MS Families that Did Not Succeed in the Lottery

[Anonymous]

OP, I don't think I've ever read a middle school case here that did not involve lottery success, private or moving. I'm sure it happens, but it doesn't seem to fit the demo that posts here.

[Anonymous]

We rented IB Deal for a few years then ended up selling our Hill house and moving up to NW. Love it. I am glad that we rented for a few years just to make sure it would be a good fit. Turns out it is a perfect fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't done it yet--my oldest is in 3rd grade. But I've thought through what we will do and I think it's something like this (we are EOTP):

1. Spring of 4th grade: lottery for first choice charter middle school. If that fails,
2. Attend 5th grade at our beloved elementary.
3. 5th grade spring: Lottery for nearby but out-of-bounds DCPS middle school, out-of-bounds but far away DCPS middle. If both of those fail,
4. Move over the summer to a house inbounds for either Deal or Hardy. Or, if that proves impossible, move to somewhere like Takoma Park. My choice would be to rent out our house on the Hill and just rent a house for the duration of middle and high school for both kids. Then, unless things change, we could move back once the kids are done with school.

I am several years away from middle school, but have thought about this plan too. I'd be willing to live 4-7 years in the burbs for a good high school education and then move back when the kids are in college. There is also the added benefit of getting in-state tuition at some great VA schools if we move to the VA burbs for high school.

PP here--good point. Maybe we'll rent in Arlington for the HS years.

But once you have two kids, you are looking at 10+ years. And if you are rich enough to rent in a good close-in school district, you might as well rent in Deal/Wilson.

My kids are only two years apart in school, so I'm looking at nine years max I suppose. If I rent in Deal/Wilson, then I don't get VA tuition rate for college, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't done it yet--my oldest is in 3rd grade. But I've thought through what we will do and I think it's something like this (we are EOTP):

1. Spring of 4th grade: lottery for first choice charter middle school. If that fails,
2. Attend 5th grade at our beloved elementary.
3. 5th grade spring: Lottery for nearby but out-of-bounds DCPS middle school, out-of-bounds but far away DCPS middle. If both of those fail,
4. Move over the summer to a house inbounds for either Deal or Hardy. Or, if that proves impossible, move to somewhere like Takoma Park. My choice would be to rent out our house on the Hill and just rent a house for the duration of middle and high school for both kids. Then, unless things change, we could move back once the kids are done with school.

I am several years away from middle school, but have thought about this plan too. I'd be willing to live 4-7 years in the burbs for a good high school education and then move back when the kids are in college. There is also the added benefit of getting in-state tuition at some great VA schools if we move to the VA burbs for high school.

PP here--good point. Maybe we'll rent in Arlington for the HS years.

But once you have two kids, you are looking at 10+ years. And if you are rich enough to rent in a good close-in school district, you might as well rent in Deal/Wilson.

My kids are only two years apart in school, so I'm looking at nine years max I suppose. If I rent in Deal/Wilson, then I don't get VA tuition rate for college, right?

No you don't. If the DC Tuition Assistance Grant program continues at today's levels (not a guarantee) you could get up to $10,000 toward tuition at many state schools .http://osse.dc.gov/dctag But definitely not the same as in school tuition rates.

That said, getting into UVa, Wm & Mary or Va Tech at all from northern Virginia isn't easy either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't done it yet--my oldest is in 3rd grade. But I've thought through what we will do and I think it's something like this (we are EOTP):

1. Spring of 4th grade: lottery for first choice charter middle school. If that fails,
2. Attend 5th grade at our beloved elementary.
3. 5th grade spring: Lottery for nearby but out-of-bounds DCPS middle school, out-of-bounds but far away DCPS middle. If both of those fail,
4. Move over the summer to a house inbounds for either Deal or Hardy. Or, if that proves impossible, move to somewhere like Takoma Park. My choice would be to rent out our house on the Hill and just rent a house for the duration of middle and high school for both kids. Then, unless things change, we could move back once the kids are done with school.

