Help me choose my next house/condo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a former district resident looking to sell my house and move back into the district. I have about 500-550k to spend and willing to downsize (2BD, 1.5 BATH) to get into a excellent school district. I love the charters but if I don't get into a good charter, I still want my IB to be a great school. I value diversity and language immersion. Where should I buy?

Maury ES around 13th & C, NE:

http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/236-Warren-St-NE-Washington-DC-20002/423608_zpid/

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the information. So far, I have:

Oyster-Adams
Murch
Powell
Janney
Eaton
Hearst

Of that list, it seems like Oyster has the strongest language component. Please correct me if I am wrong.

To the PP, I am really not looking to move back to the Hill area. Thanks for posting the listing though.

[Anonymous]

I would second Takoma, DC. TEC has turned around and there are a lot of young families moving to the neighborhood. Also very close to LAMB, Sela, Washington Latin, Cap City, and other strong charter choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for the information. So far, I have:

Oyster-Adams
Murch
Powell
Janney
Eaton
Hearst

Of that list, it seems like Oyster has the strongest language component. Please correct me if I am wrong.

To the PP, I am really not looking to move back to the Hill area. Thanks for posting the listing though.

This is the only 2BD I see zoned for Oyster. It looks great and well-located, but $650k:
http://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/2818-Connecticut-Ave-NW-20008/unit-104/home/17121103

[Anonymous]

OP's budget is sufficient for many 2-bedrooms in Woodley Park or Kalorama Triangle/Adams Morgan, but it may be a bit tight for an additional half bath. Might work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, thanks for the information. So far, I have:

Oyster-Adams
Murch
Powell
Janney
Eaton
Hearst

Of that list, it seems like Oyster has the strongest language component. Please correct me if I am wrong.

To the PP, I am really not looking to move back to the Hill area. Thanks for posting the listing though.

Oyster and Powell offer Spanish immersion, so they definitely have the strongest language component. The others listed all have before- and after-school language offerings. Murch is the only one I am aware of that offers a full immersion aftercare program.

[Anonymous]

OP, just to be clear, you do realize that you are not guaranteed a spot at Oyster until kindergarten at age 5, right? There is no PS3, PK4 is by lottery only with preference for siblings in or out of boundary. Non-sibling preference for Spanish dominant over IB. There are condos being built up the street by Marriott. The Oyster building will have to be expanded at some point. Possibly just when your child starts in kindergarten. And of course there is no guarantee it will stay a dual immersion Pk-8 program forever. Especially if, for example, the principal leaves, OOB Spanish bi-literate families leave for charters, or who knows.

Just saying, think really carefully about where you want to live and ask yourself if you'd live there even if Oyster were not bilingual. Or if for some reason your child struggles in a bilingual model.

GL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your English-dominant kid isn't going to graduate Bancroft able to read One Hundred Days of Solitude in Spanish and be able to discuss it with his Bancroft-area peers.

It appears DC adults will not be able to discuss One Hundred Days of Solitude either. Because the book's title is One Hundred YEARS of Solitude. Felicidades!

Hahaha.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, just to be clear, you do realize that you are not guaranteed a spot at Oyster until kindergarten at age 5, right? There is no PS3, PK4 is by lottery only with preference for siblings in or out of boundary. Non-sibling preference for Spanish dominant over IB. There are condos being built up the street by Marriott. The Oyster building will have to be expanded at some point. Possibly just when your child starts in kindergarten. And of course there is no guarantee it will stay a dual immersion Pk-8 program forever. Especially if, for example, the principal leaves, OOB Spanish bi-literate families leave for charters, or who knows.

Just saying, think really carefully about where you want to live and ask yourself if you'd live there even if Oyster were not bilingual. Or if for some reason your child struggles in a bilingual model.

GL

Sure, things may change in any school, but Oyster has been bilingual for decades before the current principal joined the scene, so that is not a factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, forgot to add that I am looking at PK3 in the fall.

given the schools recommended to you so far, the ones in upper NW do not have a PreK 3 program - and most have a waitlist for IB children for PreK4.

I think the Janney waitist this year had 60 IB kids.