Moving to DC for 4th Grade

[Anonymous]

I'm interviewing for two jobs in DC, located in Dupont Circle and Navy Yard, after living elsewhere for 8 years. My DC will be in 4th grade next year, and while getting either job is not assured, I want to be thinking ahead with the lottery coming up. I own a house on the eastern edge of Kingman Park, zoned for Miner. And I'm a single parent, so there's no one else to help get DC to and from school each day.

I know DCPS does not offer gifted programming, which DC currently receives, so I'm looking for input on schools to consider that there is a realistic shot of getting a lottery seat with at least some academic peers. I'm not interested in Montessori or immersion. I know Brent is in a swing space that isn't ideal from the Hill, and that they also lose a ton of kids at the upper grades. Maury is basically impossible to get into in any grade. Two Rivers fell off a cliff in the years I've been gone. Are there other schools I should be considering beyond the list below, with an eye towards reducing commute yet still having a sizable enough cohort of high achieving kids?

Ludlow-Taylor
Payne
John Francis (less than ideal if I get the Navy Yard job, but really convenient for Dupont)
Watkins
JO Wilson
Chisholm
Thomson (also less than ideal for a Navy Yard job, okay for Dupont)

The only charter that seemed to fit my criteria was Friendship Chamberlain. The other higher achieving charters are mostly language immersion and/or an inconvenient commute. Am I missing any?

And before anyone asks, no, moving to another part of the Hill, let alone Ward 3, isn't really an option. I'm loathe to give up the sub-3% interest rate, and while I would make a decent amount of money selling, it's not enough to offset how much prices have gone up and the much higher interest rates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm interviewing for two jobs in DC, located in Dupont Circle and Navy Yard, after living elsewhere for 8 years. My DC will be in 4th grade next year, and while getting either job is not assured, I want to be thinking ahead with the lottery coming up. I own a house on the eastern edge of Kingman Park, zoned for Miner. And I'm a single parent, so there's no one else to help get DC to and from school each day.

I know DCPS does not offer gifted programming, which DC currently receives, so I'm looking for input on schools to consider that there is a realistic shot of getting a lottery seat with at least some academic peers. I'm not interested in Montessori or immersion. I know Brent is in a swing space that isn't ideal from the Hill, and that they also lose a ton of kids at the upper grades. Maury is basically impossible to get into in any grade. Two Rivers fell off a cliff in the years I've been gone. Are there other schools I should be considering beyond the list below, with an eye towards reducing commute yet still having a sizable enough cohort of high achieving kids?

Ludlow-Taylor
Payne
John Francis (less than ideal if I get the Navy Yard job, but really convenient for Dupont)
Watkins
JO Wilson
Chisholm
Thomson (also less than ideal for a Navy Yard job, okay for Dupont)

The only charter that seemed to fit my criteria was Friendship Chamberlain. The other higher achieving charters are mostly language immersion and/or an inconvenient commute. Am I missing any?

And before anyone asks, no, moving to another part of the Hill, let alone Ward 3, isn't really an option. I'm loathe to give up the sub-3% interest rate, and while I would make a decent amount of money selling, it's not enough to offset how much prices have gone up and the much higher interest rates.

The lack of gifted programming does kind of stink. Do whatever works for 4th and then try for Latin or BASIS or DCI.

Our path was solved by going to BASIS (which has flaws, but at least they are challenged and learn a lot and have lots of gifted peers) and doing CTY in the summers (also popular with BASIS students).

[Anonymous]

The real question here is what middle school do you want and how will you get it.

What about Ross and Garrison?

[Anonymous]

I would consider Arlington and solid elementary/middle/ and high school path. It is easy commute to where you will be.

You have to think about middle school and chances are slim to none for the charters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The real question here is what middle school do you want and how will you get it.

What about Ross and Garrison?

I second this. I'd consider John Francis, Ross and Thomson in part for the middle school feed of John Francis (and cause they are good schools on their own merits). Garrison will also feed John Francis for current 4th grade. Both Ross and Thomson are very close to the redline metro, Francis is a bit further but still doable walk.

