Capitol Hill families - If you moved to NW or burbs for school, do you have any regrets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate to post this, since I don't want to slam Capitol Hill. We love our community here. But, I'm tired of the school angst (we are past the lottery so there isn't hope for a good HS path (or one that fits us)). I'm also tired of the crime. Wondering for those who moved for schools, was it worth it? Did you find a new community in your NW or burbs neighborhood?

I know that my answer is going to sound like a broken record because it has been said so many times here, but we moved to MoCo and have no regrets. It has been a blessing. In fact we should have moved sooner or never settled in DC at all.

[Anonymous]

Yea there’s a world of difference between BCC and JR. Be serious. And yea Upper Caucasia is every bit as suburban as the real burbs with schools that are fine, maybe, but c’mon. They’re not BCC, not the W schools, not Arlington or a Fairfax schools. Hell, they might not even be as good as the Alexandria schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yea there’s a world of difference between BCC and JR. Be serious. And yea Upper Caucasia is every bit as suburban as the real burbs with schools that are fine, maybe, but c’mon. They’re not BCC, not the W schools, not Arlington or a Fairfax schools. Hell, they might not even be as good as the Alexandria schools.

Not as suburban as “the real burbs.” Greater walkability, retail, restaurants, public transportation. But keep telling yourself that as you helm the minivan.

[Anonymous]

Glover Park resident chiming in here - we seem to get a good number of Capitol Hill refugees coming in for our school pyramid, and they all seem happy. The two neighborhoods have a lot in common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you considering moving to NW, or outside of DC? I am asking because before we got great 5th grade lottery luck we were having the same conversations in our house. We came to the conclusion that the NW burbs were really just that; burbs. Deal and JR are the best public schools in DC, but they do not compare favorably to the best public schools in MD or VA. If we were prepared to leave CH for schools, we weren't going to nibble around the edges for JR and were going to just pull the ripcord and decamp for true burbs and objectively better schools.

I don't think it's true that there's no meaningful difference between upper NW and the MD/VA burbs. We moved to the Murch zone in DC ("Wakefield" technically, but no one knows that neighborhood) and it feels way less suburban than the places where our MD and VA friends live. We can walk to multiple restaurants in 5 min, groceries and other retail in 15min, there is a mix of housing density, short walk to metro, and surrounded by other similar neighborhoods. In the VA/MD suburbs if you choose the right location you might be able to walk to some stores/density but at best it's a small island of walkability surrounded by suburbia and freeways. Upper NW doesn't feel like that. Obviously there are exceptions - e.g. Forest Hills DC probably feels more suburban in places than close-in Bethesda. But there's only a handful of houses in Bethesda that are actually walkable to anything, and even then it feels kind of like you're walking along the side of a freeway.

I'm PP you are replying to and you imagined the bolded; I didn't type it. You are focusing on the wrong issue here. No one is arguing that inner burbs aren't different than true MD and VA burbs. The point is that this is all about what you give up in exchange for better schools. It's cool you like your Chipotle better than the one in MoCo.

[Anonymous]

I'd go sooner rather than waiting til the last minute. A big part of our social life in the burbs involves families we've met in rec activities. We've met more neighbors this way than almost any other way (except school). My youngest and now 3rd-grader has been on teams/done activities with many of the same children for 2 years now, so we've really built a village. That's harder as kids get older and rely on parents to get them to activities less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you considering moving to NW, or outside of DC? I am asking because before we got great 5th grade lottery luck we were having the same conversations in our house. We came to the conclusion that the NW burbs were really just that; burbs. Deal and JR are the best public schools in DC, but they do not compare favorably to the best public schools in MD or VA. If we were prepared to leave CH for schools, we weren't going to nibble around the edges for JR and were going to just pull the ripcord and decamp for true burbs and objectively better schools.

We need density (it’s something my partner will not compromise on) so we are considering close-in NW (walkable to shops and restaurants). So, I think true burbs is out for us but could possibly do Bethesda.

We moved to Arlington. No regrets. it is just as walkable as our place on the Hill (I can walk to Clarendon metro), my commute is the same, I don't worry about crime anyone and schools are not perfect but are very good. Also, there are free school buses (including a late bus for days my kids have activities after school). that makes logistics so much easier. Also traffic is much less of an issue here for the times I do have to drive (but I run basic errands by walking around the neighborhood).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Personally I wish it hadn't been necessary, but DD didn't get into Banneker or Walls (despite good enough grades to be eligible) or any good lottery schools, so here we are. It hasn't been easy socially but after the first year it was okay. I very much miss the Hill feel and row house density and I loathe having a yard.

Eesh, this is my fear. We've made middle school work and I'm now facing down 8th grade with a kid whose transcript is perfect. But what if that isn't enough? Like PP, we have an only and have contemplated renting in a dense part of W3 or Silver Spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I wish it hadn't been necessary, but DD didn't get into Banneker or Walls (despite good enough grades to be eligible) or any good lottery schools, so here we are. It hasn't been easy socially but after the first year it was okay. I very much miss the Hill feel and row house density and I loathe having a yard.

Eesh, this is my fear. We've made middle school work and I'm now facing down 8th grade with a kid whose transcript is perfect. But what if that isn't enough? Like PP, we have an only and have contemplated renting in a dense part of W3 or Silver Spring.

Well, to be fair, DD's grades were good enough but not great, and I love her but she doesn't interview well or have impressive extracurrics.

