Capitol Hill families - If you moved to NW or burbs for school, do you have any regrets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry- last thing. Try “22201” as your zip code if you search housing. That should exclude Rosslyn and give you some of the other neighborhoods that may feel more “neighborhood-y” in that area.

DP. I searched all over and I don’t think there are any properties or even many apartments zoned for Dorothy Hamm that are the equivalent to the Hill. Someone touched on this upthread, but the Hill is actually relatively affordable for rentals and SFH compared to the “good” pyramids in NW, MoCo and NOVA. Most of us here don’t actually have $1.2 mil for a house especially not at current interest rates. The equivalent is more like the DCC in MoCo - and then you are comparing say McKinley Tech with Einstein, and it becomes less clear which is better.

There ARE a few pockets of value like Rosemary Hills (zoned for BCC with cheaper houses) or Downtown Bethesda (relatively affordable rent if you can do a 2 bedroom.) But when you really start drilling down, the notion that moving to MoCo for the DCC is your option really ends up favoring staying put on the Hill and seeing if SH or EH works, playing it out a little longer.

People I know looking for affordable family housing in Arlington have had luck in the apartments and condos near the Lee Heights shopping plaza. You give up the walk ability of Rosslyn-Ballston but it's still zoned for Hamm and WL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry- last thing. Try “22201” as your zip code if you search housing. That should exclude Rosslyn and give you some of the other neighborhoods that may feel more “neighborhood-y” in that area.

DP. I searched all over and I don’t think there are any properties or even many apartments zoned for Dorothy Hamm that are the equivalent to the Hill. Someone touched on this upthread, but the Hill is actually relatively affordable for rentals and SFH compared to the “good” pyramids in NW, MoCo and NOVA. Most of us here don’t actually have $1.2 mil for a house especially not at current interest rates. The equivalent is more like the DCC in MoCo - and then you are comparing say McKinley Tech with Einstein, and it becomes less clear which is better.

There ARE a few pockets of value like Rosemary Hills (zoned for BCC with cheaper houses) or Downtown Bethesda (relatively affordable rent if you can do a 2 bedroom.) But when you really start drilling down, the notion that moving to MoCo for the DCC is your option really ends up favoring staying put on the Hill and seeing if SH or EH works, playing it out a little longer.

Agree with all this. I was the one who posted interest in the Clarendon-Rosslyn corridor and was asking about schools. When I started plugging things into Zillow, it's all waaaaay out of our price range. There are things in the Einstein pyramid we could afford. I do think there is real value to living somewhere like that where the HS is for sure acceptable, if not the "best" school in the area, just for peace of mind. Whereas I really have no peace of mind with regards to Eastern. However, the elementaries and middle schools in that pyramid are no better than the ones on the Hill (in some places not as good), and as stressful as the lottery can be, it is in many ways more flexible and offers more options than the magnet programs and lottery options in MoCo.

We may still move. We'll look at Eastern MoCo in the hopes of finding something metro-accessible and reasonably dense/walkable since obviously that's what we like. But we'll probably also look at Howard and AA counties, knowing that would change our lifestyle entirely, but maybe we give up nice commutes and dense walkability in favor of neighborhood pools and big yards. Ok -- I think I'd probably ultimately be okay with that tradeoff, especially if it mean feeling good about the schools and not having to stress about the lottery anymore. But it's not such an obvious choice that I think it's crazy to stay in CH instead. I don't know if we will but the attitude some have that doing so is crazy, and that there are such perfect and similar choices in the suburbs that would offer all the same amenities at the same price... it's just not true.

If you are inbounds for Einstein, you are in the DCC cluster. This means that you will have a shot at applying to other high schools in the DCC cluster. You are guaranteed your inbounds HS but you can priority rank other high schools as well. Blair is hard to get a slot at because it is overcrowded but some kids end up getting in. Wheaton HS is also a popular choice. Northwood has a dual degree program with Montgomery College so you can graduate HS with an associates degree. This means you can finish your bachelor’s degree at UMD in 2 years or you can stay for 4 years and easily double major. Your kid will also be eligible to apply for MCPS magnet programs. Finally MCPS is opening a new HS in 2 years in North Bethesda to alleviate crowding at Walter Johnson and a few other high schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry- last thing. Try “22201” as your zip code if you search housing. That should exclude Rosslyn and give you some of the other neighborhoods that may feel more “neighborhood-y” in that area.

