If quality of education is your only priority, are there any reasons to live in DC...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

It takes a big dose of privilege to dismiss other parents' desire for traditionally good schools.

Takes an even bigger one to dismiss every parent who speaks about their positive experience with city schools as someone who "doesn't value education." Seriously, want to talk about privilege? Let's talk about your breathtaking entitlement to a lifestyle with two giant cars, a single family house, driving everywhere, and living in an economically segregated community. You think you have the right to do that because you grew up poor, or something? You think I did not--or, if I did, I just don't "value education?" You think poor people don't value education? Because I suspect your own parents might take some offense at that.

Holy cow you are defensive. OP states that education is her "only priority." I reply that probably DC schools are not a good fit because they are for people who value other things or feel comfortable compromising. Where do you make the leap that I'm saying no DC parents value education? I never said that. All I said was that people who ONLY value education probably won't find what they are looking for. PS there is a lot more to the suburbs than giant cars and houses. Ever have a conversation with a hard working taxi driver from Ethiopia or Ghana? Where do you thinl they are living and sending their kids to school? Generally, not DCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I wasn't raised in a suburb, I don't like suburbs, I don't want to raise children in a suburb. My children are all smart, and will succeed no matter what--in fact, I would prefer them not to be in an environment chock full of kumon, travel sports, and AP classes for the sake of "rigor." Life is rigor. Living it should be interesting. Being ferried by school bus or suv from one subdivision to another, with the occasional meal at le pain quotidien or the cheesecake factory, sounds like hell.


That's fine. You don't prioritize education in the same way OP does.

Yes, because nothing says prioritizing education like a rich suburban public school, where sports are a mere aside to the true focus of the life of the mind.

haha

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What race are you, OP.


My child looks and is mostly Caucasian.

I've read that the elementary schools, in particular, are considered really good. So shouldn't that mean it is only a matter of time before the middle and high schools improve? Especially Deal and Wilson?

I think so. My child also looks mostly caucasian. Okay, is really caucasian. But Deal and Wilson are not on our shortlist, even though we currently live in zone for both. They're too big, too much like the suburban schools I don't think would work for our kid. What dc rather uniquely offers at this present time are a bunch of very small, very intimate schools, which can give your kid a lot of individualized attention. They may not have all the bells and whistles of some of the suburban schools, but they offer a lot more attention--and for bells and whistles... we've got an city at our fingertips to supplement. FWIW, our child, like the other poster, is the only "caucasian" one in their class now, and has always been in the minority. I so understand, coming from the opposite perspective, why it is a somewhat more fraught and loaded game, but honestly, the day to day with the kids? It's a non-issue. I don't think there's some automatic merit in being educated among people who aren't like you... but I do think perspective from all sides helps everyone. And mostly--I've been working with city kids for years now, and they seem exactly the same as burb kids. Only with less stuff and less chances. Exactly as smart. Exactly as driven. Exactly as amazing. It's not a sacrifice, it's just life. Life with museums. If this city's metro didn't catch on fire, it would almost be idyllic.

Where are these "small intimate" middle and high schools??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It takes a big dose of privilege to dismiss other parents' desire for traditionally good schools.

Takes an even bigger one to dismiss every parent who speaks about their positive experience with city schools as someone who "doesn't value education." Seriously, want to talk about privilege? Let's talk about your breathtaking entitlement to a lifestyle with two giant cars, a single family house, driving everywhere, and living in an economically segregated community. You think you have the right to do that because you grew up poor, or something? You think I did not--or, if I did, I just don't "value education?" You think poor people don't value education? Because I suspect your own parents might take some offense at that.

Holy cow you are defensive. OP states that education is her "only priority." I reply that probably DC schools are not a good fit because they are for people who value other things or feel comfortable compromising. Where do you make the leap that I'm saying no DC parents value education? I never said that. All I said was that people who ONLY value education probably won't find what they are looking for. PS there is a lot more to the suburbs than giant cars and houses. Ever have a conversation with a hard working taxi driver from Ethiopia or Ghana? Where do you thinl they are living and sending their kids to school? Generally, not DCPS.

