NWDC and safety

[Anonymous]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/02/05/montgomery-county-schools-antisemitism/

Burbs not so great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Much of NW is no more “urban” than the suburbs on the other side of the DC line and isn’t remotely comparable to Cambridge. And the schools, while perhaps the best in DC, are average at best compared to the suburbs and below average once you are past elementary school. So it’s really the worst of both worlds: not city-like in terms of lifestyle, and not suburb-like in terms of school quality. So why bother?

Quite false

If you really think that Deal, Hardy and J-R are anywhere near the quality of the better middle and high schools in Montgomery, Fairfax and Arlington you have a screw loose.

They’re not in the papers for racism. Can you say the same? In any case, I’d assume private. If you need public, rather stay in Boston.

Cambridge public schools aren’t that great either. It’s a lottery so you don’t know where you’ll end up. If you stay in MA maybe move to Boston when kids are older and try for Latin.

I grew up outside of Boston and all my family is still there. Sibling owns in Cambridge have some family in Brookline and suburbs.

I have had more issues while in Boston than I have in DC. I currently don’t live in the DMV so take it as you will (visit multiple times a month for work and have friends) but we might be moving to the area next year.

Are you renting or buying? Go down for a long weekend or a few, speak with realtors check out neighborhoods, speak with people at your work to see what they recommend.

I have friends who lived in Inman and bought a townhouse in Mt Pleasant and love it! Their kid was at the dual language (amigos) in Cambridge so had an easy time going to Bancroft in Mt Pleasant. They also lived in various international countries so it was an easy transition for them.

Another friend who I think is more I would say “Brookline esque” bought in the Palisades. When I go visit we have to drive and to me it seems a little far out. If you’re going to VA or State (where they work) maybe it’ll work for you. My friends love it, but it’s a little too suburbs for me. I have a colleague who has lived in ‘Kent’ by Palisades for 30+ years and they love it but complained about getting into work. They are both now retired.

Another friend is in Capital Hill and LOVES it. They used to live in JP. There’s an issue after elementary though and I know some crime has been going up. So keep that in mind.

Woodley Park is also very nice. I have a friend who has a $3+ mil house there so that area is particularly nice.

A friend in Glover Park who owns a townhouse, quiet neighborhood and they bike to work. No Metro but buses. They bought years ago and have two little kids and love it. It might be quiet for someone who likes Cambridge, but I think it’s a very nice family friendly area. They can walk to a few stores and restaurants. The prices have gone way up though (to rent and buy).

Most of those people send their kids to public school and are happy. Two send to private (Sidwell and some catholic school I think).

I also know of someone very recently who graduated from DCPS and is at U Chicago. People need to take a chill about the public schools.

Good luck! Don’t stress this board likes to scare people. Go around walk around talk to people and if you aren’t sure rent first. I would also try and live somewhere you can easily get to work whether walking, biking, Metro. If you are going to a university (were you at Harvard or MIT) they should have good resources too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why? Other than TJ, no DMV public is even close to Cambridge, Brookline etc. and even how they used to be. None of the Ws are anything like they used to be (but sure have doubled down on racism and anti-semitism scandals — I’d sure look at that too).

There are great elementaries in super neighborhoods, like Mann, Oyster (K-8), Hearst, Murch and Key. All the top schools with great communities and education are there too: Sidwell, NCS, St Albans, GDS.

DC suburbs are really soulless and then wait for the mozzie season, ouch. Live in DC if you can afford to, as people have said the circle around the VP residence, followed by the surrounding areas is the best choice.

Brookline has excellent public schools but Cambridge is a lottery. I have friends selling their homes in Cambridge or not renewing a lease and moving to Arlington because they are unhappy with their school in Cambridge and don’t want to send their kid to private. I also knew someone who had an issue at Brookline PS many years ago. No school is perfect!

[Anonymous]

Don’t move to MoCo or Arlington for schools. That’s old news and no longer true. The reality is that moving to DC and wanting the equivalent of Brookline education means going private. Here’s an interesting summary

https://dcrealestatemama.com/montgomery-county-md-schools/

[Anonymous]

No idea who this woman is but this blog is a gem

https://dcrealestatemama.com/private-school-in-dc-what-you-need-to-know/

[Anonymous]

Lol the idea that you can’t live in the Washington DC suburbs because of antisemitism is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

“Parents were already not happy with the MCPS track record. There were failures with the implementation of Common Core, then Common Core 2.0 as they called it. In 2018, they engaged John Hopkins to perform an audit where they learned that less than 1/3 of the students understood math for their grade level and less than 1/4 understood English Language Arts for their grade level. The curriculum was re-bid and implemented just as Covid happened, and there are still issues – too much tech and not enough textbooks.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lol the idea that you can’t live in the Washington DC suburbs because of antisemitism is ridiculous.