I think you can hope for a good lottery number, check out Truth for high school, or look into privates. Our Lady of the Bad Lottery Numbers probably has a seat for you if you don't mind Catholic mass!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you considering moving to NW, or outside of DC? I am asking because before we got great 5th grade lottery luck we were having the same conversations in our house. We came to the conclusion that the NW burbs were really just that; burbs. Deal and JR are the best public schools in DC, but they do not compare favorably to the best public schools in MD or VA. If we were prepared to leave CH for schools, we weren't going to nibble around the edges for JR and were going to just pull the ripcord and decamp for true burbs and objectively better schools.

I don't think it's true that there's no meaningful difference between upper NW and the MD/VA burbs. We moved to the Murch zone in DC ("Wakefield" technically, but no one knows that neighborhood) and it feels way less suburban than the places where our MD and VA friends live. We can walk to multiple restaurants in 5 min, groceries and other retail in 15min, there is a mix of housing density, short walk to metro, and surrounded by other similar neighborhoods. In the VA/MD suburbs if you choose the right location you might be able to walk to some stores/density but at best it's a small island of walkability surrounded by suburbia and freeways. Upper NW doesn't feel like that. Obviously there are exceptions - e.g. Forest Hills DC probably feels more suburban in places than close-in Bethesda. But there's only a handful of houses in Bethesda that are actually walkable to anything, and even then it feels kind of like you're walking along the side of a freeway.

I'm PP you are replying to and you imagined the bolded; I didn't type it. You are focusing on the wrong issue here. No one is arguing that inner burbs aren't different than true MD and VA burbs. The point is that this is all about what you give up in exchange for better schools. It's cool you like your Chipotle better than the one in MoCo.

Oh you sure got us there! Because you’re correct, there aren’t any non-chain restaurants along Wisconsin or Connecticut avenues. Just Paneras probably

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you considering moving to NW, or outside of DC? I am asking because before we got great 5th grade lottery luck we were having the same conversations in our house. We came to the conclusion that the NW burbs were really just that; burbs. Deal and JR are the best public schools in DC, but they do not compare favorably to the best public schools in MD or VA. If we were prepared to leave CH for schools, we weren't going to nibble around the edges for JR and were going to just pull the ripcord and decamp for true burbs and objectively better schools.

I don't think it's true that there's no meaningful difference between upper NW and the MD/VA burbs. We moved to the Murch zone in DC ("Wakefield" technically, but no one knows that neighborhood) and it feels way less suburban than the places where our MD and VA friends live. We can walk to multiple restaurants in 5 min, groceries and other retail in 15min, there is a mix of housing density, short walk to metro, and surrounded by other similar neighborhoods. In the VA/MD suburbs if you choose the right location you might be able to walk to some stores/density but at best it's a small island of walkability surrounded by suburbia and freeways. Upper NW doesn't feel like that. Obviously there are exceptions - e.g. Forest Hills DC probably feels more suburban in places than close-in Bethesda. But there's only a handful of houses in Bethesda that are actually walkable to anything, and even then it feels kind of like you're walking along the side of a freeway.

I'm PP you are replying to and you imagined the bolded; I didn't type it. You are focusing on the wrong issue here. No one is arguing that inner burbs aren't different than true MD and VA burbs. The point is that this is all about what you give up in exchange for better schools. It's cool you like your Chipotle better than the one in MoCo.

Yeah, it's all just different Chipotles after all. Might as well move to Loudon county

[Anonymous]

Zero regrets. We moved to NW DC and it was the best decision we ever made. We have a house that has enough room for our family of 5 (which would be unaffordable on the Hill), a yard that our kids can play in, and our kids have loads of friends within a 10 minute walking distance who they have playdates with, ride bikes together, etc. Our school may not be perfect, but our kids are happy and it is meeting our needs. It's not to say we don't miss aspects of CH, but moving was the best thing for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yea there’s a world of difference between BCC and JR. Be serious. And yea Upper Caucasia is every bit as suburban as the real burbs with schools that are fine, maybe, but c’mon. They’re not BCC, not the W schools, not Arlington or a Fairfax schools. Hell, they might not even be as good as the Alexandria schools.

Have you even been to Upper NW? It is much more dense and urban than the "real burbs." It's fine if you decide the amenities aren't worth it to you and you'd rather head straight for McLean, but it's really a very different feel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yea there’s a world of difference between BCC and JR. Be serious. And yea Upper Caucasia is every bit as suburban as the real burbs with schools that are fine, maybe, but c’mon. They’re not BCC, not the W schools, not Arlington or a Fairfax schools. Hell, they might not even be as good as the Alexandria schools.

Not as suburban as “the real burbs.” Greater walkability, retail, restaurants, public transportation. But keep telling yourself that as you helm the minivan.

This is just not true. We lived in Arlington before moving to Logan and Upper Caucasia is a lot closer in vibe and walkability to where we lived then compared to now. Just look at the walk scores and see for yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Personally I wish it hadn't been necessary, but DD didn't get into Banneker or Walls (despite good enough grades to be eligible) or any good lottery schools, so here we are. It hasn't been easy socially but after the first year it was okay. I very much miss the Hill feel and row house density and I loathe having a yard.

Eesh, this is my fear. We've made middle school work and I'm now facing down 8th grade with a kid whose transcript is perfect. But what if that isn't enough? Like PP, we have an only and have contemplated renting in a dense part of W3 or Silver Spring.

Well, to be fair, DD's grades were good enough but not great, and I love her but she doesn't interview well or have impressive extracurrics.

I think you can hope for a good lottery number, check out Truth for high school, or look into privates. Our Lady of the Bad Lottery Numbers probably has a seat for you if you don't mind Catholic mass!

LOL! This is the content I come to DCUM for. So stealing line that if we wind up in a similar position when our elementary age kid is ready for high school.