Parents of 2-year-old in DC - what should we be doing NOW to prepare for the PK3 lottery?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should read this:

https://www.washingtonian.com/2014/03/24/how-not-to-get-your-kid-into-kindergarten/

Dated information.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not the PP, because t I know exactly two people who didn't lottery after the first year. Most people continue to try to keep their options open for the first couple years at the very least.

I know about two people who played the lottery after the first year. I guess you didn't get into a school you wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the tips so far. Our lease is not up until after the lottery, so we would not be able to move to another IB school zone before them and wouldn't want to.

Is the best way to find out about open houses to look on each school's website? There are so many schools and I have limited leave because I had to use it all for maternity leave again... How many open houses should I try to go to? Does each school have a few open houses throughout the year?

Neighborhood listservs are great as well. Also mom friends with older kids. Buy her a cup of coffee and pick her brains.

[Anonymous]

Be cautious in relying on parents of older kids. Their info may be significantly out of date. There has been a lot of change in the school system in the past few years. In particular, they tend to think neighborhood IB schools are worse than they are, and that charter schools are easier to get into than they actually are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the tips so far. Our lease is not up until after the lottery, so we would not be able to move to another IB school zone before them and wouldn't want to.

Is the best way to find out about open houses to look on each school's website? There are so many schools and I have limited leave because I had to use it all for maternity leave again... How many open houses should I try to go to? Does each school have a few open houses throughout the year?

Myschooldc.org also compiles all Open Houses but some that are scheduled last minute may not show up there.

I'd start by researching the curriculums/approaches/traditional-play based/expeditionary learning/Montessori first and then look for schools that align to what you want for your child.

The other way to go is by geography and limiting to schools within x blocks or miles from a particular spot.

[Anonymous]

I would not buy close to a charter or cross town school until you've been there a few years. Some people love them and others get disillusioned and switch after a year or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not buy close to a charter or cross town school until you've been there a few years. Some people love them and others get disillusioned and switch after a year or two.

Is this why Brookland is so hot now for families with young children? New families love the choice of charters in the area?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not buy close to a charter or cross town school until you've been there a few years. Some people love them and others get disillusioned and switch after a year or two.

Is this why Brookland is so hot now for families with young children? New families love the choice of charters in the area?

Yes, but also the combination of single family homes and proximity to the red line. There are a lot of very charming properties!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not buy close to a charter or cross town school until you've been there a few years. Some people love them and others get disillusioned and switch after a year or two.

Is this why Brookland is so hot now for families with young children? New families love the choice of charters in the area?

Brookland is metro accessible and you can get a decent sized home and lot for the money. No one loves there for the DCPS schools but many have made it work by using charters, at least until middle school.

[Anonymous]

I think some families move to Brookland/ Woodridge and play for charters and others get into the school, then move from Cap Hill / NW (EOTP) for convenience and space.

It's getting pricey over there, especially near the metro.

I wonder if the DCI feeder people will be as keen on Brookland once they have to get their kid all the way to Walter Reed whenever DCI moves up there. But they'll probably run a shuttle bus?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think some families move to Brookland/ Woodridge and play for charters and others get into the school, then move from Cap Hill / NW (EOTP) for convenience and space.

It's getting pricey over there, especially near the metro.

I wonder if the DCI feeder people will be as keen on Brookland once they have to get their kid all the way to Walter Reed whenever DCI moves up there. But they'll probably run a shuttle bus?

It's middle school, our kids can take Metrobus alone.

[Anonymous]

Tip for parents 3 year old starting PK3.

Potty Train your child.

Teach them how to say please, thank you and excuse me.

Signed,

PK 3 teacher seeing some of the rudest, whiniest and unpotty trained kids i have ever had in 15 years of ECE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some families move to Brookland/ Woodridge and play for charters and others get into the school, then move from Cap Hill / NW (EOTP) for convenience and space.

It's getting pricey over there, especially near the metro.

I wonder if the DCI feeder people will be as keen on Brookland once they have to get their kid all the way to Walter Reed whenever DCI moves up there. But they'll probably run a shuttle bus?

It's middle school, our kids can take Metrobus alone.

Have you actually tried riding public transit from Woodridge to Walter Reed? Google says its 45+ minutes during rush hour. Seems like a long commute to me for an 11 year old to make 2x/day alone, but to each their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think some families move to Brookland/ Woodridge and play for charters and others get into the school, then move from Cap Hill / NW (EOTP) for convenience and space.

It's getting pricey over there, especially near the metro.

I wonder if the DCI feeder people will be as keen on Brookland once they have to get their kid all the way to Walter Reed whenever DCI moves up there. But they'll probably run a shuttle bus?

It's middle school, our kids can take Metrobus alone.

Have you actually tried riding public transit from Woodridge to Walter Reed? Google says its 45+ minutes during rush hour. Seems like a long commute to me for an 11 year old to make 2x/day alone, but to each their own.

There is a lamb campus in woodridge right? Will they do a shuttle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should read this:

https://www.washingtonian.com/2014/03/24/how-not-to-get-your-kid-into-kindergarten/

Dated information.

Not that dated. Although I wish she would do a follow up.