Brightwood Schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again: thank you all for this!

This changes things maybe. We still want to go look at that house but the idea of the lottery was what we were trying to avoid. We like the IB feel and kids walking to school together, etc.

Sounds like that doesn't happen in Brightwood? Heck, maybe that doesn't happen anywhere.

Maybe we will look at some houses in Takoma and look at Takoma ES as an option based on what I have read here.

We are also not anti-charter but wanted the neighborhood school to be first choice..

I live in the area and I don’t know anyone who attends Brightwood but lots of people are happy with Whittier and Takoma ES. I also know lots of families who were totally unlucky in the lottery for all schools mentioned in some other posts. So don’t assume DCB, LAMB, Breakthrough, John Lewis, etc. are going to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again: thank you all for this!

This changes things maybe. We still want to go look at that house but the idea of the lottery was what we were trying to avoid. We like the IB feel and kids walking to school together, etc.

Sounds like that doesn't happen in Brightwood? Heck, maybe that doesn't happen anywhere.

Maybe we will look at some houses in Takoma and look at Takoma ES as an option based on what I have read here.

We are also not anti-charter but wanted the neighborhood school to be first choice..

I'm with you! Check out Whittier's boundary too. It is getting more popular with neighborhood families and you definitely see this!

[Anonymous]

I also recommend you look at Manor Park/Brightwood east of GA Ave. Lots and lots of kids, some of whom go to Whittier, and usually a bit more housing inventory than Takoma.

[Anonymous]

You won't find any neighborhood EOTP where every kid on the block goes to the IB elementary. We're IB for Truesdell and I don't know any kids that go to Truesdell. I know they're there, but of the half a dozen families we've known since we had babies together, everyone is scattered across different DCPS and charter schools. I hear about the most neighborhood buy-in at Takoma, John Lewis, and Powell, but don't live in those neighborhoods so don't have first hand experience. Also consider the actual blocks you'd be moving into. Friends that were happy at their schools and IB for Truesdell (other side of the boundary from me) and Brightwood have left due to concerns over neighborhood violence. An IB feel doesn't get you far if you don't feel comfortable letting your kids play outside or run through the alley to their friend's house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You won't find any neighborhood EOTP where every kid on the block goes to the IB elementary. We're IB for Truesdell and I don't know any kids that go to Truesdell. I know they're there, but of the half a dozen families we've known since we had babies together, everyone is scattered across different DCPS and charter schools. I hear about the most neighborhood buy-in at Takoma, John Lewis, and Powell, but don't live in those neighborhoods so don't have first hand experience. Also consider the actual blocks you'd be moving into. Friends that were happy at their schools and IB for Truesdell (other side of the boundary from me) and Brightwood have left due to concerns over neighborhood violence. An IB feel doesn't get you far if you don't feel comfortable letting your kids play outside or run through the alley to their friend's house.

Actually Whittier is really popular within its neighborhood. The half a dozen families we’ve known since kids were really young all go to Whittier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You won't find any neighborhood EOTP where every kid on the block goes to the IB elementary. We're IB for Truesdell and I don't know any kids that go to Truesdell. I know they're there, but of the half a dozen families we've known since we had babies together, everyone is scattered across different DCPS and charter schools. I hear about the most neighborhood buy-in at Takoma, John Lewis, and Powell, but don't live in those neighborhoods so don't have first hand experience. Also consider the actual blocks you'd be moving into. Friends that were happy at their schools and IB for Truesdell (other side of the boundary from me) and Brightwood have left due to concerns over neighborhood violence. An IB feel doesn't get you far if you don't feel comfortable letting your kids play outside or run through the alley to their friend's house.

I am in Shepherd Park and there are five houses with school-aged kids on my side of the block- only one of the families does not go to Shepherd.

OP look into going a bit north in Shepherd Park if you want a good neighborhood feel!

[Anonymous]

Not OP but a lot of good points on this thread. I’ve heard a lot of things about Takoma getting better, Whittier is great and getting a new school, and charter options in ward 4.

The “neighborhood feel” might be harder in DC than a subdivision in a suburb with cul-de-sacs, etc or maybe look WOTP?

Shepherd Park is also a really nice area as mentioned above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You won't find any neighborhood EOTP where every kid on the block goes to the IB elementary. We're IB for Truesdell and I don't know any kids that go to Truesdell. I know they're there, but of the half a dozen families we've known since we had babies together, everyone is scattered across different DCPS and charter schools. I hear about the most neighborhood buy-in at Takoma, John Lewis, and Powell, but don't live in those neighborhoods so don't have first hand experience. Also consider the actual blocks you'd be moving into. Friends that were happy at their schools and IB for Truesdell (other side of the boundary from me) and Brightwood have left due to concerns over neighborhood violence. An IB feel doesn't get you far if you don't feel comfortable letting your kids play outside or run through the alley to their friend's house.

I am in Shepherd Park and there are five houses with school-aged kids on my side of the block- only one of the families does not go to Shepherd.

