Will my charter school kids fit in when we but WofP

[Anonymous]

We've decided that we need a SFH in a more uppity neighborhood. Just tired of living in such cramped quarters in a traditional row. We don't want to uproot our kids though from school and are very happy with their sought after charter. We're thinking Forest Hills / Barnaby Woods area. How will my kids be treated by the neighborhood kids. We're charter by choice. Will my kids be looked down upon?

[Anonymous]

Why don't you ask the people at your charter? If you are at a sought after charter, there probably already are families from Forest Hills/Barnaby there. The only thing that would worry me would be the longer commute to school unless there is bus service. Actually asking about car pools on the school's listserve may help you find other families.

[Anonymous]

We live in barnaby woods, and all my kids' friends are from Lafayette or BS. I know there is a kid on a our block that attends another private, but none of the parents (including his) have encouraged a connection. My one kid is friends w aBS neighbor and met his other BS kids through him, but it hasn't resulted in hanging out w them on his own. I think it's a bit difficult to make that leap. They have a few friends from BS, who they met at Lafayette. So, you would likely have your block friends, but you would have to really work hard beyond that. I don't think it's meant to be non-inclusive, but parents are lazy. And, lots of kids hang out on the playground and make playdates before coming home.

[Anonymous]

Kids from the SFH part of Forest Hills don't attend charter schools.

[Anonymous]

Why move WotP when you can get a bigger, renovated SFH in 16th St Heights or Crestwood and be surrounded by charter families while maintaining a decent commute?

[Anonymous]

We live in an SFH in Forest Hills, and I can't imagine caring where your kids go to school. Mine go to Murch, as do most of their friends, but I don't judge people or their kids based on their school choice.

But I wonder why you're considering moving to my "uppity" neighborhood? It sounds to me like you don't really want to, and there are plenty of big houses outside Forest Hills/Barnaby Woods.

[Anonymous]

We are a WoTP charter family.

There is a mix of kids on our block - neighborhood schools, private and Charter (represented by us).

My children socialize with the neighborhood kids - and I don''t think there is a public / private issue.

Although we love our charter, we are not moving. In case things change we want the fall back of Deal / Wilson.

[Anonymous]

Do people really need to worry about this? I find this sad. Why should anyone be treated any particular way because of the school they attend? This sounds like a kids issue created entirely by parents. Yuck.

[Anonymous]

Is there a sense of charter/DCPS kids vs. private school kids? We're planning on a WofP house, but will keep our kids in their immersion charter (but not if that will hurt them socially). We want our kids to feel welcome and make friends in the community and not be singled out for being charter. For those that post things like, "why would you care, etc..." I care because my kids's wellbeing comes first in my mind. If they'll be shunned, no matter how awful and superficial that is, I will not put them through that. What's the culture like with the neighborhood kids? Also, how would my kids make friends? Are this kids playing out in front, are they primarily going to the local playground or are they mainly sticking with the kids in their schools?

[Anonymous]

PP, Get a life!

[Anonymous]

I have a life. I'm making sure my kids will have one too! I read the threads on here a lot and there's a lot of charter vs. private mentality or at least that's my take on it. I'm looking for constructive advice. Maybe I'm overthinking things. I do get very angst ridden when it comes to my kids. I really want what's best for them. That's why I'm moving to begin with. My current neighborhood is ideal for hipsters with no kids, but terrible for children IMO. No backyard, no green space, no place to learn to bike ride etc... and TERRIBLE IB elementary school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a life. I'm making sure my kids will have one too! I read the threads on here a lot and there's a lot of charter vs. private mentality or at least that's my take on it. I'm looking for constructive advice. Maybe I'm overthinking things. I do get very angst ridden when it comes to my kids. I really want what's best for them. That's why I'm moving to begin with. My current neighborhood is ideal for hipsters with no kids, but terrible for children IMO. No backyard, no green space, no place to learn to bike ride etc... and TERRIBLE IB elementary school.

Then you'd move to the burbs if you were really that neurotic.

We have green space and plenty of room to learn to ride bikes. And there are great schools in the burbs, too.


Who's selfish here? We make the commute knowing that our kids have a great environment.

[Anonymous]

^^ I would move to the burbs, but I work 12 hour days, sometimes 14. I'm in healthcare and my work is in the city. I also must be in the city because I have to respond to calls that require me to be at a hospital site within a very short time frame. My speciality is very small and so I'm the only go to for some of the areas top facilities. It is impossible for me to move. I know I chose my career. I'm not complaining about that and am very grateful for my options. WofP in DC allows me to have the best of all worlds- close to work sites, but a good life for my kids. FWIW inventory is so low in that area, all of this talk won't get me anywhere anyhow!

[Anonymous]

I've lived here my entire life and I had to google to figure out where you are talking about

My guess is that plenty of kids in those neighborhoods go private, so it's not like your kid would be the ONLY one not at the neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

I do not think kids will "shun" anyone because of where they go to school. I also think it is easier to make friends in a neighborhood when you go to the neighborhood school because of proximity issues. We have private, charter and public on our upper NW block. All the kids of similar ages on our block play together. My DD's best friend down the street goes to a different school than her and they are still very close.

That said, the kids that go charter or private likely do not know as many kids in the neighborhood outside of our insular block because they do not see them on a regular basis.

Also, to the PP that called OP selfish for not enduring a miserable commute, it is not selfish to live close in so that you have a reasonable commute, that is good for the whole family. I realize not everyone can do it and that people make different trade offs, but this is a valid choice. WOTP neighborhoods provide great family friendly neighborhoods with great schools. Others neighborhoods may as well, I am just not familiar with them. Clearly where OP is now is not a good fit for her family.