DP. I searched all over and I don’t think there are any properties or even many apartments zoned for Dorothy Hamm that are the equivalent to the Hill. Someone touched on this upthread, but the Hill is actually relatively affordable for rentals and SFH compared to the “good” pyramids in NW, MoCo and NOVA. Most of us here don’t actually have $1.2 mil for a house especially not at current interest rates. The equivalent is more like the DCC in MoCo - and then you are comparing say McKinley Tech with Einstein, and it becomes less clear which is better.

There ARE a few pockets of value like Rosemary Hills (zoned for BCC with cheaper houses) or Downtown Bethesda (relatively affordable rent if you can do a 2 bedroom.) But when you really start drilling down, the notion that moving to MoCo for the DCC is your option really ends up favoring staying put on the Hill and seeing if SH or EH works, playing it out a little longer.

Every family will of course have to weigh this on their own, with their own kid in mind and other life considerations, but we were much more optimistic about the DCC offerings than those DCPS. MCPS starts accelerating math in elementary for those who are ready, and there are magnet programs starting earlier. And if your kid doesn’t get in the magnet, they can still take the advanced courses if they have the prerequisites. So it felt more secure than what we were facing. Also, if you find a place IB for Blair, you are guaranteed a spot if you want it, and you are likely to have the density/metro, which I certainly wanted. But those areas do have a different feel than the Hill, so YMMV

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is fascinating

Are you not entertained

It’s a lot of trolling/sock puppeting. Not much to glean here, except how much time some people seem to have (and how pathetic they are to be trolling a school forum).

This is the most pathetic post of all.

NP. Seems like they struck a nerve, huh? Go back to the Eskay thread. Your trolling there is better.

Genuinely have not clue what you’re talking about but you seem angry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ Also- one more thing. Like a lot of places, inventory is low in N Arlington. So if you include this area in your housing search, you probably need to be prepared to wait it out and then jump on something if you’re on a budget. If you’ve looked at housing at all in the past 3 years, I’m sure this isn’t news! A healthy -ish TH budget would probably be up to 1.4M.

That’s all I know- good luck!

I’ve heard many say Arlington middle schools are not good. Can you discuss?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry- last thing. Try “22201” as your zip code if you search housing. That should exclude Rosslyn and give you some of the other neighborhoods that may feel more “neighborhood-y” in that area.

DP. I searched all over and I don’t think there are any properties or even many apartments zoned for Dorothy Hamm that are the equivalent to the Hill. Someone touched on this upthread, but the Hill is actually relatively affordable for rentals and SFH compared to the “good” pyramids in NW, MoCo and NOVA. Most of us here don’t actually have $1.2 mil for a house especially not at current interest rates. The equivalent is more like the DCC in MoCo - and then you are comparing say McKinley Tech with Einstein, and it becomes less clear which is better.

There ARE a few pockets of value like Rosemary Hills (zoned for BCC with cheaper houses) or Downtown Bethesda (relatively affordable rent if you can do a 2 bedroom.) But when you really start drilling down, the notion that moving to MoCo for the DCC is your option really ends up favoring staying put on the Hill and seeing if SH or EH works, playing it out a little longer.

I think there are a lot of tiny crumbling Victorians that will get maybe 1 million, but there are plenty of row houses going for just under 2 as well. Or maybe that’s just my immediate neighbors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry- last thing. Try “22201” as your zip code if you search housing. That should exclude Rosslyn and give you some of the other neighborhoods that may feel more “neighborhood-y” in that area.

DP. I searched all over and I don’t think there are any properties or even many apartments zoned for Dorothy Hamm that are the equivalent to the Hill. Someone touched on this upthread, but the Hill is actually relatively affordable for rentals and SFH compared to the “good” pyramids in NW, MoCo and NOVA. Most of us here don’t actually have $1.2 mil for a house especially not at current interest rates. The equivalent is more like the DCC in MoCo - and then you are comparing say McKinley Tech with Einstein, and it becomes less clear which is better.