OP look into going a bit north in Shepherd Park if you want a good neighborhood feel!

Okay, non-JR feeding EOTP school. Kids go to charters to secure a middle school pathway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not OP but a lot of good points on this thread. I’ve heard a lot of things about Takoma getting better, Whittier is great and getting a new school, and charter options in ward 4.

The “neighborhood feel” might be harder in DC than a subdivision in a suburb with cul-de-sacs, etc or maybe look WOTP?

Shepherd Park is also a really nice area as mentioned above.

I assume that if they are looking at Brightwood, there isn't anything they can afford in Shepherd Park...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again: thank you all for this!

This changes things maybe. We still want to go look at that house but the idea of the lottery was what we were trying to avoid. We like the IB feel and kids walking to school together, etc.

Sounds like that doesn't happen in Brightwood? Heck, maybe that doesn't happen anywhere.

Maybe we will look at some houses in Takoma and look at Takoma ES as an option based on what I have read here.

We are also not anti-charter but wanted the neighborhood school to be first choice..

I don't think you will find a neighborhood east of rock creek park where the neighborhood school is the first choice. (Even our friends west of rock creek park have been a bit disappointed how many kids go to private schools.) We live near where you are looking but zoned for Whittier. Some neighbors do go but more go to charters. A lot more IB families seem to start with Takoma but as the years go by move to charters.

There are data sources that show both the percent of zoned kids that attend their zoned school and the percent of kids attending each school that are IB, if this is really important to you.

[Anonymous]

OP will have the possible issue most others I have read on DCUM have with EOTP.

Elementary school will be more than OK (whether it is Whittier, Takoma, Sela, etc) -- but when middle and HS come around.. then what?

The idea it will be a guarantee to get into Latin or DCI or DCB is small. So OP, the area you are looking to move has great single family homes and close to the park, walter reed, etc.. but you may want to consider middle and HS before you buy.

Then again, you can always lottery every year while your little one(s) are in elementary and see what happens? or private?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again: thank you all for this!

This changes things maybe. We still want to go look at that house but the idea of the lottery was what we were trying to avoid. We like the IB feel and kids walking to school together, etc.

Sounds like that doesn't happen in Brightwood? Heck, maybe that doesn't happen anywhere.

Maybe we will look at some houses in Takoma and look at Takoma ES as an option based on what I have read here.

We are also not anti-charter but wanted the neighborhood school to be first choice..

I don't think you will find a neighborhood east of rock creek park where the neighborhood school is the first choice. (Even our friends west of rock creek park have been a bit disappointed how many kids go to private schools.) We live near where you are looking but zoned for Whittier. Some neighbors do go but more go to charters. A lot more IB families seem to start with Takoma but as the years go by move to charters.

There are data sources that show both the percent of zoned kids that attend their zoned school and the percent of kids attending each school that are IB, if this is really important to you.

Quoting myself to say that Shepherd Park is probably the exception, as others noted. But, housing is very expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi there. Long time reader. First time poster.

We are looking at moving to Brightwood. (West of Georgia Ave, north of Missouri, south of new Walter Reed)

House we are looking at is IB is Brightwood (where two blocks north is Takoma).

I’ve read Ft Stevens and Takoma are popular playgrounds. It’s be fun to have the kids play with neighborhood kids.

Anyone in this area of Brightwood send their kids to Brightwood ES? Lottery somewhere else?

We’ve driven around the area a lot and see a lot of kids.

We live in Brightwood but lotteried WOTP for K. FWIW, we were offered slots at 4 schools WOTP through the lottery. we did not look into the IB schools because we had heard some not-so-great things about the infrastructure (not the quality of the teaching) so defer to the other posters on those specifics. But agree with other posters who say try the lottery to give yourself options!

[Anonymous]

We love John Lewis and it’s lovely to have friends in the neighborhood. But middle school sneaks up quickly and your options are very limited. If I were in your shoes, I would wait to see how the boundary study shakes out this year and (assuming you intend to stay in DC) buy IB for somewhere you would honestly send your kids for MS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi there. Long time reader. First time poster.

We are looking at moving to Brightwood. (West of Georgia Ave, north of Missouri, south of new Walter Reed)

House we are looking at is IB is Brightwood (where two blocks north is Takoma).

I’ve read Ft Stevens and Takoma are popular playgrounds. It’s be fun to have the kids play with neighborhood kids.

Anyone in this area of Brightwood send their kids to Brightwood ES? Lottery somewhere else?

We’ve driven around the area a lot and see a lot of kids.

We live in Brightwood but lotteried WOTP for K. FWIW, we were offered slots at 4 schools WOTP through the lottery. we did not look into the IB schools because we had heard some not-so-great things about the infrastructure (not the quality of the teaching) so defer to the other posters on those specifics. But agree with other posters who say try the lottery to give yourself options!

OP again.
How is the commute? Not being part of the neighborhood, how does that impact friends playing after school, etc? I love the idea of WOTP but the before care, after care drops, not being part of the neighborhood, etc..