How hard is is in DC if you're not zoned for a good school, really?

[Anonymous]

Ok, so I'm pregnant, considering buying a house in DC, and at the same time taking a rather significant paycut for a great job, so that our HHI would be at a level such that neigher private school nor a house in-boundaries for the "good" schools would be possible.

So how hard is it to get a good pre-k and elementary education in DC if you have to do the lottery or charters? I don't have super-high standards. I just want my kid to learn the basics in a safe and fun and nurturing place.

[Anonymous]

getting harder

what neighborhoods are you considering?

what are your work locations?

I ignored this in buying a house pre-pregnancy, and now drive all over town to get my kids to schools. There are costs besides monetary ones.

[Anonymous]

We bought a house where the in bound school is awful, in ward 5. 10 minute walk to work. Applied to 2 charters. Got into both. DC going to first choice school. 10 minute drive. We're very happy. We planned on sending DC to private so we're saving a substantial amt of money. Still planning on going private for high school unless a good public option appears.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do it, I'd look at Arlington and MC instead. We are OOB and it really seems like that door has almost completely closed. Just buy where you can see sending them through and put down some roots and build relationships. It gets harder to move the older they get.

[Anonymous]

OP here -

We're open to any neighborhood, but like to be near a Metro stop and a more dense feeling -- so Hill East, Col Hts, Petworth are all possibilities. Work for me will be downtown, but not 100% certain about partner's. His will probably be downtown too.

"We are OOB and it really seems like that door has almost completely closed."

Would you mind expanding on the experience you had? Were you unable to get into a convenient charter school or one that you considered acceptable?

[Anonymous]

"I wouldn't do it, I'd look at Arlington and MC instead."

OP again - we're really pretty die-hard city people, so I don't think we could bring ourselves to move to Arlington or MC.

[Anonymous]

If you stay in DCPS you have to commit the time. I have always said staying in the city allowed me to put the time I might commute to where ever towards volunteering at school. However I am not sure that worked out we have a30 minute commute from Brookland to Eaton each way and it can be stressful if we leave even more than 5 minutes late to get through Columbia Heights. I also think you have to have a sense of humor and flexibility if you stay in the city because there too often when you have to laugh or cry. Finally if you have a kid with a learning issue you may have to commit to moving out of the city because DCPS special education really as bad they say and the charters are even worse. I know people that just can't roll with it and it did make sense for them to move to Arlington or MoCo but if you have some personal flexibility you can make it work.

[Anonymous]

It is getting harder to transfer to a good DCPS, but many are improving. And, it is getting much easier to get into a good charter, but it only works if you aren't picky with regard to philosophy or location.

[Anonymous]

I refuse to let me scare. DC is changing, and it's changing FAST. We are moving to Petworth, close to Metro, short commute to work downtown=more time with family. I am counting on lottery will work fine. That said, I probably wont aim for the MOST popular public or charter schools. When time for high school nears, we will asses if a public will do. I am of the opinion that it ALSO takes an active parent for your child to get a good education, and NOT just up to the school.

[Anonymous]

Hard to say. Things are changing fast. More school closures are expected. More charters keep opening. So who knows what things will be like in 3 years when you would need to be applying. We are very hard with the charter we got into but it was a stressful process! And we're taking it year by year. But surely over time more and more middle class parents will stay in the District -- as traffic gets worse and worse. Maybe?

[Anonymous]

It is hard to say. We got incredibly lucky last year and won the lottery for a number of schools, but I know people who were only offered one spot. No one I know was completely shut out, though. It seems like the options for PS-PK have opened up quite a bit. Once the kids get older at some of the DCPS you see more of the middle class families peel off for private or the burbs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I refuse to let me scare. DC is changing, and it's changing FAST. We are moving to Petworth, close to Metro, short commute to work downtown=more time with family. I am counting on lottery will work fine. That said, I probably wont aim for the MOST popular public or charter schools. When time for high school nears, we will asses if a public will do. I am of the opinion that it ALSO takes an active parent for your child to get a good education, and NOT just up to the school.

Parent of an 8th grader here. We were saying this when our kids were babies. Guess what, it didn't happen.

OP, longtime district resident here who loves the city. If I had to do it over, I would have bought in the 'burbs. Education at it's best (eg. Deal, Latin, etc...) is still weak compared to Montgomery and Arlington Counties.

Do yourself a favor, rent 'til you need school, then if you need to move, you're not locked in.

[Anonymous]

The one who said I wouldn't scare easily I live in the burbs (currently). Commuting is horrible! I can never volunteer at my childs elementary, and I am constantly tired on weekends...so I am NOT an exciting parent even though I often try. I hope this will change when I move to Petworth! And having access to the city will be great. We're a very international family, so we feel we belong in the city. I hope things continue to improve in DC.

[Anonymous]

Petworth still has a lot of problems, I might live their as a single male but not as a family. I want to be able to walk around the neighborhood and feel safe even at night. I once dated someone who got conned by a relocation realtor to move their from another area that didn't know the area. He would get his car broken into in his own driveway multiple times a year. He also witnessed a shooting in the ally behind his house. All of these things happened at night.

[Anonymous]

I know Petworth has a lot of problems. But each and everyone of us look for different things when we decide whether we'd feel safe in a neighborhood. I don't walk outside at night EVER. But for anyone who is considering to move to Petworth or any other area that is supposedly up and coming, I'd research reserch research...and know yourself well to determine WHAT you can live with.