There ARE a few pockets of value like Rosemary Hills (zoned for BCC with cheaper houses) or Downtown Bethesda (relatively affordable rent if you can do a 2 bedroom.) But when you really start drilling down, the notion that moving to MoCo for the DCC is your option really ends up favoring staying put on the Hill and seeing if SH or EH works, playing it out a little longer.

Every family will of course have to weigh this on their own, with their own kid in mind and other life considerations, but we were much more optimistic about the DCC offerings than those DCPS. MCPS starts accelerating math in elementary for those who are ready, and there are magnet programs starting earlier. And if your kid doesn’t get in the magnet, they can still take the advanced courses if they have the prerequisites. So it felt more secure than what we were facing. Also, if you find a place IB for Blair, you are guaranteed a spot if you want it, and you are likely to have the density/metro, which I certainly wanted. But those areas do have a different feel than the Hill, so YMMV

PP here. I don’t dispute that MoCo has a lot to offer that DCPS doesn’t, especially in the area of special needs and gifted programs. DCPS has smaller class sizes in elementary and later start times in MS/HS. But yeah … if I had it to do all over again I’d probably start out in MoCo. Since we’re here on the Hill, there’s intertia!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry- last thing. Try “22201” as your zip code if you search housing. That should exclude Rosslyn and give you some of the other neighborhoods that may feel more “neighborhood-y” in that area.

DP. I searched all over and I don’t think there are any properties or even many apartments zoned for Dorothy Hamm that are the equivalent to the Hill. Someone touched on this upthread, but the Hill is actually relatively affordable for rentals and SFH compared to the “good” pyramids in NW, MoCo and NOVA. Most of us here don’t actually have $1.2 mil for a house especially not at current interest rates. The equivalent is more like the DCC in MoCo - and then you are comparing say McKinley Tech with Einstein, and it becomes less clear which is better.

There ARE a few pockets of value like Rosemary Hills (zoned for BCC with cheaper houses) or Downtown Bethesda (relatively affordable rent if you can do a 2 bedroom.) But when you really start drilling down, the notion that moving to MoCo for the DCC is your option really ends up favoring staying put on the Hill and seeing if SH or EH works, playing it out a little longer.

I think there are a lot of tiny crumbling Victorians that will get maybe 1 million, but there are plenty of row houses going for just under 2 as well. Or maybe that’s just my immediate neighbors.

On the Hill? There’s not much going for 2 mil unless it’s fully renovated, has a garage, and big. Many are under $1 mil and don’t allow a trade-up to the “good” closer-in schools. Our “crumbling Victorian” will probably go for 900k which isn’t gonna get us a place zoned for Dorothy Hamm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Also- one more thing. Like a lot of places, inventory is low in N Arlington. So if you include this area in your housing search, you probably need to be prepared to wait it out and then jump on something if you’re on a budget. If you’ve looked at housing at all in the past 3 years, I’m sure this isn’t news! A healthy -ish TH budget would probably be up to 1.4M.

That’s all I know- good luck!

I’ve heard many say Arlington middle schools are not good. Can you discuss?

If you hop onto the VA Public Schools Forum and ask about APS, I’m sure you’ll get an earful! And a few of the answers will be reasonable. The APS (Arlington Public School) folks are active on that board. FWIW I have never seen or heard a bad thing about Hamm. I have heard negative things about most of the other middle schools in Arlington. But really, is MS anyone’s best years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry- last thing. Try “22201” as your zip code if you search housing. That should exclude Rosslyn and give you some of the other neighborhoods that may feel more “neighborhood-y” in that area.

DP. I searched all over and I don’t think there are any properties or even many apartments zoned for Dorothy Hamm that are the equivalent to the Hill. Someone touched on this upthread, but the Hill is actually relatively affordable for rentals and SFH compared to the “good” pyramids in NW, MoCo and NOVA. Most of us here don’t actually have $1.2 mil for a house especially not at current interest rates. The equivalent is more like the DCC in MoCo - and then you are comparing say McKinley Tech with Einstein, and it becomes less clear which is better.

