Capitol Hill families - If you moved to NW or burbs for school, do you have any regrets?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people on CH can’t afford to move or go private, so they are really stuck. However there are more charter high schools than the ones DCUM finds acceptable and many families I know send their kids to these high schools.

Total BS. Whether a family rents or buys on CH, the same money spent on rent and equity/mortgage payments could be spent on housing in the DC burbs. No middle-class family is stuck with mediocre or bad schooling options in Ward 6.

No, housing is relatively cheaper on the Hill. Many of us can’t trade up that easily.

Cheaper as compared to where? North and Central Arlington 3-bedroom houses and Hill houses are priced comparably (we've done lots of searching). Same with 3-bedroom rentals. Almost all of Fairfax and Falls Church and at least half of MoCo are cheaper than the Hill.

Not for schools that are clearly better.

NW DC, Arlington, Falls Church and MoCo zoned for the “good” schools have almosr nothing under $1m. 20002/20003 currently have 150+ 2br+ properties for under $1 mil. Fairfax is better but you start getting really deep into the burbs and trading off time for money.

This leaves families contemplating a move to the DCC or Richard Montgomery HS. At that point many Hill families will stick it out a bit longer to hope that Walls or McKinley or a cheaper Catholic HS will work out.

You keep saying this. But you've been told over and over again that things sell quickly in these areas so you just won't ever see lots of inventory at any price point. (At least not in the 7 years I've lived in Arlington.) There are never ever 150+ properties on the market in a single price range. You have to watch when things come up and pounce. It doesn't mean that there aren't options. It just means that they don't sit around.

This is not even remotely limited to Arlington. Houses in the Dc area sell fast. And i don’t know where you’re finding homes under 1 million on Capitol Hill. They don’t really exist.

As a final note- Arlington middle schools are not good.

What is your basis for arguing this? I live on the Hill while my ex lives in Arlington. We split custody. I like the neighborhood MS my boys attend in Arlington, although it's not one of the several with the "most favorable demographics." My rising 8th grader has earned the grades to enroll in "intensified" (honors) classes across the board for his last year in MS, in science, math (geometry and algebra II), social studies (geography for HS credit), English and band. He's also going into his 3rd year of Chinese at the school. He's taken band as a daily class since 6th grade, learned to play a brass instrument well for free. For the most part, his teachers are strong, experienced, older, been at the school for many years. Admins tell me that intensified classes outside math will be available to younger son starting in 7th grade, a new county initiative.

At the several DCPS middle schools in Ward 6, which my ex and I considered, the only definite honors classes I heard about are for math, and maybe grade-level English at Stuart Hobson. If Arlington middle schools aren't good, where are they good in this area, other than the super duper GT test-in programs in Fairfax and MoCo serving less than 10% of students? Arlington doesn't have test-in GT, DCPS either of course.

A lot of UMC in Ward 6 have kids at BASIS, which starts in 5th. True, you have to get accepted in 5th grade and it gets harder each year (easier with sibling preference).

There are other options in DC as well:

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

Other than maybe Williamsburg or Swanson, it doesn't seem like Arlington has very good options.

You're out of the loop. Right now Hamm is the most highly regarded MS in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people on CH can’t afford to move or go private, so they are really stuck. However there are more charter high schools than the ones DCUM finds acceptable and many families I know send their kids to these high schools.

Total BS. Whether a family rents or buys on CH, the same money spent on rent and equity/mortgage payments could be spent on housing in the DC burbs. No middle-class family is stuck with mediocre or bad schooling options in Ward 6.

No, housing is relatively cheaper on the Hill. Many of us can’t trade up that easily.

Cheaper as compared to where? North and Central Arlington 3-bedroom houses and Hill houses are priced comparably (we've done lots of searching). Same with 3-bedroom rentals. Almost all of Fairfax and Falls Church and at least half of MoCo are cheaper than the Hill.

Not for schools that are clearly better.

NW DC, Arlington, Falls Church and MoCo zoned for the “good” schools have almosr nothing under $1m. 20002/20003 currently have 150+ 2br+ properties for under $1 mil. Fairfax is better but you start getting really deep into the burbs and trading off time for money.

This leaves families contemplating a move to the DCC or Richard Montgomery HS. At that point many Hill families will stick it out a bit longer to hope that Walls or McKinley or a cheaper Catholic HS will work out.

You keep saying this. But you've been told over and over again that things sell quickly in these areas so you just won't ever see lots of inventory at any price point. (At least not in the 7 years I've lived in Arlington.) There are never ever 150+ properties on the market in a single price range. You have to watch when things come up and pounce. It doesn't mean that there aren't options. It just means that they don't sit around.

