Home buying based on schools?

[Anonymous]

If target is DC, then think carefully. Many on DCUM think particular DCPS elementary schools in NW are fine, but few like the rest of DCPS (elementary schools elsewhere or middle/high schools anywhere). Check the DCPS forum for more.

If work as a Fed in DC, then maybe consider living in Montgomery in Whitman/wooten/churchill HS area - and someplace with access to a Red line station…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just look for schools with the highest percentage of white kids. No need for all this coded talk. We know what you are looking for.

Lol was wondering when the racism would come in. We're looking in DC, our preferred areas now are Petworth, around H street, and Hill East. We're both gov't employees so can't really afford private schools unless they're religiously affiliated. House max is about 1.2 million so at least that helps. And great point about the community/other resources, I hadn't really thought about that but it's a great point. What kinds of resources has it helped to have around with little kids?

Look at the outer edges of the Ludlow Taylor boundaries. Petworth has a lot of pretty good schools, and great charters.

Petworth is wonderful, rich and vibrant. Great for children

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1116617.page

[Anonymous]

^^^^ posted wrong link. sorry! Here is correct

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1084581.page#23467036

[Anonymous]

DCPS is not a great school system. Many of the middle and high schools are a mess.

There are some good schools, but you have to lottery into them. People who fail the lottery tend to go private or move out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS is not a great school system. Many of the middle and high schools are a mess.

There are some good schools, but you have to lottery into them. People who fail the lottery tend to go private or move out.

Your opinion is very racist.

[Anonymous]

Hey OP. So we were in your boat.

We had a friend who was a DCPS Elementary School teacher (though she had left to move closer to family a year before we moved, this was all in the last five years) who made us feel better. She said, "Any DCPS in-bound school will be great for early elementary. Just make sure you live in-bounds to one where you can get PK3/4, not all the schools have them."

She was absolutely right. Early childhood elementary is done well across DC schools, even the snobs (yeah, I said it) on DCUM will agree with that. The saving in having FREE, full day, PK3 and PK4 is tens of thousands of dollars (childcare is crazy expensive). So, when you're looking at schools, you can put your address in here:

https://enrolldcps.dc.gov/node/41

Then look at that elementary school here:

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/aaron2446/viz/MSDCSeatsandWaitlistOfferData_draft/MSDCPublicDisplay

And you'll be able to confirm that school has PK-3 and PK-4 and get a sense if most in-bounds students get into PK-3 for that school (if you're in for PK-3, you're good for PK-4 automatically, so don't worry about that). Most schools outside of far upper NW and some around the Hill take basically all inbounds kids for PK-3 at this point.

Then, if you find your in-bound elementary isn't great for upper elementary, you're going to be playing the lottery for upper elementary, and you'll almost definitely be playing the lottery for middle and high school, as east of the park (and you can't afford west of the park), nearly all the in-bound middle and high schools are not very good. That's okay! First of all, things change rapidly in DC, and second of all, there are a TON of lottery options that are good.

Bottom line: you'll be find almost anywhere in DC. Really. School choice means you'll have a lot of options and flexibility (though some stress about the lottery!)

Also - focus on parks nearby! You're not going to have a big yard. My kids go to the playground just about every day - you want one within like three blocks (and closer is better!) and four or five playgrounds within a 15 or 20 min walk. Close by libraries are a big plus too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I question the old go-to “great schools.”

Be careful with that one.

People hate the scores because of the underlying truth. When we bought our first home years ago, we sought out an affordable enclave in a very highly rated elementary school district and it worked well.

Hardly, they only an average which reflects an area's overall SES. This doesn't predict how your child will do at a given school. A better predictor is the level of parental education. Most schools, for example, offer AP English. One has six sections, and another has 3, but you can get a five on the AP English exam at either school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just look for schools with the highest percentage of white kids. No need for all this coded talk. We know what you are looking for.

Lol was wondering when the racism would come in. We're looking in DC, our preferred areas now are Petworth, around H street, and Hill East. We're both gov't employees so can't really afford private schools unless they're religiously affiliated. House max is about 1.2 million so at least that helps. And great point about the community/other resources, I hadn't really thought about that but it's a great point. What kinds of resources has it helped to have around with little kids?

