Boundary Question

[Anonymous]

We looked at a house this weekend on upper 14th street (not sure what the exact neighborhood is called, slightly west of Petworth and east of Crestwood) and the information they provided said that starting the 25-26 school year the house would be in boundary for Deal Middle School in addition to MacFarland (the in bounds elementary is John Lewis). I was really surprised to hear this because I hadn't heard about it and also I was surprised DC would add any additional areas to feed into Deal, especially a neighborhood that is pretty far from the school. I typed the address into MySchool DC and it does indeed list both MacFarland and Deal as in boundary middle schools. Does anyone know anything about this or know where I can find information about this change? I tried searching here and google and couldn't find anything. Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

This isn't new. It's from the 2014 boundary study when MacFarland and Wells were in distant planning and all the feeder elementaries were Pk-8 education campuses. It's a very small number of DCPS students who are in those two zones. The 2024 boundary study recommended ending that grandfathering but the mayor didn't accept that recommendation. (I was on the 2024 study committee.)

[Anonymous]

We live in this neighborhood. The grandfathering is a little surprising, and I doubt it is permanent. It was supposed to go away, and I think its quiet extension depends on it mostly being quiet. If your kid is in 5th grade, maybe, count on it, but if they're a twinkle in your wife's eye, don't count on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This isn't new. It's from the 2014 boundary study when MacFarland and Wells were in distant planning and all the feeder elementaries were Pk-8 education campuses. It's a very small number of DCPS students who are in those two zones. The 2024 boundary study recommended ending that grandfathering but the mayor didn't accept that recommendation. (I was on the 2024 study committee.)

not correct. This year (25-26) was the last and final school year of that grandfathering -- https://dcgov.app.box.com/v/2023dcboundaryreport

Recommendation 8
DCPS shall, effective SY2025-26, sunset the 2015
Boundary and Student Assignment revisions that
extended the phase-in policy for families assigned to a
new middle until 2022 (for instance, those neighborhoods
that had extended phase-in policies maintaining rights to
enroll at both MacFarland MS and Deal MS) as well as
sunset the establishment of dual rights for 8th graders at
Kelly Miller MS, removing their right to attend Eastern HS
(by feeder right). This sunsetting ensures that every
middle school attendance zone boundary will consist of
the select elementary attendance zones designated to it,
and no students will have multiple middle school
geographic rights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn't new. It's from the 2014 boundary study when MacFarland and Wells were in distant planning and all the feeder elementaries were Pk-8 education campuses. It's a very small number of DCPS students who are in those two zones. The 2024 boundary study recommended ending that grandfathering but the mayor didn't accept that recommendation. (I was on the 2024 study committee.)

not correct. This year (25-26) was the last and final school year of that grandfathering -- https://dcgov.app.box.com/v/2023dcboundaryreport

Recommendation 8
DCPS shall, effective SY2025-26, sunset the 2015
Boundary and Student Assignment revisions that
extended the phase-in policy for families assigned to a
new middle until 2022 (for instance, those neighborhoods
that had extended phase-in policies maintaining rights to
enroll at both MacFarland MS and Deal MS) as well as
sunset the establishment of dual rights for 8th graders at
Kelly Miller MS, removing their right to attend Eastern HS
(by feeder right). This sunsetting ensures that every
middle school attendance zone boundary will consist of
the select elementary attendance zones designated to it,
and no students will have multiple middle school
geographic rights.

OP here. Ok, I'm still confused. LOL. So this change isn't new for 25-26 and it's actually going away for 26-27?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn't new. It's from the 2014 boundary study when MacFarland and Wells were in distant planning and all the feeder elementaries were Pk-8 education campuses. It's a very small number of DCPS students who are in those two zones. The 2024 boundary study recommended ending that grandfathering but the mayor didn't accept that recommendation. (I was on the 2024 study committee.)

not correct. This year (25-26) was the last and final school year of that grandfathering -- https://dcgov.app.box.com/v/2023dcboundaryreport

Recommendation 8
DCPS shall, effective SY2025-26, sunset the 2015
Boundary and Student Assignment revisions that
extended the phase-in policy for families assigned to a
new middle until 2022 (for instance, those neighborhoods
that had extended phase-in policies maintaining rights to
enroll at both MacFarland MS and Deal MS) as well as
sunset the establishment of dual rights for 8th graders at
Kelly Miller MS, removing their right to attend Eastern HS
(by feeder right). This sunsetting ensures that every
middle school attendance zone boundary will consist of
the select elementary attendance zones designated to it,
and no students will have multiple middle school
geographic rights.

Yes, that was a recommendation. And the Mayor didn't accept it. Here is the Mayor's response from June 2024:

"Lastly, because this is our second comprehensive boundary study, I have asked DCPS to review any Phase-in Policies from the first study conducted in 2014. Given the lack of clarity for affected families (particularly during and after the pandemic), any Phase-in Policies from 2014 will be addressed at a later time."

https://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/Mayor%27s%20response%20to%20Boundary%20Study%20Committee.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn't new. It's from the 2014 boundary study when MacFarland and Wells were in distant planning and all the feeder elementaries were Pk-8 education campuses. It's a very small number of DCPS students who are in those two zones. The 2024 boundary study recommended ending that grandfathering but the mayor didn't accept that recommendation. (I was on the 2024 study committee.)

not correct. This year (25-26) was the last and final school year of that grandfathering -- https://dcgov.app.box.com/v/2023dcboundaryreport

Recommendation 8
DCPS shall, effective SY2025-26, sunset the 2015
Boundary and Student Assignment revisions that
extended the phase-in policy for families assigned to a
new middle until 2022 (for instance, those neighborhoods
that had extended phase-in policies maintaining rights to
enroll at both MacFarland MS and Deal MS) as well as
sunset the establishment of dual rights for 8th graders at
Kelly Miller MS, removing their right to attend Eastern HS
(by feeder right). This sunsetting ensures that every
middle school attendance zone boundary will consist of
the select elementary attendance zones designated to it,
and no students will have multiple middle school
geographic rights.

