Elementary School Recommendations for Family moving to DC from Australia

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hearst is the closest geographically Deal/Wilson feeder to downtown, so there’s that. Great small school with large international population. Wide range of housing options. You could live in Cleveland Park and take metro or get on Rock Creek Parkway for quick drive downtown. Really can’t go wrong with any of the Ward 3 Deal feeder schools.

Not just ward 3 Deal feeders, Lafayette and Shepherd are great as well as are their surrounding neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also I am so interested in what job you're doing. Not a Fulbright or other fellowship if you're buying and staying a while, probably not a federal government job restricted to US citizens or a DC government job with residency preference, not an embassy job if you're mostly going to be working in Wards 4-8...and yet something that allows a single earner to buy a $1.25 million house and support 6 people. Whatever you're doing sounds fascinating and lucrative--kudos to you!

Maybe she works for citybridge, the office is near Georgetown and they have
school partnerships in all the wards mentioned...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Thanks everyone for the replies- I'm taking a lot of notes. Quick note- I'm American Lived in Seattle and NYC for 30 years. Been to DC many, many times but just as a visitor; I wasn't paying attention at all to neighborhoods where I would be permanently living. Wish I had!

We would prefer to be in an area where the ES-MS (at least) are calm, happy and safe. Then, happy to look into other options for HS as that's a ways a way. I think it's wonderful that there are so many options for parents and children.

We would prefer to live in a house. It does not need to be large.

Commute is very important to me- definitely want to limit it so I can maximise time with my children. I need to determine how much time I'll be in the Georgetown office vs travelling to the other wards. Thank you for flagging that for me!

Don’t get caught up in the neighborhood boosters. Just save search on Redfin for Deal middle
School. You will happy in any neighborhood that feeds there. All have pros and cons. Good luck!

I'm one of the SP posters but agree with this advice. Inventory is limited and there are often bidding wars, so it's good not to get stuck on one neighborhood.

The only particulars I'd have is trying for a WOTP home if most of the time at Gtown office, but consider Shepherd Park/Colonial Village if most time in Wards 4/5 and 7/8. Good luck!

Don't forget to consider your older kids' commute to Deal/Wilson as well, though. If you can afford it, being near the schools is definitely preferable to being across the park, even if there is a bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hearst is the closest geographically Deal/Wilson feeder to downtown, so there’s that. Great small school with large international population. Wide range of housing options. You could live in Cleveland Park and take metro or get on Rock Creek Parkway for quick drive downtown. Really can’t go wrong with any of the Ward 3 Deal feeder schools.

Not just ward 3 Deal feeders, Lafayette and Shepherd are great as well as are their surrounding neighborhoods.

Hearst neighborhood allows for easy access to metro and rock creek park. It is the Deal feeder closest to downtown.

I don’t think you’ll find a 5BR anywhere in a Deal neighborhood for 1.25M, but maybe a 4BR with a basement. Then you could also drive down Wisconsin easily to get to Georgetown office.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Also funny: how come nobody is recommending Capitol Hill?

BC there aren't 5 BR houses in Cap Hill for $1.25M.

And because she wants decent schools through high school.

Dumb question but...so does everyone with kids basically leave CH by high school? That seems so dumb. I just mean you'd think with all the money and power centered there they'd have gotten a good HS by now.

There used to be a strip that was zoned for Wilson. I am not kidding.

Yep-- when we bought our house it was zoned for Wilson. Totally insane (what an coincidence that it happened to be the whitest, richest, most powerful part of Capitol Hill). Anyway, our high schooler happily attends charter school -- Washington Latin. Lots of his friends that he attended the local elementary school with are also there and also at private schools and BASIS. If I were OP I'd buy in Capitol Hill but definitely go for a house zoned in good elementary school. Charters, privates, and Jefferson and S-H are all likely choices for middle school for OP's family in a few years time. I suppose its a gamble yes, there are only a couple families that have moved out to the suburbs after going through elementary school. But to my eye it's a guarantee that living WOTP while doing much of your work on the east side of the city would be an immediate pain in the rear. Point is, most of my kid's friends that he went through elementary school with have stayed on the Hill and I think the odds of good school options in middle and high school would be even stronger a few years from now.

Aussie pals recently moved from the Hill back to Sydney for better schools after 6 or 7 years in the hood. Don't buy it OP.

I hope you mean neighborhood, because if you think CH is “the hood,” I can only assume you never leave your lily white block in Palisades.