I am several years away from middle school, but have thought about this plan too. I'd be willing to live 4-7 years in the burbs for a good high school education and then move back when the kids are in college. There is also the added benefit of getting in-state tuition at some great VA schools if we move to the VA burbs for high school.

PP here--good point. Maybe we'll rent in Arlington for the HS years.

But once you have two kids, you are looking at 10+ years. And if you are rich enough to rent in a good close-in school district, you might as well rent in Deal/Wilson.

My kids are only two years apart in school, so I'm looking at nine years max I suppose. If I rent in Deal/Wilson, then I don't get VA tuition rate for college, right?

No you don't. If the DC Tuition Assistance Grant program continues at today's levels (not a guarantee) you could get up to $10,000 toward tuition at many state schools .http://osse.dc.gov/dctag But definitely not the same as in school tuition rates.

That said, getting into UVa, Wm & Mary or Va Tech at all from northern Virginia isn't easy either.

True, but I have alum preferences at one of those colleges (is that even a thing?). Plus, there are other great colleges in VA aside from those three.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven't done it yet--my oldest is in 3rd grade. But I've thought through what we will do and I think it's something like this (we are EOTP):

1. Spring of 4th grade: lottery for first choice charter middle school. If that fails,
2. Attend 5th grade at our beloved elementary.
3. 5th grade spring: Lottery for nearby but out-of-bounds DCPS middle school, out-of-bounds but far away DCPS middle. If both of those fail,
4. Move over the summer to a house inbounds for either Deal or Hardy. Or, if that proves impossible, move to somewhere like Takoma Park. My choice would be to rent out our house on the Hill and just rent a house for the duration of middle and high school for both kids. Then, unless things change, we could move back once the kids are done with school.

I am several years away from middle school, but have thought about this plan too. I'd be willing to live 4-7 years in the burbs for a good high school education and then move back when the kids are in college. There is also the added benefit of getting in-state tuition at some great VA schools if we move to the VA burbs for high school.

PP here--good point. Maybe we'll rent in Arlington for the HS years.

But once you have two kids, you are looking at 10+ years. And if you are rich enough to rent in a good close-in school district, you might as well rent in Deal/Wilson.

My kids are only two years apart in school, so I'm looking at nine years max I suppose. If I rent in Deal/Wilson, then I don't get VA tuition rate for college, right?

No you don't. If the DC Tuition Assistance Grant program continues at today's levels (not a guarantee) you could get up to $10,000 toward tuition at many state schools .http://osse.dc.gov/dctag But definitely not the same as in school tuition rates.

That said, getting into UVa, Wm & Mary or Va Tech at all from northern Virginia isn't easy either.

True, but I have alum preferences at one of those colleges (is that even a thing?). Plus, there are other great colleges in VA aside from those three.

Not much of a thing anymore, unless you've been a big donor over the years. And yes there are options. If you think a Virginia state school would work for your kids that's a good reason to move - forget about middle school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Why move to Takoma Park? For Takoma EC? Shepherd Park is blocks away and maybe a few hundred more in rent (albeit less inventory) and has Deal as IB.

She meant TPMS. We live IN Shepherd Park and are considering doing this for MS.

You're saying that you live in Shepherd Park and are considering moving to TP for middle school?? Curious why...we live in Shepherd Park currently with young kids. Is TP MS a better option than Deal?

TP MS is a magnet school. I'm not sure kids get to go there by right.

[Anonymous]

I thought we could magnet in... My plan may need work. I don't think it is all magnet, anyway. As to why--have some concerns about very specific kids on that deal bus. They're not axe murderers or anything, so don't worry. Just would rather not make the middle school years even more Lord of the flies than they already are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought we could magnet in... My plan may need work. I don't think it is all magnet, anyway. As to why--have some concerns about very specific kids on that deal bus. They're not axe murderers or anything, so don't worry. Just would rather not make the middle school years even more Lord of the flies than they already are.