This is not even remotely limited to Arlington. Houses in the Dc area sell fast. And i don’t know where you’re finding homes under 1 million on Capitol Hill. They don’t really exist.

As a final note- Arlington middle schools are not good.

There's some poster who is convinced there are >150 properties on the Hill for sale for less than $1m. That doesn't seem right to me, but I'm not going to waste my time checking. She has some crazy notion that there are endless cheap options on the Hill, but nothing at all is affordable in Arlington. (Of course her reference for Arlington is that nothing is listed the last week of July--literally the worst time to look for real estate in the DMV.).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people on CH can’t afford to move or go private, so they are really stuck. However there are more charter high schools than the ones DCUM finds acceptable and many families I know send their kids to these high schools.

Total BS. Whether a family rents or buys on CH, the same money spent on rent and equity/mortgage payments could be spent on housing in the DC burbs. No middle-class family is stuck with mediocre or bad schooling options in Ward 6.

No, housing is relatively cheaper on the Hill. Many of us can’t trade up that easily.

Cheaper as compared to where? North and Central Arlington 3-bedroom houses and Hill houses are priced comparably (we've done lots of searching). Same with 3-bedroom rentals. Almost all of Fairfax and Falls Church and at least half of MoCo are cheaper than the Hill.

Not for schools that are clearly better.

NW DC, Arlington, Falls Church and MoCo zoned for the “good” schools have almosr nothing under $1m. 20002/20003 currently have 150+ 2br+ properties for under $1 mil. Fairfax is better but you start getting really deep into the burbs and trading off time for money.

This leaves families contemplating a move to the DCC or Richard Montgomery HS. At that point many Hill families will stick it out a bit longer to hope that Walls or McKinley or a cheaper Catholic HS will work out.

You keep saying this. But you've been told over and over again that things sell quickly in these areas so you just won't ever see lots of inventory at any price point. (At least not in the 7 years I've lived in Arlington.) There are never ever 150+ properties on the market in a single price range. You have to watch when things come up and pounce. It doesn't mean that there aren't options. It just means that they don't sit around.

This is not even remotely limited to Arlington. Houses in the Dc area sell fast. And i don’t know where you’re finding homes under 1 million on Capitol Hill. They don’t really exist.

As a final note- Arlington middle schools are not good.

There's some poster who is convinced there are >150 properties on the Hill for sale for less than $1m. That doesn't seem right to me, but I'm not going to waste my time checking. She has some crazy notion that there are endless cheap options on the Hill, but nothing at all is affordable in Arlington. (Of course her reference for Arlington is that nothing is listed the last week of July--literally the worst time to look for real estate in the DMV.).

“I don’t believe you and I’m not going to check but you’re wrong for sure.”

truly amazing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people on CH can’t afford to move or go private, so they are really stuck. However there are more charter high schools than the ones DCUM finds acceptable and many families I know send their kids to these high schools.

Total BS. Whether a family rents or buys on CH, the same money spent on rent and equity/mortgage payments could be spent on housing in the DC burbs. No middle-class family is stuck with mediocre or bad schooling options in Ward 6.

No, housing is relatively cheaper on the Hill. Many of us can’t trade up that easily.

Cheaper as compared to where? North and Central Arlington 3-bedroom houses and Hill houses are priced comparably (we've done lots of searching). Same with 3-bedroom rentals. Almost all of Fairfax and Falls Church and at least half of MoCo are cheaper than the Hill.

Not for schools that are clearly better.

NW DC, Arlington, Falls Church and MoCo zoned for the “good” schools have almosr nothing under $1m. 20002/20003 currently have 150+ 2br+ properties for under $1 mil. Fairfax is better but you start getting really deep into the burbs and trading off time for money.

This leaves families contemplating a move to the DCC or Richard Montgomery HS. At that point many Hill families will stick it out a bit longer to hope that Walls or McKinley or a cheaper Catholic HS will work out.

You keep saying this. But you've been told over and over again that things sell quickly in these areas so you just won't ever see lots of inventory at any price point. (At least not in the 7 years I've lived in Arlington.) There are never ever 150+ properties on the market in a single price range. You have to watch when things come up and pounce. It doesn't mean that there aren't options. It just means that they don't sit around.

This is not even remotely limited to Arlington. Houses in the Dc area sell fast. And i don’t know where you’re finding homes under 1 million on Capitol Hill. They don’t really exist.

