Why so much hate with EOTP vs WOTP parents

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
And from what I've read of the history of the park it was deliberately constructed as a racial barrier.

That's simply incorrect. Rock Creek Park was established by Congress in 1890. At that point almost nothing in DC was built north of Florida Avenue (formerly Boundary Street because it was the border of the "Washington City" limits), because of the geographic difficulties posed by the hills north of Florida. There was nobody to segregate other than a few country homes.

The reality is that the black population in DC was relatively large up through 1940/50, but still never more than 30% of the city population. There were very specific neighborhoods that were legally segregated, and it was very difficult for black residents to move outside of them- Shaw, Logan Circle, Bloomingdale, Park View, Pleasant Plains, Truxton Circle, Georgetown, north Dupont, and a few others. Good map here:

http://dclibrary.org/node/47157

Those neighborhoods were very dense, much like the segregated parts of other cities. Once legal segregation ended, the black population started to spread out, and at the same time, the boom of the postwar suburbs attracted whites from neighborhoods like Columbia Heights, Petworth, Anacostia (yes, historic Anacostia was 100% white under segregation). So from 1950 to 1970 you have this massive shift as many of these EOTP neighborhoods flip very quickly from white to black. And the city population plummeted as whites moved out, and thus became "Chocolate City". But the geographic barrier of Rock Creek Park definitely played a part in whites staying there in larger numbers, although they definitely opted out of DCPS more and more up until the mid/late-90s. But by that point Rock Creek Park wasn't a legal barrier, just a psychological one.

Then, of course, you had the migration of many middle class blacks outside of the city that started en masse in the late 70s/early 80s. That contributed even more to the population decline and exodus from DCPS.

If you want to dive deep on the specific history by neighborhood, this is an amazing resource.

http://prologuedc.com/blog/mapping-segregation/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This may not be popular to say, but DC was a Southern and very segregated city. The park was a huge part of the racial dividing line. The city has also gentrified tremendously in the last 10 years and entire neighborhoods have shifted in terms of socio-economics and race. Some of these biased opinions are directly related to sections of the city that were predominantly African-American in the recent or even distant past. I would ignore the comments and live where you feel the most comfortable.

This is the real issue I think. The park used to be the racial dividing line. It would be a little hard for me to hear comment like "it's a jungle out there" referring to the historically black side of the line.

It's a little more complex than that, but I agree race is the underlying issue.

Essentially, "quality" is associated with neighborhoods and schools that are all or mostly white. For a long time, middle and upper classes sent their kids to private or parochial schools, which left plenty of room in WOTP public schools. They were pretty diverse, with a lot of EOTP kids attending, but not considered quality.

There were a number of factors contributing to the change, but with more whites settling EOTP, the pros and cons aren't as clear cut and people are much more invested in justifying their choices.

As with everything else, it's always those who feel they have a lot to lose who care the most. People who are comfortable with what they've got couldn't care less what others say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. we are looking in Barnaby Woods, American U area, and Portal Estates (zoned as Shepherd Park). I am saying my options of Lafayette, Shepherd, and Janney. All 3 filter into Deal.

how old will your kids be in the fall?
There are grades at Janney that are vastly overcrowded and grades that aren't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I moved to NW DC from NYC. I thought I was suffocating. It felt very, very suburban. I ended up moving to Capitol Hill where I was much happier.

Points for NWDC- definitely better schools and a better high school feeder plan. Like dramatically better middle/high schools.

Points against- you're either driving forever or on the train forever if you work for most federal agencies. The subway here blows. Almost everything is driving distance in NW DC. If you're a minority you might feel uncomfortable (I did). No one is very friendly. I made lots of friends (I'm a friendly person), but it's not like NYC where you introduce yourself to other parents at the park.

Points For EOTP (really Capitol Hill)- more diverse, closer to downtown, nicer, friendlier Neighborhoods, much more walkable. You are close to the Smithsonian. Lots more active moms/dads groups like moms on the hill (MOTH).

Points against- terrible schools in some areas, bad middle/high schools throughout

There is crime all over DC. This was a shock to me coming from NYC because crime wasn't so much a part of life as it is here. People in Ward 3 claim it's less of an issue, but that's a lie. The metro SUCKS. Driving here sucks too.

Huh? I live in NWDC and take a metro 5 stops to my federal job. I walk to tons of stuff. Maybe not the Smithsonian, but I can walk to the zoo, hike Rock Creek, etc. not to mention a movie theater, a library, restaurants and bars.

RE friendliness, we've met lots of friends in our neighborhood. Meanwhile, I have friends who live on the Hill for years who know like 3 people on their block.

Please let's not generalize and give the OP false information.

agree completely. People act like taking 5 metro stops on the redline takes a long time, in fact, it takes about 10-12 minutes. And people are very friendly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People are always saying the Hill is so diverse but where are the Asians? I hardly see any.

And the people from Latin America and the islands? Africans? Nope.

