Charters v JKLM

[Anonymous]

We are looking to buy in DC. Obviously our money would go much further if we bought East of the Park. Is it worth it to spend more to be in bounds for JKLM or are Charters just a good? I just can't believe how much real estate is in bounds for JKLM!!

[Anonymous]

Save yourself the headaches of the lottery and the unknowns of Charters without a permanent home. Buy WOTP or go to the burbs. A bigger house is just not worth it. Some would also argue that it is a better investment. My sister just did this for her kids. Left Shaw for CC, DC and they are very happy about the move.

[Anonymous]

The charter schools can be great - but you are subjecting yourself to a lottery (a challenging one) in order to find a spot. And keep in mind, it's not just getting in for elementary school, but most likely middle and HS as well.

It was way too stressful to me, so we opted for WOTP.

[Anonymous]

Also pp, there are some areas that are cheaper still with good schools, just not JKLMM.

[Anonymous]

Some charters are "just as good" some aren't and some are better....it all depends on what you're looking for. Most charters have a something that makes their mission special--whether it's language immersion, Montesorri, International Baccalaureate, etc. Your chances of getting in a good charter are slim however, because at this point siblings of current students take up most of the incoming spots at the lowest grades. Good news is, there are actions being taken to create a unified lottery for both regular public schools and charters and within a couple years I think they'll likely have a decent handle on that so that people will have a better shot at getting into the school they REALLY want...rather than the "apply any and everywhere and hope you get a spot somewhere" process that's been in place the last few years. But I think for the fist and maybe second year, the unified lottery is probably not going to make a lot of people happy...let's hope the folks who run the lottery have a good handle on the algorithms they'll need to apply to actually make it work they way it should. Finally, many public schools east of the park are getting better each and every year. Powell, Barnard, West are just a few examples of schools on the rise in neighborhoods that are still reasonably affordable.

[Anonymous]

^^ Famous last words. OP, don't believe that nonchalant generic advise. It's a bleak world out there with the EofP abyss. Save yourself the headache. Go for JKLMM (that feed Deal/Wilson) or move to the burbs. It'll keep you sane.

[Anonymous]

We are a family that lives EoTP in a big house with kids in a "good" charter. It has worked for us, and I have noticed that families with young kids are moving to our hood (Takoma/Brightwood) in droves. That said, if you have the funds to buy in a neighborhood with a fantastic publlic school, it's certainly worth considering. Your kids will have the benefit of schooling with kids in your neighborhood and you will still be elligible to lottery into any charter in the city if you decide you like them better.

[Anonymous]

Here is a list of all DCPCS. Note how many are on here that you don't here about.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnpZg6ZBX0oYdFR1NlhjYldfNVJJZUpLdUF3UnlqSmc#gid=0

[Anonymous]

Depends on what you can afford, what you can deal with and how old your children are. We live EoTP in a great neighborhood ( in Ward 5) but the schools are just so-so. Early childhood went well, then we went with a charter (easier to get in when the kids are a little older) and are extremely pleased. We have neighbors at schools all over the place (and to be honest, the main difference seems to be activities offered not teaching). If you don't mind the drive across town for school by EoTP where you get more bang for your buck. If your children are younger, I'd say exploring a variety of schools that aren't WOTP will likely find you pleasantly surprised enough to make living EoTP a serious consideration.

[Anonymous]

The problem with charters is that even if you find one that is a great fit, you can't guarantee that you'll get in. We took the risk because we already lived in a nice but small house in a neighborhood without a good neighborhood school and knew we'd need to move regardless around K for more space. We figured that if we didn't get into a good charter by K, we'd move WoTP. We did get into our first choice charter (and it is a great fit for our kids) so our new house will not be determined by schools (if we decide that the charter is not working at some point, we will go to private school). If you are trying to buy your "forever home" then I think you should move where there is a usable neighborhood school. If you'll be moving in a few years regardless (and can afford child care for PS and PK if you don't get in at a workable option), then try your luck. It depends on what you want in a neighborhood too - the "feel" of many of the WoTP neighborhoods is a lot less urban than the centrally located neighborhoods. Some people love the more suburban feel (especially since many of the neighborhoods are still very walkable and close to public transportation). We love being in a mixed use area close to downtown. There are a lot of issues to consider, but I hope you find the right fit for you!

[Anonymous]

Go with JKLM, escpecially if you feed to Deal then Wilson. You could be all set through HD graduation. Yes there are great lotteries but the better the charter, the less likely you are to get into it. And then you need to lottery for middle, then High school again. Listen to PP, save yourself the yearly drama and settle the school questions for 12 years straight. Smaller hour, West of the Park. And I say this as someone in Petworth with a large house that I love but we are so uncertain on the schools.

[Anonymous]

Look at the test scores, visit the schools, then decide.

[Anonymous]

If you want to avoid the headache of a lottery move IB for one of the sought after schools in Ward 3. However, could you use someone’s address to enter the lottery for a Charter and then move to your neighborhood of choice?

[Anonymous]

I think so much depends on your risk tolerance. When we were house hunting on the Hill, everyone we knew told us to buy wherever we wanted because the OOB lottery was still a viable way to get into a decent school. At that time, you could still lottery into Maury, Brent and SWS/Peabody.

Fast forward to when we actually tried the lottery and we were shut out everywhere! It's nearly impossible to know what the school scenario will look like in the next few years. Fortunately we were able to get into a great charter the next lottery year, so it did work out for us. But it was very, very stressful.

I think you need to weigh how many years you think you want to stay in the area, how far you might be willing to travel for school, and what neighborhoods you really like. Are you willing to try one of those neighborhood schools? JKLM and a few of the other WOTP schools are a sure bet, but some of the charters are really great as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to avoid the headache of a lottery move IB for one of the sought after schools in Ward 3. However, could you use someone’s address to enter the lottery for a Charter and then move to your neighborhood of choice?

Calling it now: T-R-O-L-L.