We’re dual feds in an EOTP DCPS and sort of happily stuck in our row house due to appreciation and our 2% mortgage. Happy problem to have. Had I known then what I know now, though, I would have bought in Silver Spring or Takoma Park. DC elementary schools are fine enough (DCPS and charters, none are really that great), but the programming (gifted programs, magnets, etc) and middle/high schools in MCPS are just SO much better than in DC. It’s just a better functioning system that offers more, plus the DC school lottery really, really sucks. Those parts of MoCo are incredibly diverse and there are plenty of neighborhoods that are as urban and walkable as our DC neighborhood. We bought in DC and will stick it out most likely, but man, why sign yourself up for a harder road than you have to? Just my two cents as someone who was in your shoes a decade ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No president since Carter has sent their kids to any DC public school (and Mayor Fenty begged Obama).

Cross DCPS off your list.

That leaves MoCo schools (but they just defunded their School Resource Officers / kicked police out). Just insane.

Alexandria did the same, and has had major violence problems this year.

I would not consider the PG public schools.

That leaves NOVA schools. Their school boards are packed with LWNJs (seriously - these people are crazy) but that may soon change.

NO
NOVA schools are heading to school choice

OP you want a Blue state not a red one. Red ones are heading to school choice you do not want that look it up. Basically, it means the state privatizes public schools, and Republicans take handouts bribes, and monies millions while public schools lose funding. It is a way for the Christian Right to get religion back in school. Look up Betsey DeVos

You want a state that is not banning books.

Good publc schools MOCO or Howard county in MD>

Stay away from VA they have Youngkin doing dumb shit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just look for schools with the highest percentage of white kids. No need for all this coded talk. We know what you are looking for.

Lol was wondering when the racism would come in. We're looking in DC, our preferred areas now are Petworth, around H street, and Hill East. We're both gov't employees so can't really afford private schools unless they're religiously affiliated. House max is about 1.2 million so at least that helps. And great point about the community/other resources, I hadn't really thought about that but it's a great point. What kinds of resources has it helped to have around with little kids?

We’re dual feds in an EOTP DCPS and sort of happily stuck in our row house due to appreciation and our 2% mortgage. Happy problem to have. Had I known then what I know now, though, I would have bought in Silver Spring or Takoma Park. DC elementary schools are fine enough (DCPS and charters, none are really that great), but the programming (gifted programs, magnets, etc) and middle/high schools in MCPS are just SO much better than in DC. It’s just a better functioning system that offers more, plus the DC school lottery really, really sucks. Those parts of MoCo are incredibly diverse and there are plenty of neighborhoods that are as urban and walkable as our DC neighborhood. We bought in DC and will stick it out most likely, but man, why sign yourself up for a harder road than you have to? Just my two cents as someone who was in your shoes a decade ago.

The DC lottery system is equitable.

It is the embodiment of the equity, all of us really must strive for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just look for schools with the highest percentage of white kids. No need for all this coded talk. We know what you are looking for.

Lol was wondering when the racism would come in. We're looking in DC, our preferred areas now are Petworth, around H street, and Hill East. We're both gov't employees so can't really afford private schools unless they're religiously affiliated. House max is about 1.2 million so at least that helps. And great point about the community/other resources, I hadn't really thought about that but it's a great point. What kinds of resources has it helped to have around with little kids?

We’re dual feds in an EOTP DCPS and sort of happily stuck in our row house due to appreciation and our 2% mortgage. Happy problem to have. Had I known then what I know now, though, I would have bought in Silver Spring or Takoma Park. DC elementary schools are fine enough (DCPS and charters, none are really that great), but the programming (gifted programs, magnets, etc) and middle/high schools in MCPS are just SO much better than in DC. It’s just a better functioning system that offers more, plus the DC school lottery really, really sucks. Those parts of MoCo are incredibly diverse and there are plenty of neighborhoods that are as urban and walkable as our DC neighborhood. We bought in DC and will stick it out most likely, but man, why sign yourself up for a harder road than you have to? Just my two cents as someone who was in your shoes a decade ago.

