Single dad moving to DC with 3 year old - recommendations for where to move and preK 3?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Mount Pleasant, so she can go to Bancroft? It's an excellent school, charming neighborhood and Columbia Heights is adjacent/walkable/a 5 minute drive to any destination.

She won't get a PK3 spot post-lottery. Unless she's Spanish-dominant, then maybe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, these suggestions are awful. Half of these schools don’t even offer PK3! In your situation, here are some DCPS schools I’d submit a post lottery app to:
- Military Road ELC
- Truesdell
- Whittier
- Takoma
- Burroughs
- Bunker Hill
- Dorothy Height
All of these are within 2 miles of the hospital, and close to bus/metro.

I’m less familiar with charters, but Appletree CH, Lee (Brookland), Meridian PCS, Sela, Bethune, Shining Stars, maybe Creative Minds?

+1

There is SO much terrible advice on this thread. Why on EARTH would someone who is leaving the city before his kid hits 1st grade pay a huge premium and accept a longer commute to live in ward 3 for the schools??? There are a ton of schools with fabulous early elementary programs, starting in PK3, that are much closer to hospitals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, these suggestions are awful. Half of these schools don’t even offer PK3! In your situation, here are some DCPS schools I’d submit a post lottery app to:
- Military Road ELC
- Truesdell
- Whittier
- Takoma
- Burroughs
- Bunker Hill
- Dorothy Height
All of these are within 2 miles of the hospital, and close to bus/metro.

I’m less familiar with charters, but Appletree CH, Lee (Brookland), Meridian PCS, Sela, Bethune, Shining Stars, maybe Creative Minds?

+1

There is SO much terrible advice on this thread. Why on EARTH would someone who is leaving the city before his kid hits 1st grade pay a huge premium and accept a longer commute to live in ward 3 for the schools??? There are a ton of schools with fabulous early elementary programs, starting in PK3, that are much closer to hospitals.

PP to add - we’re in Columbia Heights and our kids to go Tubman and love it, but they don’t clear their waitlists so that might be tough for this year. But our backups (which we would have been very happy with for the grades you’re talking about) were appletree Columbia heights and Meridian

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, these suggestions are awful. Half of these schools don’t even offer PK3! In your situation, here are some DCPS schools I’d submit a post lottery app to:
- Military Road ELC
- Truesdell
- Whittier
- Takoma
- Burroughs
- Bunker Hill
- Dorothy Height
All of these are within 2 miles of the hospital, and close to bus/metro.

I’m less familiar with charters, but Appletree CH, Lee (Brookland), Meridian PCS, Sela, Bethune, Shining Stars, maybe Creative Minds?

+1

There is SO much terrible advice on this thread. Why on EARTH would someone who is leaving the city before his kid hits 1st grade pay a huge premium and accept a longer commute to live in ward 3 for the schools??? There are a ton of schools with fabulous early elementary programs, starting in PK3, that are much closer to hospitals.

Agreed on the bad advice—but I think it’s because this was originally posted elsewhere so a bunch of people with no or dated experience chimed in at first.

OP, now that you’re in the right place (DCPS forum), listen to the advice! Ward 3 is not a good idea if you’re only here a few years.

[Anonymous]

Did anyone mention the new Appletree in Spring Valley? It looks like it’s a 25-30 minute drive to work. You could rent in one of the apartment buildings on New Mexico Avenue or Mass Ave and be in-bounds for Mann (a wonderful public school) if you stay long enough.

No idea on their availability though!

[Anonymous]

Petworth. IB school is Bruce Monroe, which is good and you can always try to lottery for better. Tons of playgrounds and parks, farmers market, very close to your job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Move to ward 4 and go to Dorothy height in ward 4/petworth.

I am the John Lewis poster, but this is the same neighborhood.

I am also a single parent, and I would put a very high premium on short commute for my kid, and then for me. A neighborhood school in walking distance would be fantastic, and this would give you two neighborhood options.

Will you be working hours that play well with school/aftercare, or needing a nanny for wrap around hours. A school in walking distance to where you live will help with the latter a lot!

But he’s not going to get off the WL for John Lewis for pk3 this late in the game…

Yes which is why I said that if he wants to prioritize school quality and short commute and use something like a private daycare for the first year then John Lewis would be a good option.

Then when someone mentioned that Dorothy Height might have spaces, I pointed out that it’s walking distance to John Lewis so would be another option than private daycare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about Mount Pleasant, so she can go to Bancroft? It's an excellent school, charming neighborhood and Columbia Heights is adjacent/walkable/a 5 minute drive to any destination.

unlikely to get in until K though, most if not all seats in Prek3 and Prek4 go to siblings or spanish speakers.

