Good schools EoTP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think 4 bedrooms with that budget is going to be a stretch, tbh, but Mt Pleasant is probably what I would target as well.

stick with mnt pleasant. On cap hill, you have stuart hobson for middle but I wouldnt consider Eastern High school. In mnt P you can go all the way through Wilson

[Anonymous]

If you aren’t yet worried about middle school, I would check out areas that feed into Marie Reed. Who knows what will change in the next 8-10 years

[Anonymous]

Don’t buy in to the “get into a school or feeder you like and you’re set for 8 years” mindset. Your kid is not even in pre-K yet. You have no idea what they might need in terms of education or learning style. I thought we hit the jackpot with a spot in a pre-K-12 charter many years ago and realized after a few years that they were totally incapable of properly educating my kid. Give your kid the best education you can right now. For pre-K, that’s a pretty wide open field. In Columbia Heights you could do appletree and worry about kindergarten next year.

[Anonymous]

For what it's worth, my house in Chevy Chase near Connecticut ave is way more walkable than my house in northern Columbia Heights was. That said, you won't find a 4 bedroom around here for 1.2-1.4 mil. You won't in Mt P either. Plenty of decent elementary schools within that budget EoTP (see elsewhere in this thread), but your options for middle and high will be limited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Currently have a toddler in Columbia Heights but looking to move by around kindergarten for better schools. We like the city life and would like to stay in an area where we can walk to shops and restaurants (though doesn't need to be as hustle bustle as CH, just not a Chevy Chase type situation). Ideally would get a 4 bedroom to make room for an office and an au pair room, but could still prob do 3. Budget would be about $1.2-$1.4M. Mt. Pleasant and Cap Hill are currently on the list, but wondering if we'd just have to move again for middle school/high school on the Hill? Any other suggested areas? Guess we would be open to WoTP as well, just don't want to be dependent on driving for everything, plus the budget concerns.

I live in Wakefield just off Connecticut Ave and we walk to most things (restaurants, bookstore, playground). You could get a 3bd in the area for $1.3m. Although sometimes I see our neighborhood referred to as "southeast chevy chase," so it might not be your jam. We lived in Cap Hill previously and looked in Mount Pleasant but ended up feeling like our money went further up here.

[Anonymous]

Consider 16th St Heights! Big houses within your budget, walkable to 14th St and Georgia, and great elementary schools. You’re so far from middle/high school and a lot can change by then. I would not factor that into the decision too heavily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Currently have a toddler in Columbia Heights but looking to move by around kindergarten for better schools. We like the city life and would like to stay in an area where we can walk to shops and restaurants (though doesn't need to be as hustle bustle as CH, just not a Chevy Chase type situation). Ideally would get a 4 bedroom to make room for an office and an au pair room, but could still prob do 3. Budget would be about $1.2-$1.4M. Mt. Pleasant and Cap Hill are currently on the list, but wondering if we'd just have to move again for middle school/high school on the Hill? Any other suggested areas? Guess we would be open to WoTP as well, just don't want to be dependent on driving for everything, plus the budget concerns.

I live in Wakefield just off Connecticut Ave and we walk to most things (restaurants, bookstore, playground). You could get a 3bd in the area for $1.3m. Although sometimes I see our neighborhood referred to as "southeast chevy chase," so it might not be your jam. We lived in Cap Hill previously and looked in Mount Pleasant but ended up feeling like our money went further up here.

Where is Wakefield? What's the elementary school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Consider 16th St Heights! Big houses within your budget, walkable to 14th St and Georgia, and great elementary schools. You’re so far from middle/high school and a lot can change by then. I would not factor that into the decision too heavily.

16 st heights is not remotely walkable, the schools aren’t good, and the “big” houses are falling apart. It is more suburban than WOTP without the good transit options and tons of bad traffic. I would not consider proximity to 14/Georgia a positive. Middle/high school will not change in time for your kids either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Consider 16th St Heights! Big houses within your budget, walkable to 14th St and Georgia, and great elementary schools. You’re so far from middle/high school and a lot can change by then. I would not factor that into the decision too heavily.

16 st heights is not remotely walkable, the schools aren’t good, and the “big” houses are falling apart. It is more suburban than WOTP without the good transit options and tons of bad traffic. I would not consider proximity to 14/Georgia a positive. Middle/high school will not change in time for your kids either.

+1. Although I love 16th St Heights for many reasons, it’s not a step up for OP for his/her wishes. I’d say Brookland > 16th and I actually prefer 16th over Brookland if it were me buying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I strongly suggest not moving until after the kindergarten lottery (or sooner if you get in somewhere you like). You seem to be fine where you are now, and there are many good pre-K and K programs in the District. Pick somewhere you like and that is convenient, and play the lottery for your top choices. If you get in, great, move near that school or stay where you are. If not, then you've got a few more years under your belt to know what you really want in a school.

If you don't care about Montessori or immersion, Hyde Addison is a great option for OOB. Then you can look anywhere that is within a good commute to that school without worrying about buying in a specific zone.

+1. If you don’t get into Tubman, you will get into Raymond or Appletree. You can also do PK3 and PK4 at CentroNia for free. Our kid went there for PK and it was fine. Plenary of future Bancroft kids there.

Personally, I would wait until after the upcoming boundary review. I wouldn’t want to buy at the top of the market in a neighborhood that loses a feed to Deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I strongly suggest not moving until after the kindergarten lottery (or sooner if you get in somewhere you like). You seem to be fine where you are now, and there are many good pre-K and K programs in the District. Pick somewhere you like and that is convenient, and play the lottery for your top choices. If you get in, great, move near that school or stay where you are. If not, then you've got a few more years under your belt to know what you really want in a school.

