Thoughts on Truxton Circle for a young family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My issue would be the commute to private schools. I would suspect you are looking at private in upper NW and that commute twice a day, even for 6 years just for elementary would be a killer, unless you work that direction anyway.

Yes, DC streets are not really conducive to cross-town commutes. I have some friends who do it because they like their neighborhood and don't want to move, but the husband has a flexible work schedule and makes the drive early to Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My issue would be the commute to private schools. I would suspect you are looking at private in upper NW and that commute twice a day, even for 6 years just for elementary would be a killer, unless you work that direction anyway.

The commute from Bloomingdale/Truxton to Cleveland Park to Downtown is about the same (20-25 minutes in normal traffic) as Bethesda to Cleveland Park to Downtown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My issue would be the commute to private schools. I would suspect you are looking at private in upper NW and that commute twice a day, even for 6 years just for elementary would be a killer, unless you work that direction anyway.

I'm trying to understand how a parent is going to afford $38,000-$40,000 for private school every year but can only afford the mortgage on an $800,000 house. It doesn't add up.

Or by "private" did op mean "preschool" ? I find a lot of new moms use those terms interchangeably now with the ubiquity of dcps pk3. It's confusing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue would be the commute to private schools. I would suspect you are looking at private in upper NW and that commute twice a day, even for 6 years just for elementary would be a killer, unless you work that direction anyway.

I'm trying to understand how a parent is going to afford $38,000-$40,000 for private school every year but can only afford the mortgage on an $800,000 house. It doesn't add up.

Or by "private" did op mean "preschool" ? I find a lot of new moms use those terms interchangeably now with the ubiquity of dcps pk3. It's confusing.

Possibly religious schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue would be the commute to private schools. I would suspect you are looking at private in upper NW and that commute twice a day, even for 6 years just for elementary would be a killer, unless you work that direction anyway.

I'm trying to understand how a parent is going to afford $38,000-$40,000 for private school every year but can only afford the mortgage on an $800,000 house. It doesn't add up.

Or by "private" did op mean "preschool" ? I find a lot of new moms use those terms interchangeably now with the ubiquity of dcps pk3. It's confusing.

Maybe they can only do the $800k mortgage to leave room in their budget for the private school tuition?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue would be the commute to private schools. I would suspect you are looking at private in upper NW and that commute twice a day, even for 6 years just for elementary would be a killer, unless you work that direction anyway.

The commute from Bloomingdale/Truxton to Cleveland Park to Downtown is about the same (20-25 minutes in normal traffic) as Bethesda to Cleveland Park to Downtown.

If you are saying that it takes 20 minutes to drive from Bloomingdale to Cleveland Park and THEN to downtown, I don't believe you.

Bethesda to downtown with a stop in Cleveland Park in between also won't take 20 minutes but it's at least more logical then from Bloomingdale all the way up to Cleveland Park and then back to downtown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue would be the commute to private schools. I would suspect you are looking at private in upper NW and that commute twice a day, even for 6 years just for elementary would be a killer, unless you work that direction anyway.

The commute from Bloomingdale/Truxton to Cleveland Park to Downtown is about the same (20-25 minutes in normal traffic) as Bethesda to Cleveland Park to Downtown.

If you are saying that it takes 20 minutes to drive from Bloomingdale to Cleveland Park and THEN to downtown, I don't believe you.

Bethesda to downtown with a stop in Cleveland Park in between also won't take 20 minutes but it's at least more logical then from Bloomingdale all the way up to Cleveland Park and then back to downtown.

I think PP meant Bloomingdale to CP = 20 minutes = Bethesda to CP. Not sure what you mean by one 20 minute commute being more logical than the other 20 minute commute though. 20 minutes in a car is 20 minutes in a car. At least from Bloomingdale the trip is partly not in the direction of the rush hour commuters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue would be the commute to private schools. I would suspect you are looking at private in upper NW and that commute twice a day, even for 6 years just for elementary would be a killer, unless you work that direction anyway.

The commute from Bloomingdale/Truxton to Cleveland Park to Downtown is about the same (20-25 minutes in normal traffic) as Bethesda to Cleveland Park to Downtown.

If you are saying that it takes 20 minutes to drive from Bloomingdale to Cleveland Park and THEN to downtown, I don't believe you.

Bethesda to downtown with a stop in Cleveland Park in between also won't take 20 minutes but it's at least more logical then from Bloomingdale all the way up to Cleveland Park and then back to downtown.

I think PP meant Bloomingdale to CP = 20 minutes = Bethesda to CP. Not sure what you mean by one 20 minute commute being more logical than the other 20 minute commute though. 20 minutes in a car is 20 minutes in a car. At least from Bloomingdale the trip is partly not in the direction of the rush hour commuters.

At rush hour traffic is in all directions. I am not sure how you propose to get from Bloomingdale to CP avoiding morning traffic.

PP said commute from Bloomingdale to Cleveland Park to downtown.

Bethesda is more logical because Cleveland Park is on the way if you're going from Bethesda to downtown. It's also closer.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yeah, we’re trying to save money in our take home to afford private school. The commutes do freak me out, though. Seems like it could be exhausting. I wish the neighborhood schools were better. On the religious school issue: we’re Jewish so we’re not comfortable with a Catholic school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My issue would be the commute to private schools. I would suspect you are looking at private in upper NW and that commute twice a day, even for 6 years just for elementary would be a killer, unless you work that direction anyway.