NeW poster her but I get kind of defensive about that comment too. I sincerely think the upper NW ES and JH are some of the best schools in the region, and just today there are like 4 different threads where people can't seem to get their heads around the fact that schools were my actual and real motivation for choosing my DC neighborhood. And here you are basically doing it again. I prioritize education first and I still chose DC. Others can disagree, but the essential disbelief that I mean what I say is getting kind of old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yep. The good DCPS schools are better, with smaller class sizes than the suburban schools. You just need to make sure it's a good school.

This. The terrific DCPS are way better than suburban options. The terrible ones are terrible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It takes a big dose of privilege to dismiss other parents' desire for traditionally good schools.

Takes an even bigger one to dismiss every parent who speaks about their positive experience with city schools as someone who "doesn't value education." Seriously, want to talk about privilege? Let's talk about your breathtaking entitlement to a lifestyle with two giant cars, a single family house, driving everywhere, and living in an economically segregated community. You think you have the right to do that because you grew up poor, or something? You think I did not--or, if I did, I just don't "value education?" You think poor people don't value education? Because I suspect your own parents might take some offense at that.

Holy cow you are defensive. OP states that education is her "only priority." I reply that probably DC schools are not a good fit because they are for people who value other things or feel comfortable compromising. Where do you make the leap that I'm saying no DC parents value education? I never said that. All I said was that people who ONLY value education probably won't find what they are looking for. PS there is a lot more to the suburbs than giant cars and houses. Ever have a conversation with a hard working taxi driver from Ethiopia or Ghana? Where do you thinl they are living and sending their kids to school? Generally, not DCPS.

NeW poster her but I get kind of defensive about that comment too. I sincerely think the upper NW ES and JH are some of the best schools in the region, and just today there are like 4 different threads where people can't seem to get their heads around the fact that schools were my actual and real motivation for choosing my DC neighborhood. And here you are basically doing it again. I prioritize education first and I still chose DC. Others can disagree, but the essential disbelief that I mean what I say is getting kind of old.

Have your kids gone through Deal and Wilson yet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:rather than Arlington or Bethesda? I ask because my child will enter kindergarten this year, I rent, and I am willing to move wherever is necessary.

Singapore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It takes a big dose of privilege to dismiss other parents' desire for traditionally good schools.

Takes an even bigger one to dismiss every parent who speaks about their positive experience with city schools as someone who "doesn't value education." Seriously, want to talk about privilege? Let's talk about your breathtaking entitlement to a lifestyle with two giant cars, a single family house, driving everywhere, and living in an economically segregated community. You think you have the right to do that because you grew up poor, or something? You think I did not--or, if I did, I just don't "value education?" You think poor people don't value education? Because I suspect your own parents might take some offense at that.

Holy cow you are defensive. OP states that education is her "only priority." I reply that probably DC schools are not a good fit because they are for people who value other things or feel comfortable compromising. Where do you make the leap that I'm saying no DC parents value education? I never said that. All I said was that people who ONLY value education probably won't find what they are looking for. PS there is a lot more to the suburbs than giant cars and houses. Ever have a conversation with a hard working taxi driver from Ethiopia or Ghana? Where do you thinl they are living and sending their kids to school? Generally, not DCPS.

NeW poster her but I get kind of defensive about that comment too. I sincerely think the upper NW ES and JH are some of the best schools in the region, and just today there are like 4 different threads where people can't seem to get their heads around the fact that schools were my actual and real motivation for choosing my DC neighborhood. And here you are basically doing it again. I prioritize education first and I still chose DC. Others can disagree, but the essential disbelief that I mean what I say is getting kind of old.

Have your kids gone through Deal and Wilson yet?

No, though I think very highly of Deal, and am not at all hesitant to send my children there. I haven't decided what we'll do for HS yet, and we focused on ES and junior high in deciding where to buy. I understand a least one poster thinks it is incoherent for me to say that our first priority was education and then not consider high schools at the time of purchase (when neither of our children were born yet). I disagree, but that's been debated endlessly in the Bethesda v. CCDC threat, so I won't rehash it here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought that as a DC resident you can get in-state tuition at several public universities throughout the country?