That’s not what that said. It said there was a concerning number and persistence of racist and antisemitic incidents in W schools in MoCo. Yes, it’s something to think about. For sure.

The schools are not that great anyway. Why additionally expose your child hate if this is still happening or hasn’t been dealt with sufficiently and transparently?

Not making this up. It’s in WaPo. There’s an action plan. It is a problem.
Why don’t you think it’s a problem?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/04/27/montgomery-schools-hate-antisemitism/

[Anonymous]

If OP is still reading this thread and is considering the suburbs, definitely take the time to come and drive around the suburbs and see if you can live there. The houses can be nice but the suburban sprawl (shopping centers, horrible traffic, etc) of the DC 'burbs is very unappealing.

[Anonymous]

Totally agree. Traffic is horrendous too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol the idea that you can’t live in the Washington DC suburbs because of antisemitism is ridiculous.

That’s not what that said. It said there was a concerning number and persistence of racist and antisemitic incidents in W schools in MoCo. Yes, it’s something to think about. For sure.

The schools are not that great anyway. Why additionally expose your child hate if this is still happening or hasn’t been dealt with sufficiently and transparently?

Not making this up. It’s in WaPo. There’s an action plan. It is a problem.
Why don’t you think it’s a problem?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/04/27/montgomery-schools-hate-antisemitism/

Not saying it isn’t a problem. One antisemitic episode is a problem. Doesn’t mean the overwhelming majority of Montgomery County students are in on it. And doesn’t mean the schools aren’t much better than J-R. They obviously are.

[Anonymous]

I’m not a Bostonian, but spent time in Cambridge and Brookline. Been in DC 20+ years. I agree that there are no neighborhoods around here with the feel of Cambridge. But in terms of some urban-ish walkability and safety I agree that you should look into Glover Park, Woodley Park, Cleveland Park, Tenleytown. Also don’t discount Adams Morgan/Kalorama area. There are plenty of quieter streets in that area with nice row houses and apartment buildings away from the main 18th St./ Columbia Road drags where the occasional crime tends to concentrate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol the idea that you can’t live in the Washington DC suburbs because of antisemitism is ridiculous.

That’s not what that said. It said there was a concerning number and persistence of racist and antisemitic incidents in W schools in MoCo. Yes, it’s something to think about. For sure.

The schools are not that great anyway. Why additionally expose your child hate if this is still happening or hasn’t been dealt with sufficiently and transparently?

Not making this up. It’s in WaPo. There’s an action plan. It is a problem.
Why don’t you think it’s a problem?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/04/27/montgomery-schools-hate-antisemitism/

Not saying it isn’t a problem. One antisemitic episode is a problem. Doesn’t mean the overwhelming majority of Montgomery County students are in on it. And doesn’t mean the schools aren’t much better than J-R. They obviously are.

I don’t think people believe that any longer. I mean it was found that 1/3 of MoCo kids can meet the math curriculum. Stats are surprisingly the same. You’re mythologizing an old state that hasn’t existed in a while

[Anonymous]

Former Cantabrigian here. We are near H Street NE and we love it. Yes, there is a bit more crime than in comparable parts of Cambridge, and the high school situation is more complicated. But we think those tradeoffs are worth it for the quality of life you get otherwise, and the relative affordability of a house compared to Cambridge.

Agree with folks who suggested Capitol Hill, Mt. Pleasant, and Glover Park as good options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s the bottom line. No neighborhood school pyramid (elementary, middle, high) is “strong” because no neighborhood middle or high school is “strong” compared to the top 1/3 or 1/2 in the suburbs. And no neighborhood offering this pyramid can be called “urban” with a straight face except Mount Pleasant. If I were OP, that’s where I’d look.

They may be losing feeder rights to Deal and JR, there is a thread about it. So, unless OP has money for private, bad advice. OP, talk to realtors, people here are not always well informed.