Moving to DC and VERY concerned about preschool

[Anonymous]

Definitely check employer's HR dept or a parents group at the agency/dept where DH will work. DC is so transient that many schools do open up in the summer. No need to panic! If it's just 2 years, look for something on Metro to take advantage of all the free stuff for kids. (sometimes we just ride the metro for entertainment. I have 2 under 5.) For real District experience, check out Capitol Hill. You get diversity and proximity to pretty much anything you want. My NYC and Big City friends seem to prefer it to other parts they describe DC as "quaint" (Georgetown), funky (U St), diverse (Adams Morgan/columbia hts), suburban (Woodley), etc. Most have been happy with the District's kid friendliness. For school logistics, check out greatschools.org

[brooksari]

I've heard the Capitol Hill area is terrific. My concern is that we'll need to find a place for kindergarten, too -- So perhaps I should target only neighborhoods with terrific public kindergartens. I don't suppose Capitol Hill has this, right?

Checking out greatschools.org right now ... Thx for the tip.

[Anonymous]

Capitol Hill is good only if you're both working in the city. I reverse-commute to the burbs, and it would be a nightmare from there.
You do have options that will be good for both kids for 2 years: Aidan and River, and although NPS starts at 3yo it has an associated program for younger kids. If your 2yo will be 2 1/2 you may have even more choices.

[Anonymous]

brooksari wrote:I've heard the Capitol Hill area is terrific. My concern is that we'll need to find a place for kindergarten, too -- So perhaps I should target only neighborhoods with terrific public kindergartens. I don't suppose Capitol Hill has this, right?

Checking out greatschools.org right now ... Thx for the tip.

The best public K's are in NW DC -- Spring Valley/AU Park (Mann), Chevy Chase (Lafayette), Friendship Heights (Janney and Murch) ... also a lot of preschools there. I know CCPC preschool accepts applications through almost the end of Feb so you may want to throw an app in there. Most of the other deadlines have passed but you still may be able to get a spot, with the conomy not everything fills up. Esp for the 4 y o, there are usually openings in that age group because kids are either in public preK (you will prob miss the lottery date for that) or private preK.

[Anonymous]

FL poster here. We love love love DC! I am thrilled to be raising our child in such a politically aware, intelligent, diverse city with so many cultural options.

[brooksari]

Seems like we may want to focus our house search in Spring Valley, Chevy Chase DC and Cleveland Park. (Are those neighborhoods in the Capitol Hill area or is that something different?) I assume there are rentals in those neighborhoods ...

Can anyone tell me whether there are "preschool alternative" programs in DC? In NYC, there are these sort of fake preschool programs -- preschool lite -- that are often a great option for 2yos. I'd be happy with something like this for my little one.

FL mom: So glad you like it there.

[Anonymous]

Spring Valley, AU & Chevy Chase are all great options. They're not on Capitol Hill. CApitol Hill really doesn't have either the preschool or K options of any of these neighborhoods.

I live in CC. I suggest you call Chevy Chase Baptist, CC United Methodist, and CC Presbyterian preschools. CCBC only rents space from the church & is not affiliated. CCUMC & CCPC technically are religious, however, the religious aspect is really so minor. I am not religious at all & my kids go to CCUMC.

I know there are great schools in the other neighborhoods too, but I'm not as familiar with them.

Anyway, good luck. A lot of schools have wait lists that move, so even if you don't find someplace immediately, don't lose hope!

[Anonymous]

Upper NW is great for schools (I live there) but it is not capital hill. There are some good schools in capital hill, Peabody School within a School ( a reggio program) and Brent are two I know parents are happy with. They both have pre-K, so your 4 year old could go to a good public full day pre-K option, but he lottery for these is going on now and you would need to have an address in DC to apply. If you are not in-boundary, your odds of getting into the Peabody program are pretty low.

[Anonymous]

brooksari wrote:Can anyone tell me whether there are "preschool alternative" programs in DC? In NYC, there are these sort of fake preschool programs -- preschool lite -- that are often a great option for 2yos. I'd be happy with something like this for my little one.

There are organized playgroups you can apply to, but a nanny or parent must attend with the child - Intown, Blue Igloo and Little Graces. They go up to 3 years old.

[Anonymous]

brooksari wrote:Seems like we may want to focus our house search in Spring Valley, Chevy Chase DC and Cleveland Park. (Are those neighborhoods in the Capitol Hill area or is that something different?) I assume there are rentals in those neighborhoods ...

These neighborhoods are all in NW DC, not Capitol Hill.

I can't recommend Spring Valley -- it feeds the best DCPS elementary school (Mann) and the homes are generally lovely, but it's surprisingly inconvenient for its location (you'll be in your car constantly) and it's built on an old munitions dump (spend a little time with Google if you think this might be an issue for you). In the same general area, Wesley Heights keeps you in Mann, avoids the munitions, and is somewhat more convenient; AU Park puts you in Janney (also a very good school, although one about to go through substantial renovations), avoids the munitions, and is considerably more convenient.

The part of Chevy Chase closest to Lafayette elementary has got to be the kid-friendliest place in DC. The elementary school is excellent and is really the neighborhood's center of gravity. Lovely houses; not Metro convenient. The part of Chevy Chase that feeds Murch (also a very good school) is more convenient but not as child-centered (although the block of Connecticut with Politics & Prose is great for all ages).

Cleveland Park is great -- fun neighborhood; very convenient. Eaton isn't quite as strong as the schools noted above, but it's a fine school. Probably more rental options than Spring Valley or Chevy Chase, but also somewhat pricier.

[brooksari]

This is so helpful. I had no idea that Spring Valley wasn't conveniently located. Thanks for all this info.

[Anonymous]

I would definately look into Chevy Chase. We live in CC & I can't say enough about what a great neighborhood it is for families & kids. We've got great school options, several nice parks, many music/gymboree-type of classes nearby. There are so many young kids. It's really easy to meet people.

[Anonymous]

I beg to differ with the poster who said that the Murch neighborhood is not child-centered--it has at least two most fabulous playgrounds, including the one at Murch itself; and Politics and Prose has the best children's section.

[Anonymous]

FL mom here. If I were to be here for only two years, I would move in a heartbeat to Woodley Park. If DH is working downtown, Woodley is far closer than CC or Spring Valley. You would also be in boundary for Oyster Elementary, considered the "pearl" of public schools in the district. WP is on the red line, has the Zoo, and is walkable to Dupont, Cleveland Park, and Adams Morgan. Lots of apartments to rent, too.

Realistically, what I would do, though, is first apply to all the preschools in the neighborhoods with good public K programs, then choose the neighborhood based upon where you get in for preschool. This is because getting a preschool spot is uncertain, whereas you are guaranteed an in-boundary spot for public K. Ideally, you want to take advantage of the pedestrian-friendly aspects of the city and find a preschool and school in the same neighborhood, preferably both within walking distance or a short drive from home.

[Anonymous]

We moved to DC a few years ago, so I know this can be hard. But I think a lot of this depends on the commuting situation. My DH was adament that he wanted to take Metro to work (I was working from home at the time), so we only looked at areas within walking distance of Metro (Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, AU Park, Forrest Hills, some parts of Chevy Chase). We ended up in Woodley Park, which I love. We can walk to many different areas, DH's commute is short, it's an easy drive to VA or MD, and the public schools are fine, especially if you're only going to be here while your chld is in K. Plus, because Woodley is centrally located, most preschools in DC are within easy walking or driving distance.