Is DC right for us?

[Anonymous]

There are some fine private schools in that part of the city that people send their children to for far less than 30K.

I know CFMS is a popular choice.

[Anonymous]

We're zoned for the same school and have a baby. I am not worried about the schools at this point. There are lots of charter options. If we don't get into a charter, we're going to give Bunker Hill a shot. What's the harm in trying it? My kid isn't going to fail to get into a good college because he went to Bunker Hill for K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We moved to DC from MA about 3-4 months ago and closed on semi-detached townhomeast August. We are a young professional couple (both 31) expecting our first child next February; which is the reason we purchased where we did because we needed a 3 bedroom.

Long story short we had a budget of 600k and needed 3 bedrooms. So we purchased a Federal tow home in North Michigan Park I believe for 550k, about 1 mile from Fort Totten. The concern : schools. The school ratings basically scares us and might be the main driver behind us living the city in the next 4 year or so (before she starts 1st grade).

The other option would be private school but the costs seems like 10k/year and I wonder if my daughter would not be better served by having this money invested in her college fund vs paying for elementary school. My wife is adamant the only way she will stay here past 4-5 years is if she goes to private school.

Do you think 4 years is good enough for the school system to change for the better? now we are zoneed for Brookland Education Campus at Bunker Hill?

We like our place while we would have wanted to be closer to downtown understood that for our price range (600k) and what we needed (3 bedrooms) was a non starter. We even declutter and sold/gifted most of our stuff (from 3,200 sqft in MA to 1,600 sqft here including basement).

The school system seems to be the other big huddle for us (when I thought downsizing would be)?

Private school is more like 30k/year unless you go to a catholic school.

lol. Try $40K a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your wife is a ball of hormones right now. I mean that kindly. She may freak out about schools, also about the potential of pesticide residue on your lawn, or the outgassing in your car. Been there. I would not take this exact second as the time to stress about schools.

Furthermore, you are pretty close to a bunch of charter schools, and the lottery may spin in your favor. In addition, your neighborhood is undergoing a massive demographic shift, and you and she are not alone. Schools will work themselves out. Enjoy your new house.

This. Start worrying about this in 4-5 years.

[Anonymous]

We live nearby in Riggs Park. Welcome to the neighborhood! I don't blame your wife for thinking about this.

We found a spot at a good charter and were previously at a perfectly good school that was easier to get into for Preschool and K.

This is all to say, you will be fine. Have your wife talk to neighbors about what they have done. Some of our neighbors sent their kids to private. Now most use charters. Lots are an easy drive for us. Some are walking distance.

I really think your wife will feel better if she starts researching and learns how very many good options there are, even staying in the city.

[Anonymous]

OP, join a neighborhood email list if you haven't already. There may be parents already working on the school and you could lend a hand.

[Anonymous]

If you have a budget that allowed you a $550k house, you could rent west of the park. but the schools are crowded and you will have less than 1600sf. and there's no prek 3 and very few spaces for 4 year olds.

stay where you are, get to know the school, and decide year by year. or just move out to moco now if you know you'll do it eventually anyway.

[Anonymous]

You have a ton of charter options within a very short drive that most on this site would consider fine through ECE, and more than a few that many on this site would consider fine through Elementary. If you have bad lottery luck, yes, you might not get in one of those charters that those on this site consider fine through Elementary. If I were a betting man though I would take the odds that your child will get into at least one of those charters after a few spins of the wheel. Middle school is really where the odds seem to be longer. But frankly, outside of a charter or two, and WOTP, Middle School is a huge question mark wherever you live in DC, including neighborhoods much more sought after and expensive than Michigan Park.

[Anonymous]

Agree. Young Capitol Hill families routinely pay a million plus for houses in the Maury and Brent Districts these days without buying access to by-right middle and high school options that are measurably better than those in Michigan Park. I've never met any family who couldn't lottery into an acceptable 1st-5th grade program after 1-3 years of playing the schools lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree. Young Capitol Hill families routinely pay a million plus for houses in the Maury and Brent Districts these days without buying access to by-right middle and high school options that are measurably better than those in Michigan Park. I've never met any family who couldn't lottery into an acceptable 1st-5th grade program after 1-3 years of playing the schools lottery.

Bad information. There are many families who don't "win" the lottery and move out of DC. Also, OP is in a vastly different position than someone living in the Maury or Brent zone, where you can be reasonably assured that you have a good school through 5th grade. That's why the houses are $1 mil!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have a budget that allowed you a $550k house, you could rent west of the park. but the schools are crowded and you will have less than 1600sf.

So here's what I'd do:
- don't worry for a few more years
- play the lottery
- if you don't get a good lottery draw, go to your neighborhood school for PK3 and PK4
- If by K you aren't in a school you like, rent or sell your house and move to a school you do like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have a budget that allowed you a $550k house, you could rent west of the park. but the schools are crowded and you will have less than 1600sf.

So here's what I'd do:
- don't worry for a few more years
- play the lottery
- if you don't get a good lottery draw, go to your neighborhood school for PK3 and PK4
- If by K you aren't in a school you like, rent or sell your house and move to a school you do like.

+1. This is what people do, OP. And really, try getting involved in the school. I have found it a very rewarding experience. If you have a second child that will give you sibling prefefence in the lottery as well.

Above all, remember that this is why you can afford a 3br. It is the tradeoff you chose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree. Young Capitol Hill families routinely pay a million plus for houses in the Maury and Brent Districts these days without buying access to by-right middle and high school options that are measurably better than those in Michigan Park. I've never met any family who couldn't lottery into an acceptable 1st-5th grade program after 1-3 years of playing the schools lottery.

Bad information. There are many families who don't "win" the lottery and move out of DC. Also, OP is in a vastly different position than someone living in the Maury or Brent zone, where you can be reasonably assured that you have a good school through 5th grade. That's why the houses are $1 mil!

That's not why the houses are $1m. There are plenty of $1m houses in neighborhoods with no elemenrary options (parts of Columbia Heights, Petworth, Brookland etc).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you have a budget that allowed you a $550k house, you could rent west of the park. but the schools are crowded and you will have less than 1600sf.

So here's what I'd do:
- don't worry for a few more years
- play the lottery
- if you don't get a good lottery draw, go to your neighborhood school for PK3 and PK4
- If by K you aren't in a school you like, rent or sell your house and move to a school you do like.

Exactly what we did and it all worked out great, with then miserable school options but really worked out very well for us, not to say every second and every week was total smooth riding, but frankly what is?! Kids are now approaching their teens and doing very well in school and life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree. Young Capitol Hill families routinely pay a million plus for houses in the Maury and Brent Districts these days without buying access to by-right middle and high school options that are measurably better than those in Michigan Park. I've never met any family who couldn't lottery into an acceptable 1st-5th grade program after 1-3 years of playing the schools lottery.

Bad information. There are many families who don't "win" the lottery and move out of DC. Also, OP is in a vastly different position than someone living in the Maury or Brent zone, where you can be reasonably assured that you have a good school through 5th grade. That's why the houses are $1 mil!

That's not why the houses are $1m. There are plenty of $1m houses in neighborhoods with no elemenrary options (parts of Columbia Heights, Petworth, Brookland etc).

Ok well let me rephrase that: that's why prudent Capitol Hill residents (we do tend to be the prudent type) invested upwards of $1 million.