Getting to new Inspired Teaching location

[Anonymous]

It's that a private organization is running it and you can't just come in from the neighborhood. You also have non-union teachers who try to enrich the curriculum more than DCPS. Even so, it is not like a private school by any stretch if you know private school in DC.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Did the drive this morning, which I realized might not be the best day, since many federal workers have an alternative work schedule and are off on Fridays. In any case, getting to the school wasn't as bad as I had thought, but I still disliked having to drive. Parking did not look easy to find, but I didn't actually try to find parking. Driving to my daughter's daycare in downtown, however, via Rhode Island Avenue was awful. Bumper-to-bumper most of the way. I know that I could do it if by chance I got in, but I would hate it, and it would surely add a lot of stress to my life. Therefore, I don't think we are going to apply. We've had to cross other schools that we really liked, including Cap City, off our list because of the commute too.

Thanks for everyone for all your advice. It was really helpful in helping me make up my mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For me personally, proximity does not trump quality. In a head-to-head quality contest (or even a close match), I would pick proximity because I am not going to drive far for something not much better. But I would not pick a lower quality school just because its closer. For IT specifically, we are planning to drive and then park downtown in my office's garage. If that is not a financial option for you, you could also consider parking at a garage near the Brookland or Rhode Island metro (which would cost less per day - the Home Depot parking lot would be free, but I am not sure if they'd ticket you or something) and then metro downtown.

I'm with you. I'll easily sacrifice proximity/convenience for quality. Education is a defining value in my family, it's how we got from dustbowl poverty to upper middle class in a generation. This is the most weighted factor in our decision-making. I hope many IT families feel the same.

[Anonymous]

Well I got flamed months ago for suggesting that I was no longer interested in IT since it was moving away from my nieghborhood. The claim was that I don't care about quality at all and was being selfish for having proximity as a concern. These are not extremes people - it is just lifestyle differences. Families weigh all the factors in their own way. Obviously I am concerned about the quality of school for my child. Isn't that a given for everyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well I got flamed months ago for suggesting that I was no longer interested in IT since it was moving away from my nieghborhood. The claim was that I don't care about quality at all and was being selfish for having proximity as a concern. These are not extremes people - it is just lifestyle differences. Families weigh all the factors in their own way. Obviously I am concerned about the quality of school for my child. Isn't that a given for everyone?

I can't imagine anyone getting flamed for stating something that is best for your family. I agree that quality of life has to be balanced with good educations. Thankfully, there are options in DC and I'm sure you will find a comparable school that is more convenient for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have no good advice, but I totally agree. The thought of getting in a car every day gives me the shakes. I'm thinking of dropping schools from my list that don't have good public transit options. Otherwise I feel like I'll be getting too close to the world of mom jeans and minivans. We're in the city to not have to drive!

You remind me of my single friends who would NEVER leave Manhattan. They would rather die than become B&T. And then they met someone and wanted a bigger commitment, and look. Park Slope is more affordable. (And they'd feel the need to justify it: the original wood floors and crown molding, the bakery nearby, there's a laid-back bar..., you'll be amazed when you visit, we're having a housewarming party...)

Then baby #1 arrives, and there's a lot they can still make work with one baby. Two parents, one baby, and a bugaboo is a great way to live in Williamsburg. And the city is right there - just across the bridge. "We can go any time we want!" Then they confronted schools and the world changed. Between that and thinking about baby #2? "Montclair is so direct on the train, and we found this great Queen Anne Victorian, and it even has a little yard for a swing set, and there's a park around the corner." We can still meet for brunch on the weekends!

And baby #2 arrives, and the schools are alright, but the commute is getting longer and longer because now how do you get home for the afterschool enrichment? The t-ball? The gymnastics? The pee-wee soccer? And when you realize that Arlington/Bethesda/DC (which is still expensive by almost everyone's standards, but is reasonable coming from NYC) includes grandparents (free babysitting!), better weather (less shoveling, but still real winter!), school options, work options.... And there's still metro. "We're still hip, damnit!"