As a final note- Arlington middle schools are not good.

What is your basis for arguing this? I live on the Hill while my ex lives in Arlington. We split custody. I like the neighborhood MS my boys attend in Arlington, although it's not one of the several with the "most favorable demographics." My rising 8th grader has earned the grades to enroll in "intensified" (honors) classes across the board for his last year in MS, in science, math (geometry and algebra II), social studies (geography for HS credit), English and band. He's also going into his 3rd year of Chinese at the school. He's taken band as a daily class since 6th grade, learned to play a brass instrument well for free. For the most part, his teachers are strong, experienced, older, been at the school for many years. Admins tell me that intensified classes outside math will be available to younger son starting in 7th grade, a new county initiative.

At the several DCPS middle schools in Ward 6, which my ex and I considered, the only definite honors classes I heard about are for math, and maybe grade-level English at Stuart Hobson. If Arlington middle schools aren't good, where are they good in this area, other than the super duper GT test-in programs in Fairfax and MoCo serving less than 10% of students? Arlington doesn't have test-in GT, DCPS either of course.

A lot of UMC in Ward 6 have kids at BASIS, which starts in 5th. True, you have to get accepted in 5th grade and it gets harder each year (easier with sibling preference).

There are other options in DC as well:

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

Other than maybe Williamsburg or Swanson, it doesn't seem like Arlington has very good options.

This CH mom with kids in a public MS in Arlington, where my ex lives, doesn't agree. My boys aren't at Williamsburg, Swanson or Dorothy Hamm. Every Arlington MS teaches MS math on a par with that at BASIS, offers robust foreign language options (from 6th grade, and not just at the beginning level), serious electives and a full menu of core honors classes in 8th grade (and 7th grade from SY 2024-25). My kids' biggest classes have two dozen kids. Their writing classes (separate from reading classes) have no more than 15 students. They can take like ASL, orchestra, chorus, band, cooking, forensics or science competition prep as electives daily. Their school has giant playing fields/courts, a greenhouse and a large vegetable garden, an indoor track, a student run TV station, a modern theater/stage, and giant gym and library. I've worked as a consultant in the miserable BASIS building and know it well.

That sounds like a lot of unsupported rhetoric. What school and what is the data supporting your claims?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people on CH can’t afford to move or go private, so they are really stuck. However there are more charter high schools than the ones DCUM finds acceptable and many families I know send their kids to these high schools.

Total BS. Whether a family rents or buys on CH, the same money spent on rent and equity/mortgage payments could be spent on housing in the DC burbs. No middle-class family is stuck with mediocre or bad schooling options in Ward 6.

No, housing is relatively cheaper on the Hill. Many of us can’t trade up that easily.

Cheaper as compared to where? North and Central Arlington 3-bedroom houses and Hill houses are priced comparably (we've done lots of searching). Same with 3-bedroom rentals. Almost all of Fairfax and Falls Church and at least half of MoCo are cheaper than the Hill.

Not for schools that are clearly better.

NW DC, Arlington, Falls Church and MoCo zoned for the “good” schools have almosr nothing under $1m. 20002/20003 currently have 150+ 2br+ properties for under $1 mil. Fairfax is better but you start getting really deep into the burbs and trading off time for money.

This leaves families contemplating a move to the DCC or Richard Montgomery HS. At that point many Hill families will stick it out a bit longer to hope that Walls or McKinley or a cheaper Catholic HS will work out.

You keep saying this. But you've been told over and over again that things sell quickly in these areas so you just won't ever see lots of inventory at any price point. (At least not in the 7 years I've lived in Arlington.) There are never ever 150+ properties on the market in a single price range. You have to watch when things come up and pounce. It doesn't mean that there aren't options. It just means that they don't sit around.

This is not even remotely limited to Arlington. Houses in the Dc area sell fast. And i don’t know where you’re finding homes under 1 million on Capitol Hill. They don’t really exist.

As a final note- Arlington middle schools are not good.

What is your basis for arguing this? I live on the Hill while my ex lives in Arlington. We split custody. I like the neighborhood MS my boys attend in Arlington, although it's not one of the several with the "most favorable demographics." My rising 8th grader has earned the grades to enroll in "intensified" (honors) classes across the board for his last year in MS, in science, math (geometry and algebra II), social studies (geography for HS credit), English and band. He's also going into his 3rd year of Chinese at the school. He's taken band as a daily class since 6th grade, learned to play a brass instrument well for free. For the most part, his teachers are strong, experienced, older, been at the school for many years. Admins tell me that intensified classes outside math will be available to younger son starting in 7th grade, a new county initiative.