No, it's a grant of $10,000 per year at most (but not all) public universities across the country. Which used to be enough to make up the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition but now isn't close at many schools.

UVa- in-state tuition $14,500, out of state $43,000
UMd- in-state tuition $10,000, out of state $30,000
Berkeley- in-state tuition $13,500, out of state $40,000
Michigan- in-state tuition $14,000, out of state $43,500
Wisconsin- in-state tuition $10,500, out of state $29,800

Say you have 2 kids who could get into UVa. It's $150,000 more in tuition as a DC resident than as a VA resident.

[Anonymous]

education is my first priority in choosing to live in Dc after we got into a cute little charter. I have friends in north Arlington in the very best elementary school there. Uneven teaching (good teacher one year, bad the next) and kids in K getting ipads. It's not bad but it's not the education I would prioritize. We've yet to have a bad teacher - I'm sure we'll get one - but they aren't going to teach with ipads and smart boards. My kids are learning cursive and their peer group is fantastic. I feel good about middle school options since more cute little charter middle school are in the works (I don't want deal or any big middle school) and high school is a long way away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought that as a DC resident you can get in-state tuition at several public universities throughout the country?

No, it's a grant of $10,000 per year at most (but not all) public universities across the country. Which used to be enough to make up the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition but now isn't close at many schools.

UVa- in-state tuition $14,500, out of state $43,000
UMd- in-state tuition $10,000, out of state $30,000
Berkeley- in-state tuition $13,500, out of state $40,000
Michigan- in-state tuition $14,000, out of state $43,500
Wisconsin- in-state tuition $10,500, out of state $29,800

Say you have 2 kids who could get into UVa. It's $150,000 more in tuition as a DC resident than as a VA resident.

year, but the chance of your kid getting into UVA from dc is much higher than from No. Virginia. Best bet woudl be to more to chesapeake VA senior year and then apply to UVA. If you prioritize your kid's college education. You have the absolute worst odds from No. Va.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are like 6 threads going on this right now.

OP I recommend you move to San Diego. Schools are good and weather is amazing.

I have a crush on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

If quality of education is your only priority, your kids are bright and hard working and you can swing 35K per child per year for high school, you do very well in DC, the city with a number of the country's top-performing private schools. The rest of us live under a dark cloud of mediocrity, charter lottery stress, dead end middle school feeds, increasing crowding in the Deal feeders and at Wilson and Deal. I always get bummed out when I check Metro area lists of National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists in the early spring. Wilson produces one, two or three, and so does Walls, and that's it from public schools, year in and year out. Meanwhile, many a suburban high school produces 10, 15, 20, even dozens at TJ and the Blair Montgomery magnets.

Are you really so terrified of raising a mediocre child? Do you really check Metro area lists of National Merit Scholarship Semnifinalists every year? If your child is National Merit material, isn't it better do be one of two or three than twenty? Is your metric of success really this narrow and small?

And if you're right? Why the hell is the DMV such a mess? Is that by design? Because I'm not sure it took a national merit scholarship semifinalist to give us the beltway, or the Metro's lack of financing, or our country's collapsing infrastructure. Or Donald Trump.

It sure gave us Hillary Clinton though. The politician that Richard Nixon and Lady MacBeth couldn't even have dreamed of becoming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

The only reason to live in DC for schools is to take advantage of the wonderful and numerous privates. Otherwise, DCPS sucks to high heaven.

... says the K street lobbyist, who latest project, "How to make Coal Lovable, Renewable, and Fun!" has just been rejected by her marketing department and is now crying into her merlot. It's fortunate her husband is an IP partner, or they would be screwed.

New to this thread, and you're obviously out of your depth. Please save your ignorance of energy alternatives for another thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only reason to live in DC for schools is to take advantage of the wonderful and numerous privates. Otherwise, DCPS sucks to high heaven.

Then move, dumbass. If you don't like the Nation's Capitol and the central city, you're obviously too unsophisticated for a population larger than 100,000 - 200,000.

You're a small time loser who likes to think she's special because of segrated school and the convenience of Applebee's.

The rest of us privately laugh at you and your ilk.