In spite of your under-developed self-talk, you find a way to take another step into the lifestyle of your own parents, which you mock and deride, because you're too cool for that. Eventually, one maturing step at a time, you become a grown-up yourself because of how your prioritize your children. Or, you remain in permanent adolescence with all its attendant hipster-douchebag glory. But I doubt it. It's those who crow the loudest, that are looking so seriously to the other side. You're trying to convince yourself, not the rest of us. And if you weren't leaning towards the other side, then you really wouldn't even be interested in this forum in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have both our kids at IT and love it! We currently drive to drop off the kids and then pay for a parking spot downtown by my office. The commute to the new location will be better for us as the roads over there are less congested and it's easy to go to Rhode island Ave after dropping off and then head downtown. I feel like we get a private school education for free at IT so the $250 I pay for parking is a steal when taking into consideration the amazing teachers my kids have and the wonderful family community we are a part of!

Hi, I am the poster who started the "Which would you choose thread" re: IT and Hearst. What does this mean--a private school education for free at IT? I have heard this comment more than once from IT parents and an administrator. But what, really does this mean? Some public schools have small class sizes, so it can't be that. A friend of mine said to me, "well you went to private school, so you know what that means." But the D.C. public schools nowadays -- at least the ones I have toured (Powell, Eaton and Hearst) -- don't seem to be the overcrowded kid hoarding public schools of my youth. What is "private" about IT?

Not the PP or IT family (applying), but I have heard this said about many other schools as well (MV, CM, and LAMB come to mind).

I think "independent" is more the word. "Private" can be as varied in size, quality, etc. as "charter " can be. No category or label inherently means better schools than another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have both our kids at IT and love it! We currently drive to drop off the kids and then pay for a parking spot downtown by my office. The commute to the new location will be better for us as the roads over there are less congested and it's easy to go to Rhode island Ave after dropping off and then head downtown. I feel like we get a private school education for free at IT so the $250 I pay for parking is a steal when taking into consideration the amazing teachers my kids have and the wonderful family community we are a part of!

Hi, I am the poster who started the "Which would you choose thread" re: IT and Hearst. What does this mean--a private school education for free at IT? I have heard this comment more than once from IT parents and an administrator. But what, really does this mean? Some public schools have small class sizes, so it can't be that. A friend of mine said to me, "well you went to private school, so you know what that means." But the D.C. public schools nowadays -- at least the ones I have toured (Powell, Eaton and Hearst) -- don't seem to be the overcrowded kid hoarding public schools of my youth. What is "private" about IT?

Not the PP or IT family (applying), but I have heard this said about many other schools as well (MV, CM, and LAMB come to mind).

I think "independent" is more the word. "Private" can be as varied in size, quality, etc. as "charter " can be. No category or label inherently means better schools than another.

Agree

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have both our kids at IT and love it! We currently drive to drop off the kids and then pay for a parking spot downtown by my office. The commute to the new location will be better for us as the roads over there are less congested and it's easy to go to Rhode island Ave after dropping off and then head downtown. I feel like we get a private school education for free at IT so the $250 I pay for parking is a steal when taking into consideration the amazing teachers my kids have and the wonderful family community we are a part of!

Hi, I am the poster who started the "Which would you choose thread" re: IT and Hearst. What does this mean--a private school education for free at IT? I have heard this comment more than once from IT parents and an administrator. But what, really does this mean? Some public schools have small class sizes, so it can't be that. A friend of mine said to me, "well you went to private school, so you know what that means." But the D.C. public schools nowadays -- at least the ones I have toured (Powell, Eaton and Hearst) -- don't seem to be the overcrowded kid hoarding public schools of my youth. What is "private" about IT?

Not the PP or IT family (applying), but I have heard this said about many other schools as well (MV, CM, and LAMB come to mind).