There ARE a few pockets of value like Rosemary Hills (zoned for BCC with cheaper houses) or Downtown Bethesda (relatively affordable rent if you can do a 2 bedroom.) But when you really start drilling down, the notion that moving to MoCo for the DCC is your option really ends up favoring staying put on the Hill and seeing if SH or EH works, playing it out a little longer.

Every family will of course have to weigh this on their own, with their own kid in mind and other life considerations, but we were much more optimistic about the DCC offerings than those DCPS. MCPS starts accelerating math in elementary for those who are ready, and there are magnet programs starting earlier. And if your kid doesn’t get in the magnet, they can still take the advanced courses if they have the prerequisites. So it felt more secure than what we were facing. Also, if you find a place IB for Blair, you are guaranteed a spot if you want it, and you are likely to have the density/metro, which I certainly wanted. But those areas do have a different feel than the Hill, so YMMV

PP here. I don’t dispute that MoCo has a lot to offer that DCPS doesn’t, especially in the area of special needs and gifted programs. DCPS has smaller class sizes in elementary and later start times in MS/HS. But yeah … if I had it to do all over again I’d probably start out in MoCo. Since we’re here on the Hill, there’s intertia!

In the same boat. I hope it works out for us both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry- last thing. Try “22201” as your zip code if you search housing. That should exclude Rosslyn and give you some of the other neighborhoods that may feel more “neighborhood-y” in that area.

DP. I searched all over and I don’t think there are any properties or even many apartments zoned for Dorothy Hamm that are the equivalent to the Hill. Someone touched on this upthread, but the Hill is actually relatively affordable for rentals and SFH compared to the “good” pyramids in NW, MoCo and NOVA. Most of us here don’t actually have $1.2 mil for a house especially not at current interest rates. The equivalent is more like the DCC in MoCo - and then you are comparing say McKinley Tech with Einstein, and it becomes less clear which is better.

There ARE a few pockets of value like Rosemary Hills (zoned for BCC with cheaper houses) or Downtown Bethesda (relatively affordable rent if you can do a 2 bedroom.) But when you really start drilling down, the notion that moving to MoCo for the DCC is your option really ends up favoring staying put on the Hill and seeing if SH or EH works, playing it out a little longer.

I think there are a lot of tiny crumbling Victorians that will get maybe 1 million, but there are plenty of row houses going for just under 2 as well. Or maybe that’s just my immediate neighbors.

On the Hill? There’s not much going for 2 mil unless it’s fully renovated, has a garage, and big. Many are under $1 mil and don’t allow a trade-up to the “good” closer-in schools. Our “crumbling Victorian” will probably go for 900k which isn’t gonna get us a place zoned for Dorothy Hamm.

My neighbors got just over 2 mil but we probably live in a different area than you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry- last thing. Try “22201” as your zip code if you search housing. That should exclude Rosslyn and give you some of the other neighborhoods that may feel more “neighborhood-y” in that area.

DP. I searched all over and I don’t think there are any properties or even many apartments zoned for Dorothy Hamm that are the equivalent to the Hill. Someone touched on this upthread, but the Hill is actually relatively affordable for rentals and SFH compared to the “good” pyramids in NW, MoCo and NOVA. Most of us here don’t actually have $1.2 mil for a house especially not at current interest rates. The equivalent is more like the DCC in MoCo - and then you are comparing say McKinley Tech with Einstein, and it becomes less clear which is better.

There ARE a few pockets of value like Rosemary Hills (zoned for BCC with cheaper houses) or Downtown Bethesda (relatively affordable rent if you can do a 2 bedroom.) But when you really start drilling down, the notion that moving to MoCo for the DCC is your option really ends up favoring staying put on the Hill and seeing if SH or EH works, playing it out a little longer.

I think there are a lot of tiny crumbling Victorians that will get maybe 1 million, but there are plenty of row houses going for just under 2 as well. Or maybe that’s just my immediate neighbors.