I will say, having been at Thomson, that some of the highest achieving kids leave after 4th for Basis because it's right in the neighborhood and because the feeder high school option is awful (Cardozo). But the fourth and fifth grade teams are great, so you'd still have good teachers even if not exactly the cohort you were hoping for.

Have you thought about Hardy feeders or a school like Ludlow-Taylor that feeds Stuart Hobson Middle? (good for the Navy Yard job).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The real question here is what middle school do you want and how will you get it.

What about Ross and Garrison?

I second this. I'd consider John Francis, Ross and Thomson in part for the middle school feed of John Francis (and cause they are good schools on their own merits). Garrison will also feed John Francis for current 4th grade. Both Ross and Thomson are very close to the redline metro, Francis is a bit further but still doable walk.

I will say, having been at Thomson, that some of the highest achieving kids leave after 4th for Basis because it's right in the neighborhood and because the feeder high school option is awful (Cardozo). But the fourth and fifth grade teams are great, so you'd still have good teachers even if not exactly the cohort you were hoping for.

Have you thought about Hardy feeders or a school like Ludlow-Taylor that feeds Stuart Hobson Middle? (good for the Navy Yard job).

Ah! Sorry! L-T is on your list. Read right over it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm interviewing for two jobs in DC, located in Dupont Circle and Navy Yard, after living elsewhere for 8 years. My DC will be in 4th grade next year, and while getting either job is not assured, I want to be thinking ahead with the lottery coming up. I own a house on the eastern edge of Kingman Park, zoned for Miner. And I'm a single parent, so there's no one else to help get DC to and from school each day.

I know DCPS does not offer gifted programming, which DC currently receives, so I'm looking for input on schools to consider that there is a realistic shot of getting a lottery seat with at least some academic peers. I'm not interested in Montessori or immersion. I know Brent is in a swing space that isn't ideal from the Hill, and that they also lose a ton of kids at the upper grades. Maury is basically impossible to get into in any grade. Two Rivers fell off a cliff in the years I've been gone. Are there other schools I should be considering beyond the list below, with an eye towards reducing commute yet still having a sizable enough cohort of high achieving kids?

Ludlow-Taylor
Payne
John Francis (less than ideal if I get the Navy Yard job, but really convenient for Dupont)
Watkins
JO Wilson
Chisholm
Thomson (also less than ideal for a Navy Yard job, okay for Dupont)

The only charter that seemed to fit my criteria was Friendship Chamberlain. The other higher achieving charters are mostly language immersion and/or an inconvenient commute. Am I missing any?

And before anyone asks, no, moving to another part of the Hill, let alone Ward 3, isn't really an option. I'm loathe to give up the sub-3% interest rate, and while I would make a decent amount of money selling, it's not enough to offset how much prices have gone up and the much higher interest rates.

The lack of gifted programming does kind of stink. Do whatever works for 4th and then try for Latin or BASIS or DCI.

Our path was solved by going to BASIS (which has flaws, but at least they are challenged and learn a lot and have lots of gifted peers) and doing CTY in the summers (also popular with BASIS students).

Basis isn’t great but better than other offerings. Take a look at some high school threads to see why.

[Anonymous]

This isn't about 4th grade, it is about MS and possibly HS. You need to back into your 4th grade school list based on what MS options are acceptable and then see which ES feeders are commutable. That's your list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm interviewing for two jobs in DC, located in Dupont Circle and Navy Yard, after living elsewhere for 8 years. My DC will be in 4th grade next year, and while getting either job is not assured, I want to be thinking ahead with the lottery coming up. I own a house on the eastern edge of Kingman Park, zoned for Miner. And I'm a single parent, so there's no one else to help get DC to and from school each day.

I know DCPS does not offer gifted programming, which DC currently receives, so I'm looking for input on schools to consider that there is a realistic shot of getting a lottery seat with at least some academic peers. I'm not interested in Montessori or immersion. I know Brent is in a swing space that isn't ideal from the Hill, and that they also lose a ton of kids at the upper grades. Maury is basically impossible to get into in any grade. Two Rivers fell off a cliff in the years I've been gone. Are there other schools I should be considering beyond the list below, with an eye towards reducing commute yet still having a sizable enough cohort of high achieving kids?