No, live on the Hill. Have for 25 years. Love it but school situation stinks after elementary. Australia (where I once lived) has strong government schools almost everywhere. Hint: Down Under, you don't have to sell Christmas trees for days in the cold to pay for basics, or listen to your bleeding heart neighbors claim that Jefferson Academy (with a PARCC proficiency pass rate in the teens) will be fantastic in a year or two.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hearst is the closest geographically Deal/Wilson feeder to downtown, so there’s that. Great small school with large international population. Wide range of housing options. You could live in Cleveland Park and take metro or get on Rock Creek Parkway for quick drive downtown. Really can’t go wrong with any of the Ward 3 Deal feeder schools.

Not just ward 3 Deal feeders, Lafayette and Shepherd are great as well as are their surrounding neighborhoods.

Hearst neighborhood allows for easy access to metro and rock creek park. It is the Deal feeder closest to downtown.

I don’t think you’ll find a 5BR anywhere in a Deal neighborhood for 1.25M, but maybe a 4BR with a basement. Then you could also drive down Wisconsin easily to get to Georgetown office.

Definitely possible in-boundary for Shepherd. Here are just a few SFHs (there are more) that sold for < 1.25 this year.

Sold for $1.19 in May:
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/1373-Locust-Rd-NW-20012/home/10021964

Sold for $956K in July:
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/7409-14th-St-NW-20012/home/10022560

Sold for $1.23 in April:
https://www.redfin.com/DC/Washington/8177-E-Beach-Dr-NW-20012/home/10020853

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hearst is the closest geographically Deal/Wilson feeder to downtown, so there’s that. Great small school with large international population. Wide range of housing options. You could live in Cleveland Park and take metro or get on Rock Creek Parkway for quick drive downtown. Really can’t go wrong with any of the Ward 3 Deal feeder schools.

Not just ward 3 Deal feeders, Lafayette and Shepherd are great as well as are their surrounding neighborhoods.

Hearst neighborhood allows for easy access to metro and rock creek park. It is the Deal feeder closest to downtown.

I don’t think you’ll find a 5BR anywhere in a Deal neighborhood for 1.25M, but maybe a 4BR with a basement. Then you could also drive down Wisconsin easily to get to Georgetown office.

I think Hearst is a great option-- it's the smallest of the Deal/Wilson feeders, great community, and walkable to grocery stores, libraries, parks, restaurants, etc. There are several houses coming on the market, not sure if any are big enough though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hearst is the closest geographically Deal/Wilson feeder to downtown, so there’s that. Great small school with large international population. Wide range of housing options. You could live in Cleveland Park and take metro or get on Rock Creek Parkway for quick drive downtown. Really can’t go wrong with any of the Ward 3 Deal feeder schools.

Not just ward 3 Deal feeders, Lafayette and Shepherd are great as well as are their surrounding neighborhoods.

Hearst neighborhood allows for easy access to metro and rock creek park. It is the Deal feeder closest to downtown.

I don’t think you’ll find a 5BR anywhere in a Deal neighborhood for 1.25M, but maybe a 4BR with a basement. Then you could also drive down Wisconsin easily to get to Georgetown office.

I think Hearst is a great option-- it's the smallest of the Deal/Wilson feeders, great community, and walkable to grocery stores, libraries, parks, restaurants, etc. There are several houses coming on the market, not sure if any are big enough though.

OP here- Thank you. I appreciate your advice. Walkable is really important to us... I didn't mention that b/c it wasn't school related. And, we are looking for neighborhoods with lots of little kids. That would make my kids really happy- they like making any neighbor their new best friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hearst is the closest geographically Deal/Wilson feeder to downtown, so there’s that. Great small school with large international population. Wide range of housing options. You could live in Cleveland Park and take metro or get on Rock Creek Parkway for quick drive downtown. Really can’t go wrong with any of the Ward 3 Deal feeder schools.

Not just ward 3 Deal feeders, Lafayette and Shepherd are great as well as are their surrounding neighborhoods.

Hearst neighborhood allows for easy access to metro and rock creek park. It is the Deal feeder closest to downtown.

I don’t think you’ll find a 5BR anywhere in a Deal neighborhood for 1.25M, but maybe a 4BR with a basement. Then you could also drive down Wisconsin easily to get to Georgetown office.

I think Hearst is a great option-- it's the smallest of the Deal/Wilson feeders, great community, and walkable to grocery stores, libraries, parks, restaurants, etc. There are several houses coming on the market, not sure if any are big enough though.