I feel pretty much similar to this, and am in a similar housing situation. I should have purchased in Takoma Park a decade ago. DC schools EOTP are just a mess, and the whole environment with the lottery and the charters and everyone fighting all of the time about charters versus DCPS just creates toxicity. Yeah, up through about 3rd grade, you can pretty much be fine. You have to really pay attention, though, as the schools seem to not really care if your kid isn't learning anything.

We plan to move after 3rd for Moco. Fortunately our housing value has risen so extensively that it makes it much easier to move to a near suburb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just look for schools with the highest percentage of white kids. No need for all this coded talk. We know what you are looking for.

Lol was wondering when the racism would come in. We're looking in DC, our preferred areas now are Petworth, around H street, and Hill East. We're both gov't employees so can't really afford private schools unless they're religiously affiliated. House max is about 1.2 million so at least that helps. And great point about the community/other resources, I hadn't really thought about that but it's a great point. What kinds of resources has it helped to have around with little kids?

We’re dual feds in an EOTP DCPS and sort of happily stuck in our row house due to appreciation and our 2% mortgage. Happy problem to have. Had I known then what I know now, though, I would have bought in Silver Spring or Takoma Park. DC elementary schools are fine enough (DCPS and charters, none are really that great), but the programming (gifted programs, magnets, etc) and middle/high schools in MCPS are just SO much better than in DC. It’s just a better functioning system that offers more, plus the DC school lottery really, really sucks. Those parts of MoCo are incredibly diverse and there are plenty of neighborhoods that are as urban and walkable as our DC neighborhood. We bought in DC and will stick it out most likely, but man, why sign yourself up for a harder road than you have to? Just my two cents as someone who was in your shoes a decade ago.

The DC lottery system is equitable.

It is the embodiment of the equity, all of us really must strive for.

Oh I’m not saying it’s not equitable. I’m saying it’s stressful, not a sure thing (especially for middle school), and the choices are a bunch of middling options without all of the options you get in upper elementary in the suburbs. If you believe gifted and magnet programs are inherently inequitable and should be abolished, then yes, DC is the place for you and yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just look for schools with the highest percentage of white kids. No need for all this coded talk. We know what you are looking for.

Lol was wondering when the racism would come in. We're looking in DC, our preferred areas now are Petworth, around H street, and Hill East. We're both gov't employees so can't really afford private schools unless they're religiously affiliated. House max is about 1.2 million so at least that helps. And great point about the community/other resources, I hadn't really thought about that but it's a great point. What kinds of resources has it helped to have around with little kids?

We’re dual feds in an EOTP DCPS and sort of happily stuck in our row house due to appreciation and our 2% mortgage. Happy problem to have. Had I known then what I know now, though, I would have bought in Silver Spring or Takoma Park. DC elementary schools are fine enough (DCPS and charters, none are really that great), but the programming (gifted programs, magnets, etc) and middle/high schools in MCPS are just SO much better than in DC. It’s just a better functioning system that offers more, plus the DC school lottery really, really sucks. Those parts of MoCo are incredibly diverse and there are plenty of neighborhoods that are as urban and walkable as our DC neighborhood. We bought in DC and will stick it out most likely, but man, why sign yourself up for a harder road than you have to? Just my two cents as someone who was in your shoes a decade ago.

The DC lottery system is equitable.

It is the embodiment of the equity, all of us really must strive for.

Oh I’m not saying it’s not equitable. I’m saying it’s stressful, not a sure thing (especially for middle school), and the choices are a bunch of middling options without all of the options you get in upper elementary in the suburbs. If you believe gifted and magnet programs are inherently inequitable and should be abolished, then yes, DC is the place for you and yours.

Shouldn’t OP be willing to sacrifice her own child on the alter of equity?

In what way is it fair and equitable that your own child gets to go to a “good” school, while other children do not?

[Anonymous]

FCPS has school profile pages where demographics, test scores, disciplinary incidents, special programs offered, etc. are reported for multiple years. For the commute, living near a metro station helps with that. Good luck in your house search!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS has school profile pages where demographics, test scores, disciplinary incidents, special programs offered, etc. are reported for multiple years. For the commute, living near a metro station helps with that. Good luck in your house search!

But if she does that, then she will only choose the top school.

And that is NOT equity!