Ludlow-Taylor
Payne
John Francis (less than ideal if I get the Navy Yard job, but really convenient for Dupont)
Watkins
JO Wilson
Chisholm
Thomson (also less than ideal for a Navy Yard job, okay for Dupont)

The only charter that seemed to fit my criteria was Friendship Chamberlain. The other higher achieving charters are mostly language immersion and/or an inconvenient commute. Am I missing any?

And before anyone asks, no, moving to another part of the Hill, let alone Ward 3, isn't really an option. I'm loathe to give up the sub-3% interest rate, and while I would make a decent amount of money selling, it's not enough to offset how much prices have gone up and the much higher interest rates.

The 4th grade team at Payne is amazing - and it would be on the way to Navy Yard, and near a metro if you ended up going downtown. We were happy there from PK-5th, but even if you are only there for one year in 4th, it's a good choice. The teachers are super experienced and are able to differentiate to support/push kids at all levels. It feeds into Eliot Hine, which we have been happy at - good balance of academics, sports, debate, drama, band, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would consider Arlington and solid elementary/middle/ and high school path. It is easy commute to where you will be.

You have to think about middle school and chances are slim to none for the charters.

I'm not moving to Arlington, full stop. We're returning to DC if either of these jobs come through and sticking with the Kingman Park house. I'm aware of the challenges with many DC middle and high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm interviewing for two jobs in DC, located in Dupont Circle and Navy Yard, after living elsewhere for 8 years. My DC will be in 4th grade next year, and while getting either job is not assured, I want to be thinking ahead with the lottery coming up. I own a house on the eastern edge of Kingman Park, zoned for Miner. And I'm a single parent, so there's no one else to help get DC to and from school each day.

I know DCPS does not offer gifted programming, which DC currently receives, so I'm looking for input on schools to consider that there is a realistic shot of getting a lottery seat with at least some academic peers. I'm not interested in Montessori or immersion. I know Brent is in a swing space that isn't ideal from the Hill, and that they also lose a ton of kids at the upper grades. Maury is basically impossible to get into in any grade. Two Rivers fell off a cliff in the years I've been gone. Are there other schools I should be considering beyond the list below, with an eye towards reducing commute yet still having a sizable enough cohort of high achieving kids?

Ludlow-Taylor
Payne
John Francis (less than ideal if I get the Navy Yard job, but really convenient for Dupont)
Watkins
JO Wilson
Chisholm
Thomson (also less than ideal for a Navy Yard job, okay for Dupont)

The only charter that seemed to fit my criteria was Friendship Chamberlain. The other higher achieving charters are mostly language immersion and/or an inconvenient commute. Am I missing any?

And before anyone asks, no, moving to another part of the Hill, let alone Ward 3, isn't really an option. I'm loathe to give up the sub-3% interest rate, and while I would make a decent amount of money selling, it's not enough to offset how much prices have gone up and the much higher interest rates.

The lack of gifted programming does kind of stink. Do whatever works for 4th and then try for Latin or BASIS or DCI.

Our path was solved by going to BASIS (which has flaws, but at least they are challenged and learn a lot and have lots of gifted peers) and doing CTY in the summers (also popular with BASIS students).

You all go all the way to Baltimore for CTY or is there a local option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm interviewing for two jobs in DC, located in Dupont Circle and Navy Yard, after living elsewhere for 8 years. My DC will be in 4th grade next year, and while getting either job is not assured, I want to be thinking ahead with the lottery coming up. I own a house on the eastern edge of Kingman Park, zoned for Miner. And I'm a single parent, so there's no one else to help get DC to and from school each day.

I know DCPS does not offer gifted programming, which DC currently receives, so I'm looking for input on schools to consider that there is a realistic shot of getting a lottery seat with at least some academic peers. I'm not interested in Montessori or immersion. I know Brent is in a swing space that isn't ideal from the Hill, and that they also lose a ton of kids at the upper grades. Maury is basically impossible to get into in any grade. Two Rivers fell off a cliff in the years I've been gone. Are there other schools I should be considering beyond the list below, with an eye towards reducing commute yet still having a sizable enough cohort of high achieving kids?

