Feeling Stretched With Public and Private Schools

[Anonymous]

go for the house in the good public school system - much much cheaper over the long run than private. And if you stay in certain neighborhoods in DC there's no guarantee that the schools will improve or you'll get into a good charter. If i were you, I'd look for a house in Bethesda, Arlington or McLean in your price range. There are often split levels in pretty good shape in the 700s. Or if you want to spend less, look for a small unrenovated rambler with a large yard that you could live in for a few years and then maybe eventually tear down to build a new house when you've paid down your student loans. Or you could just rent in DC until you've paid down your loans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All I can say to the OP is that these are challenges every parent in this area faces, and a very high proportion of them do it on a much smaller income than theirs. Even with hefty student loan debt, you can buy a lot of house in MoCo where I live if you have a salary like that. We feel very well off in our immediate area at less than 250K and are happy with our schools. It's really not so bad. And things weren't simpler when you were a child. Your parents moved somewhere and you went to the local school. You can do the same thing now.

No. OP here. Things were simpler because we were not privileged enough to have these opportunities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like one or both of you have professional careers. I'll bet that if you ask some of your peers at work, or better yet, ask someone at work who is above you in the management chain, if they'd give you some good practical advice on both public and private schools. People love to talk about their kids, and business-people are goal-oriented and some are even highly keen on spending their money only on "good value" services, so why not give them an opportunity to tell you what they have learned over the years about public and private schools, as well as long-term college plans in the DMV? It can be a very englightening discussion.

OP here. Great suggestion. Thank you.