OP here- Thank you. I appreciate your advice. Walkable is really important to us... I didn't mention that b/c it wasn't school related. And, we are looking for neighborhoods with lots of little kids. That would make my kids really happy- they like making any neighbor their new best friends.

Agree with PP that Hearst would be a great option, especially if you like a smaller school. The description above (aside from school size) is also true for AU Park/Janney, as well as Murch (which will have a brand new building soon). You really can't go wrong with any of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hearst is the closest geographically Deal/Wilson feeder to downtown, so there’s that. Great small school with large international population. Wide range of housing options. You could live in Cleveland Park and take metro or get on Rock Creek Parkway for quick drive downtown. Really can’t go wrong with any of the Ward 3 Deal feeder schools.

Not just ward 3 Deal feeders, Lafayette and Shepherd are great as well as are their surrounding neighborhoods.

Hearst neighborhood allows for easy access to metro and rock creek park. It is the Deal feeder closest to downtown.

I don’t think you’ll find a 5BR anywhere in a Deal neighborhood for 1.25M, but maybe a 4BR with a basement. Then you could also drive down Wisconsin easily to get to Georgetown office.

I think Hearst is a great option-- it's the smallest of the Deal/Wilson feeders, great community, and walkable to grocery stores, libraries, parks, restaurants, etc. There are several houses coming on the market, not sure if any are big enough though.

OP here- Thank you. I appreciate your advice. Walkable is really important to us... I didn't mention that b/c it wasn't school related. And, we are looking for neighborhoods with lots of little kids. That would make my kids really happy- they like making any neighbor their new best friends.

SP/CV isn’t generally very walkable, although SP will improve somewhat in this regard with development in and around Walter Reed—however, that’s years out. Definitely kids around age 7 and especially lots of infants/toddlers/preschoolers.

I think your budget would definitely go further here and it’s a nice community for young families—lots of community events like the upcoming Halloween parade, summer picnic, etc. However, it may not be ideal if walkability is a high priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hearst is the closest geographically Deal/Wilson feeder to downtown, so there’s that. Great small school with large international population. Wide range of housing options. You could live in Cleveland Park and take metro or get on Rock Creek Parkway for quick drive downtown. Really can’t go wrong with any of the Ward 3 Deal feeder schools.

Not just ward 3 Deal feeders, Lafayette and Shepherd are great as well as are their surrounding neighborhoods.

Hearst neighborhood allows for easy access to metro and rock creek park. It is the Deal feeder closest to downtown.

I don’t think you’ll find a 5BR anywhere in a Deal neighborhood for 1.25M, but maybe a 4BR with a basement. Then you could also drive down Wisconsin easily to get to Georgetown office.

I think Hearst is a great option-- it's the smallest of the Deal/Wilson feeders, great community, and walkable to grocery stores, libraries, parks, restaurants, etc. There are several houses coming on the market, not sure if any are big enough though.

OP here- Thank you. I appreciate your advice. Walkable is really important to us... I didn't mention that b/c it wasn't school related. And, we are looking for neighborhoods with lots of little kids. That would make my kids really happy- they like making any neighbor their new best friends.

Most of Murch and Hearst check all your boxes. Parts of Janney neighborhoods would work too. Most Murch neighborhoods and some Janney are walkable to Deal Wilson, which is huge when that time comes.

[Anonymous]

We lived by Eastern Market on Capitol Hill and attended a charter although zoned for Brent. Loved living there, the walkability and family vibe with loads of kids.

Moved to Woodley Park, across from Rock Creek Park and feel like we are in a different city! Can walk to work, lots of amenities nearby and kids galore. If you like language immersion, Oyster is great and feeds to Wilson. (Goes Pk4-8th grade, so would give you a smaller middle school and continuity within the community.)

Cleveland Park is adjacent- kids go to Eaton which is also a great school. More families in homes than condos or apartments. Movie theater, library, zoo all within walking distance.

I work in recruitment for senior positions, have moved executives with small children and they have gravitated towards these two neighborhoods due to desire to have a walkable environment, short commute and good schools. (All of the kids in public schools, not private.) Various nationalities but include relocation from Hong Kong, Brussels, London and Johannesburg.

DC is a wonderful place to raise a family. Welcome!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hearst is the closest geographically Deal/Wilson feeder to downtown, so there’s that. Great small school with large international population. Wide range of housing options. You could live in Cleveland Park and take metro or get on Rock Creek Parkway for quick drive downtown. Really can’t go wrong with any of the Ward 3 Deal feeder schools.