When self-congratulatory people on dcum verbally pat themselves on the back for their "diverse" District neighborhood, they always mean "more African Americans [that haven't -yet- been displaced ] than Spring Valley. "

I'd put my CCDC neighborhood up against any 4-block area of actual Capitol Hill for true diversity in the dictionary definition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. we are looking in Barnaby Woods, American U area, and Portal Estates (zoned as Shepherd Park). I am saying my options of Lafayette, Shepherd, and Janney. All 3 filter into Deal.

how old will your kids be in the fall?
There are grades at Janney that are vastly overcrowded and grades that aren't.

2nd, 3rd, and 4rth grades.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are always saying the Hill is so diverse but where are the Asians? I hardly see any.

And the people from Latin America and the islands? Africans? Nope.

When self-congratulatory people on dcum verbally pat themselves on the back for their "diverse" District neighborhood, they always mean "more African Americans [that haven't -yet- been displaced ] than Spring Valley. "

I'd put my CCDC neighborhood up against any 4-block area of actual Capitol Hill for true diversity in the dictionary definition.

Except economic / SES diversity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are always saying the Hill is so diverse but where are the Asians? I hardly see any.

And the people from Latin America and the islands? Africans? Nope.

When self-congratulatory people on dcum verbally pat themselves on the back for their "diverse" District neighborhood, they always mean "more African Americans [that haven't -yet- been displaced ] than Spring Valley. "

I'd put my CCDC neighborhood up against any 4-block area of actual Capitol Hill for true diversity in the dictionary definition.

FYI, DC has one of the largest populations of Ethiopians and Somalians.

[Anonymous]

True.I am Ethiopian and my parents send my brother and I to private schools. Foreigners are very strict when it comes to education.My father worked two jobs to pay private tuition.My parents were college professors at Howard and University of Maryland.They still live in ward 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are always saying the Hill is so diverse but where are the Asians? I hardly see any.

And the people from Latin America and the islands? Africans? Nope.

When self-congratulatory people on dcum verbally pat themselves on the back for their "diverse" District neighborhood, they always mean "more African Americans [that haven't -yet- been displaced ] than Spring Valley. "

I'd put my CCDC neighborhood up against any 4-block area of actual Capitol Hill for true diversity in the dictionary definition.

Hello! Latino here loving life on Capitol Hill. When I lived in AU park my wife was routinely called a nanny when she went to care for our kids. Like maybe once every two days. Glad to have moved. Please stop spreading uninformed opinions online.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I moved to NW DC from NYC. I thought I was suffocating. It felt very, very suburban. I ended up moving to Capitol Hill where I was much happier.

Points for NWDC- definitely better schools and a better high school feeder plan. Like dramatically better middle/high schools.

Points against- you're either driving forever or on the train forever if you work for most federal agencies. The subway here blows. Almost everything is driving distance in NW DC. If you're a minority you might feel uncomfortable (I did). No one is very friendly. I made lots of friends (I'm a friendly person), but it's not like NYC where you introduce yourself to other parents at the park.

Points For EOTP (really Capitol Hill)- more diverse, closer to downtown, nicer, friendlier Neighborhoods, much more walkable. You are close to the Smithsonian. Lots more active moms/dads groups like moms on the hill (MOTH).

Points against- terrible schools in some areas, bad middle/high schools throughout

There is crime all over DC. This was a shock to me coming from NYC because crime wasn't so much a part of life as it is here. People in Ward 3 claim it's less of an issue, but that's a lie. The metro SUCKS. Driving here sucks too.

Huh? I live in NWDC and take a metro 5 stops to my federal job. I walk to tons of stuff. Maybe not the Smithsonian, but I can walk to the zoo, hike Rock Creek, etc. not to mention a movie theater, a library, restaurants and bars.

RE friendliness, we've met lots of friends in our neighborhood. Meanwhile, I have friends who live on the Hill for years who know like 3 people on their block.

Please let's not generalize and give the OP false information.

Check out those nice 18 minute metro delays today on the redline. And yes there are some old Lady restaurants and bars. Listen if I was OP I would move to NW DC just for deal since she has a 5th grader. But NW DC sucks.

[Anonymous]

It's a Sunday and there is track work...what does that have to do with anything? Do you even use metro pp?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a Sunday and there is track work...what does that have to do with anything? Do you even use metro pp?

Not anymore! I walk to work!! No more metro delays/cancellations for me!! And I can also walk to bars and restaurants.

But as I said before, considering the ages of OP's kids, I would live in NW DC because deal and Wilson are the best DC has to offer right now.

[Anonymous]

In this day in age of Uber the metro is not a huge factor.

When Mr. or Ms. Capitol Hill's children are ready for middle school lets see how appealing your neighborhood will be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In this day in age of Uber the metro is not a huge factor.

When Mr. or Ms. Capitol Hill's children are ready for middle school lets see how appealing your neighborhood will be.

exactly. Unless private us at least an option, it is ad planning to expect the charter lottery to save you for middle school.