Ludlow-Taylor
Payne
John Francis (less than ideal if I get the Navy Yard job, but really convenient for Dupont)
Watkins
JO Wilson
Chisholm
Thomson (also less than ideal for a Navy Yard job, okay for Dupont)

The only charter that seemed to fit my criteria was Friendship Chamberlain. The other higher achieving charters are mostly language immersion and/or an inconvenient commute. Am I missing any?

And before anyone asks, no, moving to another part of the Hill, let alone Ward 3, isn't really an option. I'm loathe to give up the sub-3% interest rate, and while I would make a decent amount of money selling, it's not enough to offset how much prices have gone up and the much higher interest rates.

The lack of gifted programming does kind of stink. Do whatever works for 4th and then try for Latin or BASIS or DCI.

Our path was solved by going to BASIS (which has flaws, but at least they are challenged and learn a lot and have lots of gifted peers) and doing CTY in the summers (also popular with BASIS students).

You all go all the way to Baltimore for CTY or is there a local option?

Local in Bethesda, and sleepaway camps and online classes.

[Anonymous]

I know several Kingman park/eotr families who are happy at JO Wilson and Stuart Hobson. Agree that you should lottery for basis and latin for 5th. If the commute is manageable, inspired teaching could be worth adding to the list since you could go through 8th grade. School within school is also a reasonable commute and has no boundaries. And if you get the Dupont job, you could drive to janney, murch, or Eaton and bus or metro to work. The odds of getting in are low and you would need to figure out parking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm interviewing for two jobs in DC, located in Dupont Circle and Navy Yard, after living elsewhere for 8 years. My DC will be in 4th grade next year, and while getting either job is not assured, I want to be thinking ahead with the lottery coming up. I own a house on the eastern edge of Kingman Park, zoned for Miner. And I'm a single parent, so there's no one else to help get DC to and from school each day.

I know DCPS does not offer gifted programming, which DC currently receives, so I'm looking for input on schools to consider that there is a realistic shot of getting a lottery seat with at least some academic peers. I'm not interested in Montessori or immersion. I know Brent is in a swing space that isn't ideal from the Hill, and that they also lose a ton of kids at the upper grades. Maury is basically impossible to get into in any grade. Two Rivers fell off a cliff in the years I've been gone. Are there other schools I should be considering beyond the list below, with an eye towards reducing commute yet still having a sizable enough cohort of high achieving kids?

Ludlow-Taylor
Payne
John Francis (less than ideal if I get the Navy Yard job, but really convenient for Dupont)
Watkins
JO Wilson
Chisholm
Thomson (also less than ideal for a Navy Yard job, okay for Dupont)

The only charter that seemed to fit my criteria was Friendship Chamberlain. The other higher achieving charters are mostly language immersion and/or an inconvenient commute. Am I missing any?

And before anyone asks, no, moving to another part of the Hill, let alone Ward 3, isn't really an option. I'm loathe to give up the sub-3% interest rate, and while I would make a decent amount of money selling, it's not enough to offset how much prices have gone up and the much higher interest rates.

The lack of gifted programming does kind of stink. Do whatever works for 4th and then try for Latin or BASIS or DCI.

Our path was solved by going to BASIS (which has flaws, but at least they are challenged and learn a lot and have lots of gifted peers) and doing CTY in the summers (also popular with BASIS students).

Basis isn’t great but better than other offerings. Take a look at some high school threads to see why.

BASIS seems to only work for a very specific kind of kid. The school has a huge amount of turnover among students, and goes very deep into its waitlist. Latin is basically the opposite. They take very few kids and almost no one turns then down or leaves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know several Kingman park/eotr families who are happy at JO Wilson and Stuart Hobson. Agree that you should lottery for basis and latin for 5th. If the commute is manageable, inspired teaching could be worth adding to the list since you could go through 8th grade. School within school is also a reasonable commute and has no boundaries. And if you get the Dupont job, you could drive to janney, murch, or Eaton and bus or metro to work. The odds of getting in are low and you would need to figure out parking.

If carpooling is something you'd consider, I know there are families who live in-boundary for Miner who go to Inspired.