[Anonymous]

So, if you actually mean you are going to be working at WHC or any of the medical facilities in that vicinity then that is very different than working in Columbia Heights.

You might want to get a two bedroom at The Cloisters apartment complex in Brookland. It's a large complex and there are usually openings.
I've been in those apartments and they are fine. There is parking right there which you will need because walking to your job will be difficult even though those apartments are very close to the hospitals as the crow flies. Also, you will need to drive your kid to school.

In that case there are MANY excellent pre-schools nearby. Both public and private. It may be too late to get into one for this year, but it may not be!

Go for the easiest to get into schools if saving on tuition is your highest priority.

For this year get on the list now for: Shining Stars Montessori, SELA, Bridges, Two Rivers, Creative Minds, Lee Montessori, all of the Apple Tree Schools (These are easier to get into because they are just pre-school). I would actually be surprised if, even at the end of those lists you didn't get into one of those schools by September.

For the PK4 year if you aren't happy yet with your school, Inspired Teaching is a great option. Also add Yu Ying, Lee Montessori and any others you'll have heard good things about by that time. As well as perhaps Bunker Hill Elementary and any other DCPS schools that you can make work with your commute.

Another option is to rent a whole house in Riggs Park or North Michigan Park. You would have a relatively easy commute to the hospitals, many charter schools nearby and a yard, which I know is a big plus with a pre-schooler. The rents there can be similar to many apartments and you get a whole house. Also, there is a library, several playgrounds and several grocery stores in walking distance, with another grocery soon to come.

A private option many locals attend for PK3 if they don't get in elsewhere is Scrilli School. Or you could just get a nanny for this year. Lots to explore in the city for your nanny and child.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone mentioned Powell? Barnard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone mentioned Powell? Barnard?

Not gonna happen post lottery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I was in your shoes, I would look to renting anywhere along CT or WI and look to the free PreK programs like Communikids, St. Alban's Early Childhood Center, 2 Birds.
AppleTree Spring Valley might be pushing it for distance for your morning commute -but it is a place I would expect you can get a spot.

I love the earlier recommendation of looking for a rental that is inbounds for Eaton as they recently completed a school renovation.

I have commuted from AU Park (near Janney elementary school) to Children's and it is an easy commute once you understand the traffic pattern and especially if you have a little flexibility in your schedule (do not try to get past a bunch of schools when they are doing morning drop off)
Best of Luck

This. I am a solo parent (mom) with a 3 yo and we are at St. Albans Early Education center and live in McLean Gardens. I can walk or drive easily and they offer free PreK3/PreK4. We love it. I cannot recommend it enough juggling a full-time career and a toddler.

[Anonymous]

I'd recommending settling into the Adams Morgan/Lanier Heights/Mount Pleasant area. Close to work, several community-based PK3 options nearby that you could get on waitlists for now (Centronia, Barbara Chambers, Jubilee Jumpstart) and great ECE programs at neighborhood elementary schools (Marie Reed, Bancroft, HD Cooke). AppleTree and Meridian PCS usually clear lists and you might be able to get your daughter into PK3 there while lotterying for your inbound for PK4/K.

[Anonymous]

What hospital will you be working at? Folks here can refine suggestions based on that.
I used to live in Bloomingdale, which is a nice family friendly neighborhood and an easy commute to WHC/ VA/ Children's and welcoming to new folks. Langley seems well loved in the neighborhood, has a strong PTA, and offers PK3.
Lately it has become quite expensive but you should be able to rent an English basement, there are many families that have an accessory dwelling unit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, these suggestions are awful. Half of these schools don’t even offer PK3! In your situation, here are some DCPS schools I’d submit a post lottery app to:
- Military Road ELC
- Truesdell
- Whittier
- Takoma
- Burroughs
- Bunker Hill
- Dorothy Height
All of these are within 2 miles of the hospital, and close to bus/metro.

I’m less familiar with charters, but Appletree CH, Lee (Brookland), Meridian PCS, Sela, Bethune, Shining Stars, maybe Creative Minds?

+1

There is SO much terrible advice on this thread. Why on EARTH would someone who is leaving the city before his kid hits 1st grade pay a huge premium and accept a longer commute to live in ward 3 for the schools??? There are a ton of schools with fabulous early elementary programs, starting in PK3, that are much closer to hospitals.

Agreed on the bad advice—but I think it’s because this was originally posted elsewhere so a bunch of people with no or dated experience chimed in at first.

OP, now that you’re in the right place (DCPS forum), listen to the advice! Ward 3 is not a good idea if you’re only here a few years.

I think it's because OP's post was a little unclear as to whether he was looking for PK3, or just trying to land somewhere where she could get into PK4 next year. He said something about understanding the lottery was over. I asked him to clarify but he didn't.