid is having a not great experience at deal and JR seems more of the same.


Not in bound for JR, high school is far off and I love our ES and am satisfied with its feeder middle, so I'm not asking for me...just curious...

Is this something people really do? Do they actually move to the rental property or just pretend to? Does DCPS care? Do they rent for the whole year? Just a few months?

The high and mighty part of me sees this as cheating and opportunity hoarding. Plus, I'd personally be worried about getting caught. On the other hand, I get it, especially for JR, given the dearth of good high school options here.

Does this really happen? For JR? For middle and elementary schools?

I've heard of families using the address of an investment property (or in a different situation, a relative in MoCo) to attend a particular school or get out of DCPS. But not the renting thing. Real or DCUM urban legend?

What are you trying to ask? JR and many of its feeders are naturally half-full of kids who really genuinely live in apartments near the schools. Why would that be cheating?


I think shes asking about renting fior a few months and moving back to your house in se dc. I dont know if people ever actually do that or just talk about on dbum about doing it. Most people who live oob get access by lottering into a feeder (do it enough and you'll get in) or by using a relative's address.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have JR as a backup (and I wish I did), but I do think it is fair to acknowledge that it is also an imperfect school that is not everyone’s top choice.


Your backup plan is renting an apartment in bounds for JB for semester or year. You are then allowed to stay through the terminal grade.

That said, I have two kids IB for JR, and for one kid it was plan A - a good fit. And for one kid it is back-up plan. The plan A kid had a great experience at Deal and JR seemed more of the same. The back up plan kid is having a not great experience at deal and JR seems more of the same.


Not in bound for JR, high school is far off and I love our ES and am satisfied with its feeder middle, so I'm not asking for me...just curious...

Is this something people really do? Do they actually move to the rental property or just pretend to? Does DCPS care? Do they rent for the whole year? Just a few months?

The high and mighty part of me sees this as cheating and opportunity hoarding. Plus, I'd personally be worried about getting caught. On the other hand, I get it, especially for JR, given the dearth of good high school options here.

Does this really happen? For JR? For middle and elementary schools?

I've heard of families using the address of an investment property (or in a different situation, a relative in MoCo) to attend a particular school or get out of DCPS. But not the renting thing. Real or DCUM urban legend?

What are you trying to ask? JR and many of its feeders are naturally half-full of kids who really genuinely live in apartments near the schools. Why would that be cheating?


I think shes asking about renting fior a few months and moving back to your house in se dc. I dont know if people ever actually do that or just talk about on dbum about doing it. Most people who live oob get access by lottering into a feeder (do it enough and you'll get in) or by using a relative's address.


Thank you, yes. This is what I meant - and not just with JR, renting say, a studio for a few months in another boundary in order to qualify for a particular school - ES, MS or HS - but really living elsewhere. I’ve heard people talk about this off and on DCUM but can’t tell how serious they are.

Agree that living in an apt or house bound for JR or a feeder or any school you like isn’t even remotely cheating!
Anonymous
We are IB for MacArthur, 7th grade. Currently undergoing some uncertainty at work.
1. Plan A (or should I call it a delusional plan): Walls.
2. Backup 1: Moving the to Montgomery or Fairfax county, might depend on the work situation and location.
3. Backup 2: Staying in MacArthur, if one of us loses the job.

Now if our child was younger than 5th grade, we’d probably just plan for MacArthur. We’ve observed Hardy change over 6 years while we were IB to having much better test scores and activities, and we think it will just take as much time for MacArthur.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have a 7th grader and are starting to think ahead for next year. We don’t live in J-R school district and our in boundary isn’t an option. If you don’t get into one of the more highly regarded schools (walls, Banneker…), whats next on your list? Do you have another selective high school you’d be happy with, and if so, which one and why? Are you applying to private? Would consider moving?


We chose BASIS for 5th grade.

We’re good.

😀


Isn’t Basis that school that has the atmosphere of a depressing prison with a lot of stressed out kids?