On the Hill? There’s not much going for 2 mil unless it’s fully renovated, has a garage, and big. Many are under $1 mil and don’t allow a trade-up to the “good” closer-in schools. Our “crumbling Victorian” will probably go for 900k which isn’t gonna get us a place zoned for Dorothy Hamm.

The market is very thin right now as we roll into the slow August real estate market, as is to be expected, but there are things in the Hamm zone that are less than $1m. You just have to keep looking and be patient. Here's one, though I think there are better options:

https://redf.in/sxoC9R

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry- last thing. Try “22201” as your zip code if you search housing. That should exclude Rosslyn and give you some of the other neighborhoods that may feel more “neighborhood-y” in that area.

DP. I searched all over and I don’t think there are any properties or even many apartments zoned for Dorothy Hamm that are the equivalent to the Hill. Someone touched on this upthread, but the Hill is actually relatively affordable for rentals and SFH compared to the “good” pyramids in NW, MoCo and NOVA. Most of us here don’t actually have $1.2 mil for a house especially not at current interest rates. The equivalent is more like the DCC in MoCo - and then you are comparing say McKinley Tech with Einstein, and it becomes less clear which is better.

There ARE a few pockets of value like Rosemary Hills (zoned for BCC with cheaper houses) or Downtown Bethesda (relatively affordable rent if you can do a 2 bedroom.) But when you really start drilling down, the notion that moving to MoCo for the DCC is your option really ends up favoring staying put on the Hill and seeing if SH or EH works, playing it out a little longer.

I think there are a lot of tiny crumbling Victorians that will get maybe 1 million, but there are plenty of row houses going for just under 2 as well. Or maybe that’s just my immediate neighbors.

On the Hill? There’s not much going for 2 mil unless it’s fully renovated, has a garage, and big. Many are under $1 mil and don’t allow a trade-up to the “good” closer-in schools. Our “crumbling Victorian” will probably go for 900k which isn’t gonna get us a place zoned for Dorothy Hamm.

Popping open Redfin I see 9 houses within a few blocks of my house on the Hill that have sold for over 2 million in the past 2 months …

[Anonymous]

If you want the hill, but in NW, you have 4 good options: Glover Park, Mt Pleasant, Woodley Park or Burleith/parts of Georgetown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry- last thing. Try “22201” as your zip code if you search housing. That should exclude Rosslyn and give you some of the other neighborhoods that may feel more “neighborhood-y” in that area.

DP. I searched all over and I don’t think there are any properties or even many apartments zoned for Dorothy Hamm that are the equivalent to the Hill. Someone touched on this upthread, but the Hill is actually relatively affordable for rentals and SFH compared to the “good” pyramids in NW, MoCo and NOVA. Most of us here don’t actually have $1.2 mil for a house especially not at current interest rates. The equivalent is more like the DCC in MoCo - and then you are comparing say McKinley Tech with Einstein, and it becomes less clear which is better.

There ARE a few pockets of value like Rosemary Hills (zoned for BCC with cheaper houses) or Downtown Bethesda (relatively affordable rent if you can do a 2 bedroom.) But when you really start drilling down, the notion that moving to MoCo for the DCC is your option really ends up favoring staying put on the Hill and seeing if SH or EH works, playing it out a little longer.

I think there are a lot of tiny crumbling Victorians that will get maybe 1 million, but there are plenty of row houses going for just under 2 as well. Or maybe that’s just my immediate neighbors.

On the Hill? There’s not much going for 2 mil unless it’s fully renovated, has a garage, and big. Many are under $1 mil and don’t allow a trade-up to the “good” closer-in schools. Our “crumbling Victorian” will probably go for 900k which isn’t gonna get us a place zoned for Dorothy Hamm.

Where are you? Unless you’re way out east in the Maury zone, if you’re IB for a “good” Hill ES, the average price would be well over $1 million, no? We are IB for LT and unrenovated stuff on our street goes over $1 million easily; recently renovated is close to $2 million. Brent zone is more expensive.