The commute from Bloomingdale/Truxton to Cleveland Park to Downtown is about the same (20-25 minutes in normal traffic) as Bethesda to Cleveland Park to Downtown.

If you are saying that it takes 20 minutes to drive from Bloomingdale to Cleveland Park and THEN to downtown, I don't believe you.

Bethesda to downtown with a stop in Cleveland Park in between also won't take 20 minutes but it's at least more logical then from Bloomingdale all the way up to Cleveland Park and then back to downtown.

Neither of those drives take 20 minutes at 4 am.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yeah, we’re trying to save money in our take home to afford private school. The commutes do freak me out, though. Seems like it could be exhausting. I wish the neighborhood schools were better. On the religious school issue: we’re Jewish so we’re not comfortable with a Catholic school.

As someone who lived in a row house I loved in a great neighborhood with lousy schools -- waiting out the private school application process is no joke when you don't have a good public alternative as a fall back. It worked out well for us, but just be prepared.

[Anonymous]

Y'all are being nuts. I just Googled it and in no traffic :

Bloomingdale > CP > Downtown = 31 minutes
Bethesda > CP > downtown = 25 minutes

Assuming traffic affects both routes equally this doesn't really seem like it should be a deal breaker either way. Although OP I might suggest at least trying the lottery, you might get into a closer, decent school and avoid this whole mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yeah, we’re trying to save money in our take home to afford private school. The commutes do freak me out, though. Seems like it could be exhausting. I wish the neighborhood schools were better. On the religious school issue: we’re Jewish so we’re not comfortable with a Catholic school.

OP, would you consider charter schools? Lots of Jewish families at the desirable charters. Bloomingdale would be conveniently located to many desirable charter schools. I agree with PP's who say the commute from Bloomingdale to privates would be grueling to do twice per day, unless you happen to work near the privates and would be driving one way each time.

We used to live in the U ST/Logan neighborhood. Every single one of our friends from Logan (except one) who did private ended up either moving close to the school or moved out of the DC area. When your kids are older, there will be evening and weekend activities at the school, playdates with other kids who mostly live near the school, etc. Living further away will be harder for you to really enmesh into the private school community. Bloomingdale/Truxton Circle are even further from the privates than Logan.

If you're interested in charter schools and expanding your search, check out Brookland, Brightwood, Takoma, and Shepherd Park too. All are great places to live with lots of families, and you could find a place within your budget. Except for Brookland, all are walking distance to the new Walter Reed development, Downtown Takoma/Takoma Park, Downtown Silver Spring, and revitalizing stuff on Georgia Ave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yeah, we’re trying to save money in our take home to afford private school. The commutes do freak me out, though. Seems like it could be exhausting. I wish the neighborhood schools were better. On the religious school issue: we’re Jewish so we’re not comfortable with a Catholic school.

OP, would you consider charter schools? Lots of Jewish families at the desirable charters. Bloomingdale would be conveniently located to many desirable charter schools. I agree with PP's who say the commute from Bloomingdale to privates would be grueling to do twice per day, unless you happen to work near the privates and would be driving one way each time.

We used to live in the U ST/Logan neighborhood. Every single one of our friends from Logan (except one) who did private ended up either moving close to the school or moved out of the DC area. When your kids are older, there will be evening and weekend activities at the school, playdates with other kids who mostly live near the school, etc. Living further away will be harder for you to really enmesh into the private school community. Bloomingdale/Truxton Circle are even further from the privates than Logan.

If you're interested in charter schools and expanding your search, check out Brookland, Brightwood, Takoma, and Shepherd Park too. All are great places to live with lots of families, and you could find a place within your budget. Except for Brookland, all are walking distance to the new Walter Reed development, Downtown Takoma/Takoma Park, Downtown Silver Spring, and revitalizing stuff on Georgia Ave.

Public would be an option in SP, too. It has a good elementary and is zoned for Deal and Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Yeah, we’re trying to save money in our take home to afford private school. The commutes do freak me out, though. Seems like it could be exhausting. I wish the neighborhood schools were better. On the religious school issue: we’re Jewish so we’re not comfortable with a Catholic school.

OP, would you consider charter schools? Lots of Jewish families at the desirable charters. Bloomingdale would be conveniently located to many desirable charter schools. I agree with PP's who say the commute from Bloomingdale to privates would be grueling to do twice per day, unless you happen to work near the privates and would be driving one way each time.

We used to live in the U ST/Logan neighborhood. Every single one of our friends from Logan (except one) who did private ended up either moving close to the school or moved out of the DC area. When your kids are older, there will be evening and weekend activities at the school, playdates with other kids who mostly live near the school, etc. Living further away will be harder for you to really enmesh into the private school community. Bloomingdale/Truxton Circle are even further from the privates than Logan.

If you're interested in charter schools and expanding your search, check out Brookland, Brightwood, Takoma, and Shepherd Park too. All are great places to live with lots of families, and you could find a place within your budget. Except for Brookland, all are walking distance to the new Walter Reed development, Downtown Takoma/Takoma Park, Downtown Silver Spring, and revitalizing stuff on Georgia Ave.

Public would be an option in SP, too. It has a good elementary and is zoned for Deal and Wilson.

PP you're quoting here. Very true about Shepherd Elementary/Shepherd Park (full disclosure I live in SP). That way OP could get a nice neighborhood feel with lots of families, yard for the kids, neighborhood school, and walkable to parks, restaurants, etc.