At the several DCPS middle schools in Ward 6, which my ex and I considered, the only definite honors classes I heard about are for math, and maybe grade-level English at Stuart Hobson. If Arlington middle schools aren't good, where are they good in this area, other than the super duper GT test-in programs in Fairfax and MoCo serving less than 10% of students? Arlington doesn't have test-in GT, DCPS either of course.

A lot of UMC in Ward 6 have kids at BASIS, which starts in 5th. True, you have to get accepted in 5th grade and it gets harder each year (easier with sibling preference).

There are other options in DC as well:

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

Other than maybe Williamsburg or Swanson, it doesn't seem like Arlington has very good options.

You're out of the loop. Right now Hamm is the most highly regarded MS in Arlington.

Oh, the most highly regarded? By whom? You?

According to USNWR, it is the worst of the bunch in Arlington.

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/virginia?city-zip=arlington

[Anonymous]

BASIS' science teaching for middle school is extraordinary. The math is good. The rest is mediocre or lousy.

These days, not even half the CH families who apply to BASIS are admitted by the start of 5th grade, so you can't plan on the program working out for your family. If you move to Arlington, you can plan to send your children to good schools all the way up. Maybe not great schools, but certainly good ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm tired of hearing 4th grade parents we've come up through Brent with expressing shock and dismay (and more shock and dismay) that they're way down on the BASIS and Latins waiting lists.

If you don't like being around CH parents who planned ahead for middle school, who made Plan B, for goodness sakes, move. Find your own kind elsewhere.

Well I guarantee the feeling is mutual. None of your fellow Brent 4th grade parents enjoy listening to you expound upon what a genius you are for having a MS plan that doesn't rely on charters, either. Especially if that genius plan involves "buying a house 15 years ago" or "being rich" or "simply not caring about the quality of my kids' schools."

Maybe you're the one who needs to go "find your own kind" and by that I mean: smug a$$holes.

I went ahead and reported the "go find your own kind" post, because it sounded every type of -ist to me.

Meaning that you're desperately seeking -ists, particularly fantasists who go into the 5th grade charter lottery convinced that they'll win at the Latins or BASIS. You needn't look so hard for them: they abound on CH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people on CH can’t afford to move or go private, so they are really stuck. However there are more charter high schools than the ones DCUM finds acceptable and many families I know send their kids to these high schools.

Total BS. Whether a family rents or buys on CH, the same money spent on rent and equity/mortgage payments could be spent on housing in the DC burbs. No middle-class family is stuck with mediocre or bad schooling options in Ward 6.

No, housing is relatively cheaper on the Hill. Many of us can’t trade up that easily.

Cheaper as compared to where? North and Central Arlington 3-bedroom houses and Hill houses are priced comparably (we've done lots of searching). Same with 3-bedroom rentals. Almost all of Fairfax and Falls Church and at least half of MoCo are cheaper than the Hill.

Not for schools that are clearly better.

NW DC, Arlington, Falls Church and MoCo zoned for the “good” schools have almosr nothing under $1m. 20002/20003 currently have 150+ 2br+ properties for under $1 mil. Fairfax is better but you start getting really deep into the burbs and trading off time for money.

This leaves families contemplating a move to the DCC or Richard Montgomery HS. At that point many Hill families will stick it out a bit longer to hope that Walls or McKinley or a cheaper Catholic HS will work out.

You keep saying this. But you've been told over and over again that things sell quickly in these areas so you just won't ever see lots of inventory at any price point. (At least not in the 7 years I've lived in Arlington.) There are never ever 150+ properties on the market in a single price range. You have to watch when things come up and pounce. It doesn't mean that there aren't options. It just means that they don't sit around.

This is not even remotely limited to Arlington. Houses in the Dc area sell fast. And i don’t know where you’re finding homes under 1 million on Capitol Hill. They don’t really exist.

As a final note- Arlington middle schools are not good.

What is your basis for arguing this? I live on the Hill while my ex lives in Arlington. We split custody. I like the neighborhood MS my boys attend in Arlington, although it's not one of the several with the "most favorable demographics." My rising 8th grader has earned the grades to enroll in "intensified" (honors) classes across the board for his last year in MS, in science, math (geometry and algebra II), social studies (geography for HS credit), English and band. He's also going into his 3rd year of Chinese at the school. He's taken band as a daily class since 6th grade, learned to play a brass instrument well for free. For the most part, his teachers are strong, experienced, older, been at the school for many years. Admins tell me that intensified classes outside math will be available to younger son starting in 7th grade, a new county initiative.