I think "independent" is more the word. "Private" can be as varied in size, quality, etc. as "charter " can be. No category or label inherently means better schools than another.

I haven't heard it about MV or CM, but definitely have about LAMB, YY, and Washington Latin. And no, not Basis - not because it isn't a good school (it appears to be, thus far) but because it seems to revel in a sort of "encourage the nerdiness" attitude that is one-dimensional. The expectation of being well-rounded and accomplished in more than one direction (athletics, leadership, social development) may not be entirely absent, but isn't a priority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no good advice, but I totally agree. The thought of getting in a car every day gives me the shakes. I'm thinking of dropping schools from my list that don't have good public transit options. Otherwise I feel like I'll be getting too close to the world of mom jeans and minivans. We're in the city to not have to drive!

You remind me of my single friends who would NEVER leave Manhattan. They would rather die than become B&T. And then they met someone and wanted a bigger commitment, and look. Park Slope is more affordable. (And they'd feel the need to justify it: the original wood floors and crown molding, the bakery nearby, there's a laid-back bar..., you'll be amazed when you visit, we're having a housewarming party...)

Then baby #1 arrives, and there's a lot they can still make work with one baby. Two parents, one baby, and a bugaboo is a great way to live in Williamsburg. And the city is right there - just across the bridge. "We can go any time we want!" Then they confronted schools and the world changed. Between that and thinking about baby #2? "Montclair is so direct on the train, and we found this great Queen Anne Victorian, and it even has a little yard for a swing set, and there's a park around the corner." We can still meet for brunch on the weekends!

And baby #2 arrives, and the schools are alright, but the commute is getting longer and longer because now how do you get home for the afterschool enrichment? The t-ball? The gymnastics? The pee-wee soccer? And when you realize that Arlington/Bethesda/DC (which is still expensive by almost everyone's standards, but is reasonable coming from NYC) includes grandparents (free babysitting!), better weather (less shoveling, but still real winter!), school options, work options.... And there's still metro. "We're still hip, damnit!"

In spite of your under-developed self-talk, you find a way to take another step into the lifestyle of your own parents, which you mock and deride, because you're too cool for that. Eventually, one maturing step at a time, you become a grown-up yourself because of how your prioritize your children. Or, you remain in permanent adolescence with all its attendant hipster-douchebag glory. But I doubt it. It's those who crow the loudest, that are looking so seriously to the other side. You're trying to convince yourself, not the rest of us. And if you weren't leaning towards the other side, then you really wouldn't even be interested in this forum in the first place.

I kind of agree with this. When you become a parent AND choose to live EOTP, you may have to give something up like a car free lifestyle to get your child to a better school. The easy solution for PP is to move closer, walkable distance to an acceptable school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no good advice, but I totally agree. The thought of getting in a car every day gives me the shakes. I'm thinking of dropping schools from my list that don't have good public transit options. Otherwise I feel like I'll be getting too close to the world of mom jeans and minivans. We're in the city to not have to drive!

You remind me of my single friends who would NEVER leave Manhattan. They would rather die than become B&T. And then they met someone and wanted a bigger commitment, and look. Park Slope is more affordable. (And they'd feel the need to justify it: the original wood floors and crown molding, the bakery nearby, there's a laid-back bar..., you'll be amazed when you visit, we're having a housewarming party...)

Then baby #1 arrives, and there's a lot they can still make work with one baby. Two parents, one baby, and a bugaboo is a great way to live in Williamsburg. And the city is right there - just across the bridge. "We can go any time we want!" Then they confronted schools and the world changed. Between that and thinking about baby #2? "Montclair is so direct on the train, and we found this great Queen Anne Victorian, and it even has a little yard for a swing set, and there's a park around the corner." We can still meet for brunch on the weekends!