TPMS - part magnet, part not. Watch carefully for test dates and requirements for the application process. Starts fall of year prior.

Our friends just moved IB for SSIMS and are very happy (seems to be rising).

[Anonymous]

Live on Hill. Didn't get anything in lottery initially, but then did get some options over the summer from the wait lists. We ended up going private for 5th and anticipate staying there through 8th. Will then most likely be at a test-in DCPS.

We were fortunate (?) in that we make little enough money that we got a generous financial aid package. It is still really a stretch, but for 1 kid for 4 years we can make it happen. Other kid is in school that works well and doesn't cost $ for us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Live on Hill. Didn't get anything in lottery initially, but then did get some options over the summer from the wait lists. We ended up going private for 5th and anticipate staying there through 8th. Will then most likely be at a test-in DCPS.

We were fortunate (?) in that we make little enough money that we got a generous financial aid package. It is still really a stretch, but for 1 kid for 4 years we can make it happen. Other kid is in school that works well and doesn't cost $ for us.

Another parent to Hill elementary kids here, also of modest income. Do you mind my asking what your HHI is? I've wondered whether this is an option for us, too. I can't really imagine affording private school but if the choice is between that and moving to a more expensive house, we might have to think about it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Live on Hill. Didn't get anything in lottery initially, but then did get some options over the summer from the wait lists. We ended up going private for 5th and anticipate staying there through 8th. Will then most likely be at a test-in DCPS.

We were fortunate (?) in that we make little enough money that we got a generous financial aid package. It is still really a stretch, but for 1 kid for 4 years we can make it happen. Other kid is in school that works well and doesn't cost $ for us.

Another parent to Hill elementary kids here, also of modest income. Do you mind my asking what your HHI is? I've wondered whether this is an option for us, too. I can't really imagine affording private school but if the choice is between that and moving to a more expensive house, we might have to think about it.

How about a HELOC?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks so much for all the responses. It's great hearing some of these nuances and possibilities that hadn't even crossed my mind. Please keep the responses and discussion going.

One thing I was wondering about that I haven't yet seen in the discussion so far is do people try to make it work because of their jobs (i.e., they can't find similar work elsewhere) or because they love living here?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Live on Hill. Didn't get anything in lottery initially, but then did get some options over the summer from the wait lists. We ended up going private for 5th and anticipate staying there through 8th. Will then most likely be at a test-in DCPS.

We were fortunate (?) in that we make little enough money that we got a generous financial aid package. It is still really a stretch, but for 1 kid for 4 years we can make it happen. Other kid is in school that works well and doesn't cost $ for us.

Another parent to Hill elementary kids here, also of modest income. Do you mind my asking what your HHI is? I've wondered whether this is an option for us, too. I can't really imagine affording private school but if the choice is between that and moving to a more expensive house, we might have to think about it.

How about a HELOC?

Private school Hill parent here. Sure. It's hard to say exactly because we each have more than one job, freelancing to make extra money. Our net on our tax returns came out to almost $60K after deductions. We have a lot of deductions because of the freelancing. I think the total gross income this year was almost $110K. We took out a HELOC to pay the remainder of the tuition and consolidate debts, mostly medical and a badly needed newer car. Other car is 18 years old and was a hand-me-down. We are at a substantially less expensive private school and we pay $10K/year. It's hard, but the HELOC makes it doable.

OP -- we have to stay in the city for another unrelated reason. Also, one of us works in a field that basically requires us to stay put. Like I said, with the prospect of just 4 years for 1 kid and then back in public, we feel that's it's a reasonable stretch financially. If we sold our house and bought another it would be far more costly just in real estate transactions. Moving would be costly as well, even if we just rented. This works very well for us so we're making it happen.

[Anonymous]

Am seriously considering that Sudbury school in upper Marlboro because the tuition is 10k.