At the several DCPS middle schools in Ward 6, which my ex and I considered, the only definite honors classes I heard about are for math, and maybe grade-level English at Stuart Hobson. If Arlington middle schools aren't good, where are they good in this area, other than the super duper GT test-in programs in Fairfax and MoCo serving less than 10% of students? Arlington doesn't have test-in GT, DCPS either of course.

A lot of UMC in Ward 6 have kids at BASIS, which starts in 5th. True, you have to get accepted in 5th grade and it gets harder each year (easier with sibling preference).

There are other options in DC as well:

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

Other than maybe Williamsburg or Swanson, it doesn't seem like Arlington has very good options.

You're out of the loop. Right now Hamm is the most highly regarded MS in Arlington.

Oh, the most highly regarded? By whom? You?

According to USNWR, it is the worst of the bunch in Arlington.

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/virginia?city-zip=arlington

DP. It’s unranked because it’s still very new. It’s a new school in a brand new building in N Arlington. It’s the most coveted MS in Arlington by many people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people on CH can’t afford to move or go private, so they are really stuck. However there are more charter high schools than the ones DCUM finds acceptable and many families I know send their kids to these high schools.

Total BS. Whether a family rents or buys on CH, the same money spent on rent and equity/mortgage payments could be spent on housing in the DC burbs. No middle-class family is stuck with mediocre or bad schooling options in Ward 6.

No, housing is relatively cheaper on the Hill. Many of us can’t trade up that easily.

Cheaper as compared to where? North and Central Arlington 3-bedroom houses and Hill houses are priced comparably (we've done lots of searching). Same with 3-bedroom rentals. Almost all of Fairfax and Falls Church and at least half of MoCo are cheaper than the Hill.

Not for schools that are clearly better.

NW DC, Arlington, Falls Church and MoCo zoned for the “good” schools have almosr nothing under $1m. 20002/20003 currently have 150+ 2br+ properties for under $1 mil. Fairfax is better but you start getting really deep into the burbs and trading off time for money.

This leaves families contemplating a move to the DCC or Richard Montgomery HS. At that point many Hill families will stick it out a bit longer to hope that Walls or McKinley or a cheaper Catholic HS will work out.

You keep saying this. But you've been told over and over again that things sell quickly in these areas so you just won't ever see lots of inventory at any price point. (At least not in the 7 years I've lived in Arlington.) There are never ever 150+ properties on the market in a single price range. You have to watch when things come up and pounce. It doesn't mean that there aren't options. It just means that they don't sit around.

This is not even remotely limited to Arlington. Houses in the Dc area sell fast. And i don’t know where you’re finding homes under 1 million on Capitol Hill. They don’t really exist.

As a final note- Arlington middle schools are not good.

What is your basis for arguing this? I live on the Hill while my ex lives in Arlington. We split custody. I like the neighborhood MS my boys attend in Arlington, although it's not one of the several with the "most favorable demographics." My rising 8th grader has earned the grades to enroll in "intensified" (honors) classes across the board for his last year in MS, in science, math (geometry and algebra II), social studies (geography for HS credit), English and band. He's also going into his 3rd year of Chinese at the school. He's taken band as a daily class since 6th grade, learned to play a brass instrument well for free. For the most part, his teachers are strong, experienced, older, been at the school for many years. Admins tell me that intensified classes outside math will be available to younger son starting in 7th grade, a new county initiative.

At the several DCPS middle schools in Ward 6, which my ex and I considered, the only definite honors classes I heard about are for math, and maybe grade-level English at Stuart Hobson. If Arlington middle schools aren't good, where are they good in this area, other than the super duper GT test-in programs in Fairfax and MoCo serving less than 10% of students? Arlington doesn't have test-in GT, DCPS either of course.

A lot of UMC in Ward 6 have kids at BASIS, which starts in 5th. True, you have to get accepted in 5th grade and it gets harder each year (easier with sibling preference).

There are other options in DC as well:

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

Other than maybe Williamsburg or Swanson, it doesn't seem like Arlington has very good options.

This CH mom with kids in a public MS in Arlington, where my ex lives, doesn't agree. My boys aren't at Williamsburg, Swanson or Dorothy Hamm. Every Arlington MS teaches MS math on a par with that at BASIS, offers robust foreign language options (from 6th grade, and not just at the beginning level), serious electives and a full menu of core honors classes in 8th grade (and 7th grade from SY 2024-25). My kids' biggest classes have two dozen kids. Their writing classes (separate from reading classes) have no more than 15 students. They can take like ASL, orchestra, chorus, band, cooking, forensics or science competition prep as electives daily. Their school has giant playing fields/courts, a greenhouse and a large vegetable garden, an indoor track, a student run TV station, a modern theater/stage, and giant gym and library. I've worked as a consultant in the miserable BASIS building and know it well.