And baby #2 arrives, and the schools are alright, but the commute is getting longer and longer because now how do you get home for the afterschool enrichment? The t-ball? The gymnastics? The pee-wee soccer? And when you realize that Arlington/Bethesda/DC (which is still expensive by almost everyone's standards, but is reasonable coming from NYC) includes grandparents (free babysitting!), better weather (less shoveling, but still real winter!), school options, work options.... And there's still metro. "We're still hip, damnit!"

In spite of your under-developed self-talk, you find a way to take another step into the lifestyle of your own parents, which you mock and deride, because you're too cool for that. Eventually, one maturing step at a time, you become a grown-up yourself because of how your prioritize your children. Or, you remain in permanent adolescence with all its attendant hipster-douchebag glory. But I doubt it. It's those who crow the loudest, that are looking so seriously to the other side. You're trying to convince yourself, not the rest of us. And if you weren't leaning towards the other side, then you really wouldn't even be interested in this forum in the first place.

Sure. But lots of people have one child for these reasons. It's easier. It allows you to be more of YOU. Not saying it's a better choice, but what you describe actually isn't inevitable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no good advice, but I totally agree. The thought of getting in a car every day gives me the shakes. I'm thinking of dropping schools from my list that don't have good public transit options. Otherwise I feel like I'll be getting too close to the world of mom jeans and minivans. We're in the city to not have to drive!

You remind me of my single friends who would NEVER leave Manhattan. They would rather die than become B&T. And then they met someone and wanted a bigger commitment, and look. Park Slope is more affordable. (And they'd feel the need to justify it: the original wood floors and crown molding, the bakery nearby, there's a laid-back bar..., you'll be amazed when you visit, we're having a housewarming party...)

Then baby #1 arrives, and there's a lot they can still make work with one baby. Two parents, one baby, and a bugaboo is a great way to live in Williamsburg. And the city is right there - just across the bridge. "We can go any time we want!" Then they confronted schools and the world changed. Between that and thinking about baby #2? "Montclair is so direct on the train, and we found this great Queen Anne Victorian, and it even has a little yard for a swing set, and there's a park around the corner." We can still meet for brunch on the weekends!

And baby #2 arrives, and the schools are alright, but the commute is getting longer and longer because now how do you get home for the afterschool enrichment? The t-ball? The gymnastics? The pee-wee soccer? And when you realize that Arlington/Bethesda/DC (which is still expensive by almost everyone's standards, but is reasonable coming from NYC) includes grandparents (free babysitting!), better weather (less shoveling, but still real winter!), school options, work options.... And there's still metro. "We're still hip, damnit!"

In spite of your under-developed self-talk, you find a way to take another step into the lifestyle of your own parents, which you mock and deride, because you're too cool for that. Eventually, one maturing step at a time, you become a grown-up yourself because of how your prioritize your children. Or, you remain in permanent adolescence with all its attendant hipster-douchebag glory. But I doubt it. It's those who crow the loudest, that are looking so seriously to the other side. You're trying to convince yourself, not the rest of us. And if you weren't leaning towards the other side, then you really wouldn't even be interested in this forum in the first place.

Sure. But lots of people have one child for these reasons. It's easier. It allows you to be more of YOU. Not saying it's a better choice, but what you describe actually isn't inevitable.

Yeah, but crying about the fact that you may have to schlep your one child to an "acceptable" school makes you sound like an idiot who should have remained childless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have both our kids at IT and love it! We currently drive to drop off the kids and then pay for a parking spot downtown by my office. The commute to the new location will be better for us as the roads over there are less congested and it's easy to go to Rhode island Ave after dropping off and then head downtown. I feel like we get a private school education for free at IT so the $250 I pay for parking is a steal when taking into consideration the amazing teachers my kids have and the wonderful family community we are a part of!