This is fake news for smart kids. My BASIS student is not stressed out.


Agree. Also have a 5th grader at Basis and it’s been a decidedly low key experience. All A’s and not stressed, so far.


My one big regret is buying into the anti-basis hype and not lotterying for in in 5th!


PP above is delusional in believing that intent equates to the requisite lottery luck. We never got off the BASIS WL for either our oldest in 2021 or youngest in 2023. Both of my children are very good at math, diligent and low key, probably great fits for the curriculum. Apparently, the odds of admission are even worse now.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have JR as a backup (and I wish I did), but I do think it is fair to acknowledge that it is also an imperfect school that is not everyone’s top choice.


Your backup plan is renting an apartment in bounds for JB for semester or year. You are then allowed to stay through the terminal grade.

That said, I have two kids IB for JR, and for one kid it was plan A - a good fit. And for one kid it is back-up plan. The plan A kid had a great experience at Deal and JR seemed more of the same. The back up plan kid is having a not great experience at deal and JR seems more of the same.


Not in bound for JR, high school is far off and I love our ES and am satisfied with its feeder middle, so I'm not asking for me...just curious...

Is this something people really do? Do they actually move to the rental property or just pretend to? Does DCPS care? Do they rent for the whole year? Just a few months?

The high and mighty part of me sees this as cheating and opportunity hoarding. Plus, I'd personally be worried about getting caught. On the other hand, I get it, especially for JR, given the dearth of good high school options here.

Does this really happen? For JR? For middle and elementary schools?

I've heard of families using the address of an investment property (or in a different situation, a relative in MoCo) to attend a particular school or get out of DCPS. But not the renting thing. Real or DCUM urban legend?

What are you trying to ask? JR and many of its feeders are naturally half-full of kids who really genuinely live in apartments near the schools. Why would that be cheating?


I think shes asking about renting fior a few months and moving back to your house in se dc. I dont know if people ever actually do that or just talk about on dbum about doing it. Most people who live oob get access by lottering into a feeder (do it enough and you'll get in) or by using a relative's address.


Thank you, yes. This is what I meant - and not just with JR, renting say, a studio for a few months in another boundary in order to qualify for a particular school - ES, MS or HS - but really living elsewhere. I’ve heard people talk about this off and on DCUM but can’t tell how serious they are.

Agree that living in an apt or house bound for JR or a feeder or any school you like isn’t even remotely cheating!


Using an address where you don’t actually live at the time of enrollment is fraud.

But the rules do permit you to move out of the zone and stay in the zoned school (but not the feeders). So yes you could move to an apartment in the JR zone for a few months and then move again. There’s some gray area there but if it is legitimately your home for a period of time (like sleep there all the time, get mail there, etc) then the current rules allow it.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have JR as a backup (and I wish I did), but I do think it is fair to acknowledge that it is also an imperfect school that is not everyone’s top choice.


Your backup plan is renting an apartment in bounds for JB for semester or year. You are then allowed to stay through the terminal grade.

That said, I have two kids IB for JR, and for one kid it was plan A - a good fit. And for one kid it is back-up plan. The plan A kid had a great experience at Deal and JR seemed more of the same. The back up plan kid is having a not great experience at deal and JR seems more of the same.


Can you say more about the characteristics of kids who thrive at these schools and those who don’t? Weighing a move.


Kid for whom deal worked is a solid student, social, hard working not bothered by distractions. Student applying out is "twice eceptional" so really smart but has adhd and other challenges. Deal is too big, too distracting, too boring.


Thanks, this is helpful!!
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have a 7th grader and are starting to think ahead for next year. We don’t live in J-R school district and our in boundary isn’t an option. If you don’t get into one of the more highly regarded schools (walls, Banneker…), whats next on your list? Do you have another selective high school you’d be happy with, and if so, which one and why? Are you applying to private? Would consider moving?


We chose BASIS for 5th grade.

We’re good.