That sounds like a lot of unsupported rhetoric. What school and what is the data supporting your claims?

Unsupported rhetoric is silly. Thomas Jefferson, the smallest of the six with around 800 students. The auditorium and indoor track are shared with the county. Jefferson is the only Arlington MS offering the IB Middle Years Curriculum, feeding into the Washington-Liberty IBD program. The school requires languages from 6th grade and teaches more languages than the other schools. All Arlington middle schools permit students to take math up to two years ahead of the curriculum. I get emails from the county announcing the roll-out of 8th grade intensified classes, followed by the roll out of 7th grade intensified classes the following school year. We've signed up for 8th grade intensified classes for sci, math, social studies and English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people on CH can’t afford to move or go private, so they are really stuck. However there are more charter high schools than the ones DCUM finds acceptable and many families I know send their kids to these high schools.

Total BS. Whether a family rents or buys on CH, the same money spent on rent and equity/mortgage payments could be spent on housing in the DC burbs. No middle-class family is stuck with mediocre or bad schooling options in Ward 6.

No, housing is relatively cheaper on the Hill. Many of us can’t trade up that easily.

Cheaper as compared to where? North and Central Arlington 3-bedroom houses and Hill houses are priced comparably (we've done lots of searching). Same with 3-bedroom rentals. Almost all of Fairfax and Falls Church and at least half of MoCo are cheaper than the Hill.

Not for schools that are clearly better.

NW DC, Arlington, Falls Church and MoCo zoned for the “good” schools have almosr nothing under $1m. 20002/20003 currently have 150+ 2br+ properties for under $1 mil. Fairfax is better but you start getting really deep into the burbs and trading off time for money.

This leaves families contemplating a move to the DCC or Richard Montgomery HS. At that point many Hill families will stick it out a bit longer to hope that Walls or McKinley or a cheaper Catholic HS will work out.

You keep saying this. But you've been told over and over again that things sell quickly in these areas so you just won't ever see lots of inventory at any price point. (At least not in the 7 years I've lived in Arlington.) There are never ever 150+ properties on the market in a single price range. You have to watch when things come up and pounce. It doesn't mean that there aren't options. It just means that they don't sit around.

This is not even remotely limited to Arlington. Houses in the Dc area sell fast. And i don’t know where you’re finding homes under 1 million on Capitol Hill. They don’t really exist.

As a final note- Arlington middle schools are not good.

What is your basis for arguing this? I live on the Hill while my ex lives in Arlington. We split custody. I like the neighborhood MS my boys attend in Arlington, although it's not one of the several with the "most favorable demographics." My rising 8th grader has earned the grades to enroll in "intensified" (honors) classes across the board for his last year in MS, in science, math (geometry and algebra II), social studies (geography for HS credit), English and band. He's also going into his 3rd year of Chinese at the school. He's taken band as a daily class since 6th grade, learned to play a brass instrument well for free. For the most part, his teachers are strong, experienced, older, been at the school for many years. Admins tell me that intensified classes outside math will be available to younger son starting in 7th grade, a new county initiative.

At the several DCPS middle schools in Ward 6, which my ex and I considered, the only definite honors classes I heard about are for math, and maybe grade-level English at Stuart Hobson. If Arlington middle schools aren't good, where are they good in this area, other than the super duper GT test-in programs in Fairfax and MoCo serving less than 10% of students? Arlington doesn't have test-in GT, DCPS either of course.

A lot of UMC in Ward 6 have kids at BASIS, which starts in 5th. True, you have to get accepted in 5th grade and it gets harder each year (easier with sibling preference).

There are other options in DC as well:

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

Other than maybe Williamsburg or Swanson, it doesn't seem like Arlington has very good options.

You're out of the loop. Right now Hamm is the most highly regarded MS in Arlington.

Oh, the most highly regarded? By whom? You?

According to USNWR, it is the worst of the bunch in Arlington.

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/virginia?city-zip=arlington

DP. It’s unranked because it’s still very new. It’s a new school in a brand new building in N Arlington. It’s the most coveted MS in Arlington by many people.