Not just ward 3 Deal feeders, Lafayette and Shepherd are great as well as are their surrounding neighborhoods.

Hearst neighborhood allows for easy access to metro and rock creek park. It is the Deal feeder closest to downtown.

I don’t think you’ll find a 5BR anywhere in a Deal neighborhood for 1.25M, but maybe a 4BR with a basement. Then you could also drive down Wisconsin easily to get to Georgetown office.

I think Hearst is a great option-- it's the smallest of the Deal/Wilson feeders, great community, and walkable to grocery stores, libraries, parks, restaurants, etc. There are several houses coming on the market, not sure if any are big enough though.

OP here- Thank you. I appreciate your advice. Walkable is really important to us... I didn't mention that b/c it wasn't school related. And, we are looking for neighborhoods with lots of little kids. That would make my kids really happy- they like making any neighbor their new best friends.

Most of Murch and Hearst check all your boxes. Parts of Janney neighborhoods would work too. Most Murch neighborhoods and some Janney are walkable to Deal Wilson, which is huge when that time comes.

I don't think the Murch/Hearst zones have an advantage in walkability over the Janney zone. Each of these zones has areas a little further away from commercial centers. Janney zone includes Tenleytown and Friendship Heights, which are probably the most useful in terms of amenities, and as you mention, are where the middle/high school are. Part of the Murch zone is also close to Friendship Heights. I've never found the Van Ness Metro node (center to the Hearst zone) too attractive, but it might be improving with the new construction that has happened.

Overall, I think inventory in all of these areas will be so scarce that OP should just pick house and its specific location vs a specific school zone. All these schools are great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hearst is the closest geographically Deal/Wilson feeder to downtown, so there’s that. Great small school with large international population. Wide range of housing options. You could live in Cleveland Park and take metro or get on Rock Creek Parkway for quick drive downtown. Really can’t go wrong with any of the Ward 3 Deal feeder schools.

Not just ward 3 Deal feeders, Lafayette and Shepherd are great as well as are their surrounding neighborhoods.

Hearst neighborhood allows for easy access to metro and rock creek park. It is the Deal feeder closest to downtown.

I don’t think you’ll find a 5BR anywhere in a Deal neighborhood for 1.25M, but maybe a 4BR with a basement. Then you could also drive down Wisconsin easily to get to Georgetown office.

I think Hearst is a great option-- it's the smallest of the Deal/Wilson feeders, great community, and walkable to grocery stores, libraries, parks, restaurants, etc. There are several houses coming on the market, not sure if any are big enough though.

OP here- Thank you. I appreciate your advice. Walkable is really important to us... I didn't mention that b/c it wasn't school related. And, we are looking for neighborhoods with lots of little kids. That would make my kids really happy- they like making any neighbor their new best friends.

SP/CV isn’t generally very walkable, although SP will improve somewhat in this regard with development in and around Walter Reed—however, that’s years out. Definitely kids around age 7 and especially lots of infants/toddlers/preschoolers.

I think your budget would definitely go further here and it’s a nice community for young families—lots of community events like the upcoming Halloween parade, summer picnic, etc. However, it may not be ideal if walkability is a high priority.

I think it depends on what you consider walkable and also which part of SP/CV. I live 0.6 to metro, Takoma (which has tons to offer like restaurants, Starbucks, bars, hair salons, farmers market), 0.3 to new urban target coming 1-2 years, 0.2 to library, 0.4-0.7 to three parks (one with splash park one with tennis courts and bike paths), little over a mile to indoor Rec pool, baseball field, 0.3-0.4 to bars, yummy hidden food gems (from top rated Ethiopian, Ledo’s Pizza, and Nepalese food), 0.5 to rock creek park trails and weekend bike paths, 0.2 to new Walter reed (although not open now, they host lots of weekend events with live music and food vendors), 0.4-1.0 to 4 (existing or new) beer gardens in SS, then not to mention all that SS has to offer (which is more than your typical WOTP neighborhood IMO) from 0.5-1.1. Then, not sure if it’s plus or not 1.0 to Walmart

[Anonymous]

As someone mentioned way back in the thread, if your spouse is likely to find a job in the MD or VA suburbs, I'd give that some weight- commuting from Takoma in DC to Fairfax, in VA would be a bear. And commuting from VA to MD or vice versa is a long slog. Locating in DC may help you hedge your bets a bit . But, rush hour is pretty bad, here, and lots of people factor it right after schools as top priority. Personally. I'd rank it behind schools but ahead of home size/style/niceness.