Private to public - how bad is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Possibly moving to Ft. McNair for a year. Kids are in private now, but we can't afford that in DC. DH's colleagues have said we should avoid DCPS, but I don't think we have a choice. Are they just being racist and classist?

No, they are trying to warn you. Eastern High School and that neighborhood around it is rough.

[Anonymous]

Your DH sounds like a dumb, selfish ass. You need to stick up for the kids and yourself.

[Anonymous]

Many of the children commit violent crimes and will continue to go-to school despite arrests. Those are the classmates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Possibly moving to Ft. McNair for a year. Kids are in private now, but we can't afford that in DC. DH's colleagues have said we should avoid DCPS, but I don't think we have a choice. Are they just being racist and classist?

No, they are trying to warn you. Eastern High School and that neighborhood around it is rough.

I don’t know anything about the area around Eastern, but I just looked this up for you. https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/33

I am shocked at how terrible Eastern sounds.

99.6 % of students didn’t meet Math Proficiency Levels (newsflash these aren’t even hard tests - PARCC)
78.4% of students didn’t meet ELA Proficiency Levels

I weep for these children.

[Anonymous]

Your dh needs to adjust his walkable criteria for your kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your should rent a place in Arlington and your husband can metro to Navy Yard and walk the rest of the way (<10 mins) to the entry gate on 2nd St SW by Audi Field. Look for someplace near Fort Myer and the Pentagon. Or go to Alexandria (Fairfax County, not Alex City) and find a place on the yellow/blue line that puts you in-bounds for West Springfield, Hayfield, or South County. You will also be around more mil families if you go to Arlington or Alexandria. The schools are infinitely better, the neighborhoods are safer, and you'll get more for your money (especially in Alexandria).

If your husband doesn't want to drive, great. That's possible because of Metro. But absolutely do not send your kids to DCPS. The schools near McNair are a national tragedy and you can avoid them.

Thanks, this is really helpful. He figures the high BAH can mitigate some of the negatives of the location, but our kids have been sheltered, and as someone who did a year in a HORRIBLE public school, I don't think he gets it.

I'm the PP you're responding to. I'm a former military brat and it's hard enough moving around all the time without bringing lousy schools into the equation. You will get better schools and a far more supportive community for your family and situation in Virginia. There's a reason families stationed at McNair and JBAB choose to live outside of DC. Plus if you're a commissary regular, Belvoir is the place to go. The MCX at Fort Myer is excellent. There's a huge population of retired military in VA and they take care of each other. Even if the schools in DC were great, I'd still recommend VA because it's so military-friendly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Possibly moving to Ft. McNair for a year. Kids are in private now, but we can't afford that in DC. DH's colleagues have said we should avoid DCPS, but I don't think we have a choice. Are they just being racist and classist?

No, they are trying to warn you. Eastern High School and that neighborhood around it is rough.

His colleagues are going to think he’s a damn fool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Possibly moving to Ft. McNair for a year. Kids are in private now, but we can't afford that in DC. DH's colleagues have said we should avoid DCPS, but I don't think we have a choice. Are they just being racist and classist?

No, they are trying to warn you. Eastern High School and that neighborhood around it is rough.

I don’t know anything about the area around Eastern, but I just looked this up for you. https://www.myschooldc.org/schools/profile/33

I am shocked at how terrible Eastern sounds.

99.6 % of students didn’t meet Math Proficiency Levels (newsflash these aren’t even hard tests - PARCC)
78.4% of students didn’t meet ELA Proficiency Levels

I weep for these children.

FWIW, the PARCC tests are hard tests (or at least, a terrible test that doesn't accurately show proficiency). But those are abysmal stats.

[Anonymous]

Oof. Sounds like your kids have no experience with needing to be street smart. They'd be genuinely unsafe with that whole scenario. Pose it to your husband as a safety issue. Truly, Arlington is the best bet. Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Possibly moving to Ft. McNair for a year. Kids are in private now, but we can't afford that in DC. DH's colleagues have said we should avoid DCPS, but I don't think we have a choice. Are they just being racist and classist?

No, they are trying to warn you. Eastern High School and that neighborhood around it is rough.

His colleagues are going to think he’s a damn fool.

I didn’t think of that until now but that’s so true. OP it will be *embarrassing* for him to make small talk with his peers and COs and admit he is in a walkable distance and sending his children to these schools.

He does NOT want his command to have this impression of him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you should discuss the possibility of him commuting, if it looks like local schools won’t be great. Most military families live in the suburbs.

He won't commute.

I used to be married to a man who was the most important person in the family at all times also.

Yes, well, it's what I signed up for.

Why did you do that? Your husband sounds like an unbearable twat, to be honest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Possibly moving to Ft. McNair for a year. Kids are in private now, but we can't afford that in DC. DH's colleagues have said we should avoid DCPS, but I don't think we have a choice. Are they just being racist and classist?

No, they are trying to warn you. Eastern High School and that neighborhood around it is rough.

His colleagues are going to think he’s a damn fool.

I didn’t think of that until now but that’s so true. OP it will be *embarrassing* for him to make small talk with his peers and COs and admit he is in a walkable distance and sending his children to these schools.

He does NOT want his command to have this impression of him.

He sounds like an odd combination of naïveté and arrogance. Tell Mr. Private School to do some research on these schools. If you have female children, there are even more reasons not to send your kids to these tragic institutions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your DH sounds like a dumb, selfish ass. You need to stick up for the kids and yourself.

I have neighbor that teaches at NDU and have had neighbors who attend NDU. I live in Alexandria. No one with a family lives near McNair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Possibly moving to Ft. McNair for a year. Kids are in private now, but we can't afford that in DC. DH's colleagues have said we should avoid DCPS, but I don't think we have a choice. Are they just being racist and classist?

No, they are trying to warn you. Eastern High School and that neighborhood around it is rough.

His colleagues are going to think he’s a damn fool.

I didn’t think of that until now but that’s so true. OP it will be *embarrassing* for him to make small talk with his peers and COs and admit he is in a walkable distance and sending his children to these schools.

He does NOT want his command to have this impression of him.

I think the more embarrassing part is that he asked his colleagues for advice and is going to ignore it. It would be different if he hadn’t asked and had just haplessly ended up there. They’ll think he has zero judgment and no trust in them and it will affect his professional reputation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jefferson I would do in a heartbeat, Eastern I wouldn't.

Good to know. Maybe we can swing one kid in private...

I wouldn’t worry. It’s only one year and if your kids are good students they will continue to be good students.