Renting an apartment to be inbounds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, yours is not an original thought.

+1. people do this. For example for Ross Elementary, lots of DuPont families start out in the DuPont Logan area and then move elsewhere for more space. This is something that is known.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The biggest issue is not having friends over once you move. Parents don’t have the time to drive ES kids around and so encourage neighborhood friendships (one reason why many choose their IB school in the first place) and ES kids aren’t old enough to take Metro/bus.

This. It's not the fraud it's the convenience. Let's say you rent for Murch and live in Ward 5. What's your commute like? What's pick up like? What time are you getting home when you pick up at 6 at aftercare? Who is your 5th grader able to invite over after school?
If you are fine with the answers to those questions then it's no big deal.

[Anonymous]

You don't have to teach your kid to lie, just teach your kid not to talk about where they live/sleep. No shortage of other things for kids to talk about.

We started out in a small house in-boundary, then moved to a bigger house half a mile OOB when our oldest was in first grade. We stuck with the original DCPS (better than the school in-boundary for house #2) for 5 more years without difficulty. You can always do play dates with any kids whose parents might hassle you with DCPS in parks. Life gets complicated, roll with it.

[Anonymous]

NoDiggity wrote:So, this is a strange concept. But could you rent an apartment inbounds for a NW elementary school that you would love to get your kid into. And then at the end of the lease, move to a more affordable area but at that point your child is already into the feeder system you want and you don't need to pay for private school.

Is that possible? Sounds crazy, I know. But curious if it would work.

Many people do it and some get caught. Legally, your apartment in the school area has to be your full time residence and if you move, you can finish your academic year but after that you need to leave. Its unfair to the people who actually make sacrifices to live there, ones gaming the system should be reported.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

NoDiggity wrote:So, this is a strange concept. But could you rent an apartment inbounds for a NW elementary school that you would love to get your kid into. And then at the end of the lease, move to a more affordable area but at that point your child is already into the feeder system you want and you don't need to pay for private school.

Is that possible? Sounds crazy, I know. But curious if it would work.

Many people do it and some get caught. Legally, your apartment in the school area has to be your full time residence and if you move, you can finish your academic year but after that you need to leave. Its unfair to the people who actually make sacrifices to live there, ones gaming the system should be reported.

NP here. Unfair my a$$. Most folks in the better school pyramids in DC aren't there because they made more "sacrifices." They're there because they largely started off on third base. I don't blame anyone for doing whatever they can to get their kids into the right pyramid in this city. They're not evading taxes or anything. Until there is more equity in this city education-wise across the board, I say do whatever you can for your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

NoDiggity wrote:So, this is a strange concept. But could you rent an apartment inbounds for a NW elementary school that you would love to get your kid into. And then at the end of the lease, move to a more affordable area but at that point your child is already into the feeder system you want and you don't need to pay for private school.

Is that possible? Sounds crazy, I know. But curious if it would work.

Many people do it and some get caught. Legally, your apartment in the school area has to be your full time residence and if you move, you can finish your academic year but after that you need to leave. Its unfair to the people who actually make sacrifices to live there, ones gaming the system should be reported.

DC Policy actually says you can do this.
"Legally" per DC policy, you can stay through the truncating grade if you live IB and than move OOB. DC does not have the systems / records management systems in place to check these things.
If you rent for address purposes only and do not actually occupy the residence - officially it is not your residence per DC policy (if audited you need to show the space your child sleeps in / where their stuff is etc) If you rent an apartment but do not move in, it does not qualify - but DC has established that they do not care

[Anonymous]

This is terrible. It’s being a poor example to your kids. Yes, you are asking them to lie.

No I don’t live in ward 3 either. I live in ward 5 with a poorly performing IB school.

[Anonymous]

Your complaint is with DCPS, not with families doing this. DCPS says this is perfectly legal.

If you want to complaint about fraud, complain about the many many many Maryland folks who enroll their kids in DCPS schools, and DCPS doesn't do a damn thing about it. At least that's actually against the rules.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NoDiggity wrote:So, this is a strange concept. But could you rent an apartment inbounds for a NW elementary school that you would love to get your kid into. And then at the end of the lease, move to a more affordable area but at that point your child is already into the feeder system you want and you don't need to pay for private school.

Is that possible? Sounds crazy, I know. But curious if it would work.

Many people do it and some get caught. Legally, your apartment in the school area has to be your full time residence and if you move, you can finish your academic year but after that you need to leave. Its unfair to the people who actually make sacrifices to live there, ones gaming the system should be reported.

NP here. Unfair my a$$. Most folks in the better school pyramids in DC aren't there because they made more "sacrifices." They're there because they largely started off on third base. I don't blame anyone for doing whatever they can to get their kids into the right pyramid in this city. They're not evading taxes or anything. Until there is more equity in this city education-wise across the board, I say do whatever you can for your kids.

Equity doesn't originate from fraud and lies. One buying a nicer/bigger/newer/commute friendly home wherever they want vs one buying smaller/older/less updated/longer commute home shouldn't be attending same school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your complaint is with DCPS, not with families doing this. DCPS says this is perfectly legal.

If you want to complaint about fraud, complain about the many many many Maryland folks who enroll their kids in DCPS schools, and DCPS doesn't do a damn thing about it. At least that's actually against the rules.

Complaint against all fraud, DCPS can decide for themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

NoDiggity wrote:So, this is a strange concept. But could you rent an apartment inbounds for a NW elementary school that you would love to get your kid into. And then at the end of the lease, move to a more affordable area but at that point your child is already into the feeder system you want and you don't need to pay for private school.

Is that possible? Sounds crazy, I know. But curious if it would work.

Many people do it and some get caught. Legally, your apartment in the school area has to be your full time residence and if you move, you can finish your academic year but after that you need to leave. Its unfair to the people who actually make sacrifices to live there, ones gaming the system should be reported.

NP here. Unfair my a$$. Most folks in the better school pyramids in DC aren't there because they made more "sacrifices." They're there because they largely started off on third base. I don't blame anyone for doing whatever they can to get their kids into the right pyramid in this city. They're not evading taxes or anything. Until there is more equity in this city education-wise across the board, I say do whatever you can for your kids.

Equity doesn't originate from fraud and lies. One buying a nicer/bigger/newer/commute friendly home wherever they want vs one buying smaller/older/less updated/longer commute home shouldn't be attending same school.

This^. You cant gave your cake and eat it too. If you like the school, make sacrifices on housing and but whatever your money can buy there. Don't go buy a nicer house for same price with bad schools and enroll kids somewhere else, crowding their school.

[Anonymous]

Pre-covid, our Hill Elementary school did in-home visits before the school year started.

The teachers made appointments and showed up at your house.

I assume this will resume soon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your complaint is with DCPS, not with families doing this. DCPS says this is perfectly legal.

If you want to complaint about fraud, complain about the many many many Maryland folks who enroll their kids in DCPS schools, and DCPS doesn't do a damn thing about it. At least that's actually against the rules.

+100

At least DC residents pay DC taxes so they pay to attend DCPS. Some of you ward 3 schools are overcrowded because Maryland residents take spots and don’t pay taxes. Let’s get them out first before worrying about renters who move.

[Anonymous]

Not just on Hill.

Wasn't an audit done a few years back? Caused controversy, some Duke Ellington families had to pay back tuition with interest, no?

[Anonymous]

Np- You won’t get report cards mailed to you.