OP here. Ok, I'm still confused. LOL. So this change isn't new for 25-26 and it's actually going away for 26-27?

The history is that in in the 2014 boundary study -- Lewis was changed from Deal to MacFarland feeder. The big issue at the time was that Macfarland didn't yet exist and Lewis was still a K-8... so they grandfather everyone at Lewis to continue to Deal until MacFarland opened... it then opened in 2018, and the grandfathering was supposed to end in 2022 -- but some reason in the name of the pandemic they didn't let it expire. Fast forward to 2023 with they did another boundary study and very clearly recommended that the grandfathering end next school year 25-26, but per the mayor, she didn't reject the recommendation, she is "needs more information" .............. long winded way of saying .... you can prob get a few more years out of this but its ending at some point.

[Anonymous]

The above is somewhat incorrect - Lewis was never a feeder for Deal but part of the neighborhood that was inbounds for Lewis had the option to stay at Lewis through 8th grade (then go to Roosevelt) or attend Deal and then JR - so not every kid at Lewis had option to go to Deal. The rest is correct - 2014 boundary changed that, Mayor enacted grandfathering, and that grandfathering has not yet been lifted, although as others have said, it will at some point. So if you have a current 5th grader, enroll them at Deal ASAP!!

[Anonymous]

We have a kid going into 5th next year elsewhere in DC. If we bought a house in this area could she go to Deal (so that would be starting in 26-27)? Or is it only for kids who went to Lewis?

[Anonymous]

Mayor lets the grandfathering continue as a thank you to her old Ward. It won’t last past when she is mayor, but she’s very, very transactional so it’s likely going to continue until she is gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mayor lets the grandfathering continue as a thank you to her old Ward. It won’t last past when she is mayor, but she’s very, very transactional so it’s likely going to continue until she is gone.

This seems about right. If you buy the house with a 5th grader now you can go to Deal. Even a 4th grader is probably a safe bet. If she loses in 2026 it's likely going away to start 2027.

I'd point out she's particularly partial to some of her former Ward. Not all neighborhoods seem to get that same love.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mayor lets the grandfathering continue as a thank you to her old Ward. It won’t last past when she is mayor, but she’s very, very transactional so it’s likely going to continue until she is gone.

This seems about right. If you buy the house with a 5th grader now you can go to Deal. Even a 4th grader is probably a safe bet. If she loses in 2026 it's likely going away to start 2027.

I'd point out she's particularly partial to some of her former Ward. Not all neighborhoods seem to get that same love.

Putting aside the fact that Bowser is unlikely to lose if she runs again, even if she does, does anyone really think her replacement will rush to end a grandfathering rule that affects so very few people? I would guess that it doesn't happen until the next boundary revision in 2034 or whatever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mayor lets the grandfathering continue as a thank you to her old Ward. It won’t last past when she is mayor, but she’s very, very transactional so it’s likely going to continue until she is gone.

This seems about right. If you buy the house with a 5th grader now you can go to Deal. Even a 4th grader is probably a safe bet. If she loses in 2026 it's likely going away to start 2027.

I'd point out she's particularly partial to some of her former Ward. Not all neighborhoods seem to get that same love.

Putting aside the fact that Bowser is unlikely to lose if she runs again, even if she does, does anyone really think her replacement will rush to end a grandfathering rule that affects so very few people? I would guess that it doesn't happen until the next boundary revision in 2034 or whatever.

Never underestimate spite around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Mayor lets the grandfathering continue as a thank you to her old Ward. It won’t last past when she is mayor, but she’s very, very transactional so it’s likely going to continue until she is gone.

This seems about right. If you buy the house with a 5th grader now you can go to Deal. Even a 4th grader is probably a safe bet. If she loses in 2026 it's likely going away to start 2027.

I'd point out she's particularly partial to some of her former Ward. Not all neighborhoods seem to get that same love.

Putting aside the fact that Bowser is unlikely to lose if she runs again, even if she does, does anyone really think her replacement will rush to end a grandfathering rule that affects so very few people? I would guess that it doesn't happen until the next boundary revision in 2034 or whatever.

The grandfathering in ended, she's basically refusing to sign off. If someone beats her I do absolutely think that one way will be to point out that she plays extremely loose with her donors and friends and will look to end some of the loopholes she's keeping alive on sheer will. Maybe not but this particular quirk is very much tied to her.

I have no idea if she'll win or lose in a year and a half because frankly who knows whether they'll be a city or country then but I don't know that it's a safe bet to assume she'll win then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a kid going into 5th next year elsewhere in DC. If we bought a house in this area could she go to Deal (so that would be starting in 26-27)? Or is it only for kids who went to Lewis?

I'm this PP - like the OP (whose post I completely hijacked - I'm sorry!), I'm still wondering about this. Literally if we buy a house in this area during the next 2025-2026 school year (while our kid is doing 5th grade but not at Lewis) can I then register her for Deal during Spring 2026 assuming this grandfathering agreement is still in place (which I realize is not guaranteed) using the new address? Or does the elementary record have to say Lewis? I realize it's not a giant area where this applies but would be great to have another small area to add to the house hunt.