If you don't care about Montessori or immersion, Hyde Addison is a great option for OOB. Then you can look anywhere that is within a good commute to that school without worrying about buying in a specific zone.

+1. If you don’t get into Tubman, you will get into Raymond or Appletree. You can also do PK3 and PK4 at CentroNia for free. Our kid went there for PK and it was fine. Plenary of future Bancroft kids there.

Personally, I would wait until after the upcoming boundary review. I wouldn’t want to buy at the top of the market in a neighborhood that loses a feed to Deal.

Depends on if they actually do the boundary review. I'm not sure it will happen as scheduled. The MacArthur thing is clearly moving forward though.

I would give yourself until the K lottery, OP, unless you're feeling really cramped for space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I strongly suggest not moving until after the kindergarten lottery (or sooner if you get in somewhere you like). You seem to be fine where you are now, and there are many good pre-K and K programs in the District. Pick somewhere you like and that is convenient, and play the lottery for your top choices. If you get in, great, move near that school or stay where you are. If not, then you've got a few more years under your belt to know what you really want in a school.

If you don't care about Montessori or immersion, Hyde Addison is a great option for OOB. Then you can look anywhere that is within a good commute to that school without worrying about buying in a specific zone.

+1. If you don’t get into Tubman, you will get into Raymond or Appletree. You can also do PK3 and PK4 at CentroNia for free. Our kid went there for PK and it was fine. Plenary of future Bancroft kids there.

Personally, I would wait until after the upcoming boundary review. I wouldn’t want to buy at the top of the market in a neighborhood that loses a feed to Deal.

When is the boundary review?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I strongly suggest not moving until after the kindergarten lottery (or sooner if you get in somewhere you like). You seem to be fine where you are now, and there are many good pre-K and K programs in the District. Pick somewhere you like and that is convenient, and play the lottery for your top choices. If you get in, great, move near that school or stay where you are. If not, then you've got a few more years under your belt to know what you really want in a school.

If you don't care about Montessori or immersion, Hyde Addison is a great option for OOB. Then you can look anywhere that is within a good commute to that school without worrying about buying in a specific zone.

+1. If you don’t get into Tubman, you will get into Raymond or Appletree. You can also do PK3 and PK4 at CentroNia for free. Our kid went there for PK and it was fine. Plenary of future Bancroft kids there.

Personally, I would wait until after the upcoming boundary review. I wouldn’t want to buy at the top of the market in a neighborhood that loses a feed to Deal.

When is the boundary review?

I think it's supposed to be in 2023 but sometimes they just dont do it. Or they only do a little bit. The last big overhaul was in 2014 and before that it hadn't happened in quite a long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I strongly suggest not moving until after the kindergarten lottery (or sooner if you get in somewhere you like). You seem to be fine where you are now, and there are many good pre-K and K programs in the District. Pick somewhere you like and that is convenient, and play the lottery for your top choices. If you get in, great, move near that school or stay where you are. If not, then you've got a few more years under your belt to know what you really want in a school.

If you don't care about Montessori or immersion, Hyde Addison is a great option for OOB. Then you can look anywhere that is within a good commute to that school without worrying about buying in a specific zone.

+1. If you don’t get into Tubman, you will get into Raymond or Appletree. You can also do PK3 and PK4 at CentroNia for free. Our kid went there for PK and it was fine. Plenary of future Bancroft kids there.

Personally, I would wait until after the upcoming boundary review. I wouldn’t want to buy at the top of the market in a neighborhood that loses a feed to Deal.

When is the boundary review?

I think it's supposed to be in 2023 but sometimes they just dont do it. Or they only do a little bit. The last big overhaul was in 2014 and before that it hadn't happened in quite a long time.

I doubt there will be any big change even if something does happen. Deal is only 1300 and trending down. Wilson will be addressed by new Ward 2 high school. Only thing urgent is a few Ward 3 elementary schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I strongly suggest not moving until after the kindergarten lottery (or sooner if you get in somewhere you like). You seem to be fine where you are now, and there are many good pre-K and K programs in the District. Pick somewhere you like and that is convenient, and play the lottery for your top choices. If you get in, great, move near that school or stay where you are. If not, then you've got a few more years under your belt to know what you really want in a school.

If you don't care about Montessori or immersion, Hyde Addison is a great option for OOB. Then you can look anywhere that is within a good commute to that school without worrying about buying in a specific zone.

+1. If you don’t get into Tubman, you will get into Raymond or Appletree. You can also do PK3 and PK4 at CentroNia for free. Our kid went there for PK and it was fine. Plenary of future Bancroft kids there.

Personally, I would wait until after the upcoming boundary review. I wouldn’t want to buy at the top of the market in a neighborhood that loses a feed to Deal.

When is the boundary review?

I think it's supposed to be in 2023 but sometimes they just dont do it. Or they only do a little bit. The last big overhaul was in 2014 and before that it hadn't happened in quite a long time.

I doubt there will be any big change even if something does happen. Deal is only 1300 and trending down. Wilson will be addressed by new Ward 2 high school. Only thing urgent is a few Ward 3 elementary schools.

Well, if they're serious about the new Shaw middle school that might prompt a look at that whole area.

Here you can find lists of schools by how much of their building capacity they're using.
https://dme.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dme/publication/attachments/2021%20MFP%20Annual%20Supplement_FINAL.pdf

Equal or greater to 95% utilization are: CHEC, Ellington, Hearst, Hyde, Ketcham, Lafayette, Oyster and Adams, Roosevelt, Ross, SWW High School, Van Ness, Wilson. Some of these schools are over 100% of their official capacity. So if they're expected to be even more crowded in the next five years, some boundary changes might be needed. Maybe new Shaw and the freed up space in Cardozo could relieve CHEC for example.