Powell and its potential

[Anonymous]

We recently moved to DC and are renting while we try to decide which neighborhood to buy in. We have a limited budget but schools are a priority, so we're also considering moving to NoVA or MD if we can't find a decent place with good schools. We love what we hear and see about the Petworth neighborhood, and we hear good things about Powell more so than the other schools in Petworth, but we're trying to know if the hype is just gentrifying parents doing a lot of wishful thinking about the school getting better, or if it really is a good school with potential to be a great school. The test scores are terrible, and I've heard that many parents aren't planning on keeping their kids in the school after the first few elementary years, so we're concerned. I visited the school but it didn't seem particularly special.

Looking for honest thoughts about Powell from parents who aren't just boosting the school. do you plan to keep your kids in the school through elementary? What is great about the school? Downsides?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We recently moved to DC and are renting while we try to decide which neighborhood to buy in. We have a limited budget but schools are a priority, so we're also considering moving to NoVA or MD if we can't find a decent place with good schools. We love what we hear and see about the Petworth neighborhood, and we hear good things about Powell more so than the other schools in Petworth, but we're trying to know if the hype is just gentrifying parents doing a lot of wishful thinking about the school getting better, or if it really is a good school with potential to be a great school. The test scores are terrible, and I've heard that many parents aren't planning on keeping their kids in the school after the first few elementary years, so we're concerned. I visited the school but it didn't seem particularly special.

Looking for honest thoughts about Powell from parents who aren't just boosting the school. do you plan to keep your kids in the school through elementary? What is great about the school? Downsides?

OP you're asking the right questions abouy Powell or any up and coming school. In addition to seeking parent feedback, which you are doing, check the DCPS data. You can get a detailed view of demographics, test scores, and test scores by demographic group. Have a look at how things change from grade to grade to get a picture. While also taking into account that things change (this year's grade 3 class may be different from when the current pk3 class hits 3rd grade). I'd alsk consider the middle school situation of any school. This can impact who stays and who goes in grades 4/5.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Yes the gentrifying parents are the most vocal, but the school does have potential. Great Principal and staff.

[Anonymous]

OP, there are many parents that say they will move when the time comes but until that house is on the market, it's all talk. I would watch the Spring/Summer market closely. Many families are still under water or close, and if a flood of houses in Petworth enters the market this Spring or next, it will do nothing but drive the prices down.

Check out the MCPS board, there's a lot to say about buyer's remorse in MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are many parents that say they will move when the time comes but until that house is on the market, it's all talk. I would watch the Spring/Summer market closely. Many families are still under water or close, and if a flood of houses in Petworth enters the market this Spring or next, it will do nothing but drive the prices down.

Check out the MCPS board, there's a lot to say about buyer's remorse in MoCo.

you would be hard pressed to find ANYONE underwater on their petworth house. Everything around us in S. Pet near metro is selling for 750k or higher in ten days tops. There is not goign to be a "flood" of houses in gentrifying neigbhorhoods near metro. Buy if you can and when you can but if you think it will be better in the spring you are wrong. You might have a a few extra row houses for over 800k but thats it.

[Anonymous]

We are IB for Powell but started at a Spanish immersion charter years ago before Powell got its terrific principal and renovation plans. Principal just awarded DCPS Principal of the Year. The Spanish bilingual program might be the glue that holds Powell together, so if this is of top interest to you, as it was for us, then Powell should be high on your list. If you really don't care about that, then broaden your options and choose an elementary which feeds to a good MS/HS. Those years are sooner than you can possibly imagine

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We recently moved to DC and are renting while we try to decide which neighborhood to buy in. We have a limited budget but schools are a priority, so we're also considering moving to NoVA or MD if we can't find a decent place with good schools. We love what we hear and see about the Petworth neighborhood, and we hear good things about Powell more so than the other schools in Petworth, but we're trying to know if the hype is just gentrifying parents doing a lot of wishful thinking about the school getting better, or if it really is a good school with potential to be a great school. The test scores are terrible, and I've heard that many parents aren't planning on keeping their kids in the school after the first few elementary years, so we're concerned. I visited the school but it didn't seem particularly special.

Looking for honest thoughts about Powell from parents who aren't just boosting the school. do you plan to keep your kids in the school through elementary? What is great about the school? Downsides?

I feel like Petworth prices are high for what you get. If you like the neighborhood feel, would you consider Takoma Park, MD? It's crunchy, diverse, and has some nice older homes. It's pretty close in, and Takoma Park ES/Piney Branch ES, middle, and high schools are all currently solid (as opposed to hopefully solid some day like Powell). I wouldn't buy a house based on school potential. You could rent in-bounds for Powell and see what you think first. If you buy in Petworth, I can't imagine that the rapid appreciation will continue, and you'd be hard pressed to sell after a couple years to buy somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, there are many parents that say they will move when the time comes but until that house is on the market, it's all talk. I would watch the Spring/Summer market closely. Many families are still under water or close, and if a flood of houses in Petworth enters the market this Spring or next, it will do nothing but drive the prices down.

Check out the MCPS board, there's a lot to say about buyer's remorse in MoCo.

you would be hard pressed to find ANYONE underwater on their petworth house. Everything around us in S. Pet near metro is selling for 750k or higher in ten days tops. There is not goign to be a "flood" of houses in gentrifying neigbhorhoods near metro. Buy if you can and when you can but if you think it will be better in the spring you are wrong. You might have a a few extra row houses for over 800k but thats it.

If a flood of houses enters the market in this Spring or next, due to people leaving for MoCo or VA, yes it will drive the prices down. That's simple supply and demand.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the feedback and thoughts on real estate in the neighborhood.

Any other opinions on this school? Surprised that only a couple people have commented on it.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the feedback and thoughts on real estate in the neighborhood.

Any other opinions on this school? Surprised that only a couple people have commented on it.....

Do a search and you will see plenty.

[Anonymous]

How old is your child? The younger the better to see of the potential pans out. We live IB for Powell but ours kids don't attend. As a matter of face, I don't know anyone from the neighborhood who attends except for a Maryland cheater who brings his boys to his grandmothers house every morning from pg. all the kids on our block go to a mix of charters, OOB, private. If you want to focus on Lon g term, assuming Powell satisfies you, take middle school into account when making your decision. It all depends on what you value in terms of education.

[Anonymous]

lol -PP here. spelling errors galore. meant as a matter if fact, - warding off the spelling police.

[Anonymous]

OP you did ask for people who know a lot about the school but aren't boosters. In case you're wondering why you aren't getting a ton of responses.

[Anonymous]

OP here, yes, I did a search but there is not a lot of good, recent feedback, the school's name just comes up in various lists like "which would you prefer."

To PP, by "parents who aren't just boosting the school," I just meant I was looking for honest feedback (good and bad!).

[Anonymous]

OP, I do not have a child at Powell but live in the neighborhood. One thing I can tell you is that Powell has not been viewed on this board as a desirable school for very long. The feedback you are going to receive here will apply, most likely, to children who will be in kindergarten next year. My daughter is in PK4 at another EOTP school and Powell was mentioned as an up and coming school for SY13-14. This year, their waitlist was super long. Maybe the hype will turn out just to be hype, maybe not. I personally think that we have reached a tipping point of gentrification EOTP that schools which were not even considered by middle class people now have many more middle aged people in the early grades. Powell is one of these schools but it's not the only one EOTP.

I know people who send their children at Powell who are really happy. One family are native Spanish speakers who chose Powell over other area Spanish programs (Bancroft, Bruce Monroe, Cleveland).