😀


Isn’t Basis that school that has the atmosphere of a depressing prison with a lot of stressed out kids?


This is fake news for smart kids. My BASIS student is not stressed out.


Agree. Also have a 5th grader at Basis and it’s been a decidedly low key experience. All A’s and not stressed, so far.


My one big regret is buying into the anti-basis hype and not lotterying for in in 5th!


PP above is delusional in believing that intent equates to the requisite lottery luck. We never got off the BASIS WL for either our oldest in 2021 or youngest in 2023. Both of my children are very good at math, diligent and low key, probably great fits for the curriculum. Apparently, the odds of admission are even worse now.


I think, sing it with me if you know the words, Basis works for some kids and families and so it's good that it exists for them. But it doesn't work for many (most?) people.

I personally don't plan to lottery for Basis if by fourth grade I think my kid wouldn't thrive there. (They're in first grade now. I suspect they would do okay enough academically but be unhappy at Basis. To be fair, we are also zoned for what I consider to be a solid DCPS middle, so I have the luxury of forgoing Basis and probably even Latin.)

As far as I can tell from reading this forum - which is a limited perspective, to be sure - people do enter Basis without thinking carefully about whether their kid is right for it - or they think their kid would be into and the kid turns out not to be, which is more understandable.

That's bad for their kids and also bad for the kids who would have benefitted from Basis but didn't get the right lottery number.
Anonymous
I have no problem with any DC resident who lives anywhere in the city and paying DC taxes renting a studio anywhere for the local schools. There’s a big difference between residency fraud—claiming to be a DC resident when you’re not—and boundary “fraud.” All DC residents should have the right to as good a DC education as any other.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t have JR as a backup (and I wish I did), but I do think it is fair to acknowledge that it is also an imperfect school that is not everyone’s top choice.


Your backup plan is renting an apartment in bounds for JB for semester or year. You are then allowed to stay through the terminal grade.

That said, I have two kids IB for JR, and for one kid it was plan A - a good fit. And for one kid it is back-up plan. The plan A kid had a great experience at Deal and JR seemed more of the same. The back up plan kid is having a not great experience at deal and JR seems more of the same.


Not in bound for JR, high school is far off and I love our ES and am satisfied with its feeder middle, so I'm not asking for me...just curious...

Is this something people really do? Do they actually move to the rental property or just pretend to? Does DCPS care? Do they rent for the whole year? Just a few months?

The high and mighty part of me sees this as cheating and opportunity hoarding. Plus, I'd personally be worried about getting caught. On the other hand, I get it, especially for JR, given the dearth of good high school options here.

Does this really happen? For JR? For middle and elementary schools?

I've heard of families using the address of an investment property (or in a different situation, a relative in MoCo) to attend a particular school or get out of DCPS. But not the renting thing. Real or DCUM urban legend?

What are you trying to ask? JR and many of its feeders are naturally half-full of kids who really genuinely live in apartments near the schools. Why would that be cheating?


I think shes asking about renting fior a few months and moving back to your house in se dc. I dont know if people ever actually do that or just talk about on dbum about doing it. Most people who live oob get access by lottering into a feeder (do it enough and you'll get in) or by using a relative's address.


Thank you, yes. This is what I meant - and not just with JR, renting say, a studio for a few months in another boundary in order to qualify for a particular school - ES, MS or HS - but really living elsewhere. I’ve heard people talk about this off and on DCUM but can’t tell how serious they are.

Agree that living in an apt or house bound for JR or a feeder or any school you like isn’t even remotely cheating!


Using an address where you don’t actually live at the time of enrollment is fraud.

But the rules do permit you to move out of the zone and stay in the zoned school (but not the feeders). So yes you could move to an apartment in the JR zone for a few months and then move again. There’s some gray area there but if it is legitimately your home for a period of time (like sleep there all the time, get mail there, etc) then the current rules allow it.


We have a family at our school in this category and I do find it awkward. It feels a bit shady. But i can't say that to them, so it's like a barrier between us getting closer.
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