Yes, it's building is the nicest by a long shot and its demographics the most "favorable." Good for Arlington for relieving crowding at Williamsburg and Swanson in a big way by opening Dorothy Hamm during Covid. DC won't build/create new middle schools where white students amalgamate, no way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm tired of hearing 4th grade parents we've come up through Brent with expressing shock and dismay (and more shock and dismay) that they're way down on the BASIS and Latins waiting lists.

If you don't like being around CH parents who planned ahead for middle school, who made Plan B, for goodness sakes, move. Find your own kind elsewhere.

Well I guarantee the feeling is mutual. None of your fellow Brent 4th grade parents enjoy listening to you expound upon what a genius you are for having a MS plan that doesn't rely on charters, either. Especially if that genius plan involves "buying a house 15 years ago" or "being rich" or "simply not caring about the quality of my kids' schools."

Maybe you're the one who needs to go "find your own kind" and by that I mean: smug a$$holes.

I went ahead and reported the "go find your own kind" post, because it sounded every type of -ist to me.

Meaning that you're desperately seeking -ists, particularly fantasists who go into the 5th grade charter lottery convinced that they'll win at the Latins or BASIS. You needn't look so hard for them: they abound on CH.

Huh?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people on CH can’t afford to move or go private, so they are really stuck. However there are more charter high schools than the ones DCUM finds acceptable and many families I know send their kids to these high schools.

Total BS. Whether a family rents or buys on CH, the same money spent on rent and equity/mortgage payments could be spent on housing in the DC burbs. No middle-class family is stuck with mediocre or bad schooling options in Ward 6.

No, housing is relatively cheaper on the Hill. Many of us can’t trade up that easily.

Cheaper as compared to where? North and Central Arlington 3-bedroom houses and Hill houses are priced comparably (we've done lots of searching). Same with 3-bedroom rentals. Almost all of Fairfax and Falls Church and at least half of MoCo are cheaper than the Hill.

Not for schools that are clearly better.

NW DC, Arlington, Falls Church and MoCo zoned for the “good” schools have almosr nothing under $1m. 20002/20003 currently have 150+ 2br+ properties for under $1 mil. Fairfax is better but you start getting really deep into the burbs and trading off time for money.

This leaves families contemplating a move to the DCC or Richard Montgomery HS. At that point many Hill families will stick it out a bit longer to hope that Walls or McKinley or a cheaper Catholic HS will work out.

You keep saying this. But you've been told over and over again that things sell quickly in these areas so you just won't ever see lots of inventory at any price point. (At least not in the 7 years I've lived in Arlington.) There are never ever 150+ properties on the market in a single price range. You have to watch when things come up and pounce. It doesn't mean that there aren't options. It just means that they don't sit around.

This is not even remotely limited to Arlington. Houses in the Dc area sell fast. And i don’t know where you’re finding homes under 1 million on Capitol Hill. They don’t really exist.

As a final note- Arlington middle schools are not good.

What is your basis for arguing this? I live on the Hill while my ex lives in Arlington. We split custody. I like the neighborhood MS my boys attend in Arlington, although it's not one of the several with the "most favorable demographics." My rising 8th grader has earned the grades to enroll in "intensified" (honors) classes across the board for his last year in MS, in science, math (geometry and algebra II), social studies (geography for HS credit), English and band. He's also going into his 3rd year of Chinese at the school. He's taken band as a daily class since 6th grade, learned to play a brass instrument well for free. For the most part, his teachers are strong, experienced, older, been at the school for many years. Admins tell me that intensified classes outside math will be available to younger son starting in 7th grade, a new county initiative.

At the several DCPS middle schools in Ward 6, which my ex and I considered, the only definite honors classes I heard about are for math, and maybe grade-level English at Stuart Hobson. If Arlington middle schools aren't good, where are they good in this area, other than the super duper GT test-in programs in Fairfax and MoCo serving less than 10% of students? Arlington doesn't have test-in GT, DCPS either of course.

A lot of UMC in Ward 6 have kids at BASIS, which starts in 5th. True, you have to get accepted in 5th grade and it gets harder each year (easier with sibling preference).

There are other options in DC as well:

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/district-of-columbia

Other than maybe Williamsburg or Swanson, it doesn't seem like Arlington has very good options.

You're out of the loop. Right now Hamm is the most highly regarded MS in Arlington.

Oh, the most highly regarded? By whom? You?

According to USNWR, it is the worst of the bunch in Arlington.

https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/middle-schools/virginia?city-zip=arlington

DP. It’s unranked because it’s still very new. It’s a new school in a brand new building in N Arlington. It’s the most coveted MS in Arlington by many people.