Hi, I am the poster who started the "Which would you choose thread" re: IT and Hearst. What does this mean--a private school education for free at IT? I have heard this comment more than once from IT parents and an administrator. But what, really does this mean? Some public schools have small class sizes, so it can't be that. A friend of mine said to me, "well you went to private school, so you know what that means." But the D.C. public schools nowadays -- at least the ones I have toured (Powell, Eaton and Hearst) -- don't seem to be the overcrowded kid hoarding public schools of my youth. What is "private" about IT?

Not the PP or IT family (applying), but I have heard this said about many other schools as well (MV, CM, and LAMB come to mind).

I think "independent" is more the word. "Private" can be as varied in size, quality, etc. as "charter " can be. No category or label inherently means better schools than another.

I haven't heard it about MV or CM, but definitely have about LAMB, YY, and Washington Latin. And no, not Basis - not because it isn't a good school (it appears to be, thus far) but because it seems to revel in a sort of "encourage the nerdiness" attitude that is one-dimensional. The expectation of being well-rounded and accomplished in more than one direction (athletics, leadership, social development) may not be entirely absent, but isn't a priority.

CM is probably the school that is most often compared to private school. Really, search CM and private school on the search function. Not that it matters, we are applying to MV, IT, and CM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have both our kids at IT and love it! We currently drive to drop off the kids and then pay for a parking spot downtown by my office. The commute to the new location will be better for us as the roads over there are less congested and it's easy to go to Rhode island Ave after dropping off and then head downtown. I feel like we get a private school education for free at IT so the $250 I pay for parking is a steal when taking into consideration the amazing teachers my kids have and the wonderful family community we are a part of!

Hi, I am the poster who started the "Which would you choose thread" re: IT and Hearst. What does this mean--a private school education for free at IT? I have heard this comment more than once from IT parents and an administrator. But what, really does this mean? Some public schools have small class sizes, so it can't be that. A friend of mine said to me, "well you went to private school, so you know what that means." But the D.C. public schools nowadays -- at least the ones I have toured (Powell, Eaton and Hearst) -- don't seem to be the overcrowded kid hoarding public schools of my youth. What is "private" about IT?

Not the PP or IT family (applying), but I have heard this said about many other schools as well (MV, CM, and LAMB come to mind).

I think "independent" is more the word. "Private" can be as varied in size, quality, etc. as "charter " can be. No category or label inherently means better schools than another.

I haven't heard it about MV or CM, but definitely have about LAMB, YY, and Washington Latin. And no, not Basis - not because it isn't a good school (it appears to be, thus far) but because it seems to revel in a sort of "encourage the nerdiness" attitude that is one-dimensional. The expectation of being well-rounded and accomplished in more than one direction (athletics, leadership, social development) may not be entirely absent, but isn't a priority.

CM is probably the school that is most often compared to private school. Really, search CM and private school on the search function. Not that it matters, we are applying to MV, IT, and CM

Cm is like 7 minutes old. Wait, give it time to mature and grow in enrollment, get more competition from The Next Hot Charter, and then come back and tell us how much like Maret and Beauvoir it is.

[Anonymous]

I'm the poster who initially mentioned that
IT is like a private school and I want to clarify that! We are a founding family and now have two kids in the school. Before ITS was around we had our priority schools listed and applied to all. We got into inspired in their first year and were thrilled but were still wondering about the move (then from the first location to the current location). We went with it and our child
Loved the first year at the location in NE. When they moved to the current location we were not thrilled but we made it work. The main thing we didn't like about the current location is the lack of an outdoor space, but the teachers have been awesome about taking the kids to parks and discover the neighborhood. When I say that I feel like we get a private school for free this is what is refer to: in my daughters pre-k class they have 3 full time dedicated teaches (one being a master teacher), they listen to the children and take their likes and personalities into consideration when planning projects and lessons and when I have an issue I fell like I can always go to the principal and make suggestions. Also the parent body is amazing! We have made lifelong friends and when I go to a school meeting I walk
Away with a sense that the school leadership, lead by the principal and parent organization has listened to me. This is a school
Were I as a parent feel part as a team!