I've also heard wonderful reports from parents with kids there. A lot of happy parents and kids.

I've heard loads of complaints from both Swanson and Kenmore parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm tired of hearing 4th grade parents we've come up through Brent with expressing shock and dismay (and more shock and dismay) that they're way down on the BASIS and Latins waiting lists.

If you don't like being around CH parents who planned ahead for middle school, who made Plan B, for goodness sakes, move. Find your own kind elsewhere.

Well I guarantee the feeling is mutual. None of your fellow Brent 4th grade parents enjoy listening to you expound upon what a genius you are for having a MS plan that doesn't rely on charters, either. Especially if that genius plan involves "buying a house 15 years ago" or "being rich" or "simply not caring about the quality of my kids' schools."

Maybe you're the one who needs to go "find your own kind" and by that I mean: smug a$$holes.

I went ahead and reported the "go find your own kind" post, because it sounded every type of -ist to me.

Meaning that you're desperately seeking -ists, particularly fantasists who go into the 5th grade charter lottery convinced that they'll win at the Latins or BASIS. You needn't look so hard for them: they abound on CH.

Huh?

NP, here but I've also met numerous CH parents who make the assumption they will get into Basis/Latin/Latin Cooper--even during MS (after the 5th grade entry year). I have NO clue on what they base this assumption, it's completely meritless.

[Anonymous]

Here's info about the new "intensified" MS classes Arlington will start offering for science, English and social studies this fall. They've been offering advanced math in all middle school grades for a long time.

The roll-out is just for 8th grade classes this coming school year, with 7th grade intensified classes added for SY 2024-2025. In a nutshell, Arlington has decided to try harder to compete with Fairfax. So if you move from CH to Arlington for schools, perhaps fewer regrets going forward even if you don't move in-boundary for Dorothy Hamm or Williamsburg.

https://www.arlingtonparentsforeducation.org/ape-reports/math-wars-part-1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most people on CH can’t afford to move or go private, so they are really stuck. However there are more charter high schools than the ones DCUM finds acceptable and many families I know send their kids to these high schools.

Total BS. Whether a family rents or buys on CH, the same money spent on rent and equity/mortgage payments could be spent on housing in the DC burbs. No middle-class family is stuck with mediocre or bad schooling options in Ward 6.

No, housing is relatively cheaper on the Hill. Many of us can’t trade up that easily.

Cheaper as compared to where? North and Central Arlington 3-bedroom houses and Hill houses are priced comparably (we've done lots of searching). Same with 3-bedroom rentals. Almost all of Fairfax and Falls Church and at least half of MoCo are cheaper than the Hill.

Not for schools that are clearly better.

NW DC, Arlington, Falls Church and MoCo zoned for the “good” schools have almosr nothing under $1m. 20002/20003 currently have 150+ 2br+ properties for under $1 mil. Fairfax is better but you start getting really deep into the burbs and trading off time for money.

This leaves families contemplating a move to the DCC or Richard Montgomery HS. At that point many Hill families will stick it out a bit longer to hope that Walls or McKinley or a cheaper Catholic HS will work out.

You keep saying this. But you've been told over and over again that things sell quickly in these areas so you just won't ever see lots of inventory at any price point. (At least not in the 7 years I've lived in Arlington.) There are never ever 150+ properties on the market in a single price range. You have to watch when things come up and pounce. It doesn't mean that there aren't options. It just means that they don't sit around.

This is not even remotely limited to Arlington. Houses in the Dc area sell fast. And i don’t know where you’re finding homes under 1 million on Capitol Hill. They don’t really exist.

As a final note- Arlington middle schools are not good.

There's some poster who is convinced there are >150 properties on the Hill for sale for less than $1m. That doesn't seem right to me, but I'm not going to waste my time checking. She has some crazy notion that there are endless cheap options on the Hill, but nothing at all is affordable in Arlington. (Of course her reference for Arlington is that nothing is listed the last week of July--literally the worst time to look for real estate in the DMV.).

“I don’t believe you and I’m not going to check but you’re wrong for sure.”

truly amazing

I checked. There is exactly 1 (one) 3 bedroom home on Capitol Hill under a million dollars. One. And the reason for the low price has mostly to do with the condition of the home. If you remove the filter for 3 bedrooms and choose 2 bedrooms and up, there are 5 homes for sale, and 4 of them are condos.

So whoever you are, stop being crazy and pretending there are tons of homes on the hill for sale for under a million. I wish there were- I would happily buy one!