Moving to DC. Kids will be in K and PK-3 in the Fall -where to begin?

[Anonymous]

I would rent in Takoma (several new buildings) and try to lottery into SP next year (probably can't find a house in SP for 750, but Takoma, yes).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Suggest living in-bounds for Ludlow Taylor and walking to NoMa. It's basically my situation/commute now and I love it.

This is what I would suggest too. Great area, good IB schools. As soon as you move (wherever it is) enroll your K child so your younger one can get IB & sibling preference. It will help...maybe not enough, but depending on when you move, it may do the trick. H Street and NOMA area are very walkable and tons of families with small kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would rent in Takoma (several new buildings) and try to lottery into SP next year (probably can't find a house in SP for 750, but Takoma, yes).

Lotterying into Shepherd isn't so easy anymore. I would only try this strategy if I'd be okay sticking with Takoma if the lottery doesn't work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would rent in Takoma (several new buildings) and try to lottery into SP next year (probably can't find a house in SP for 750, but Takoma, yes).

Lotterying into Shepherd isn't so easy anymore. I would only try this strategy if I'd be okay sticking with Takoma if the lottery doesn't work out.

There are several decent charters in Takoma (Breakthrough, Sela, CC) and some good privates on MD side (TP Montessori, TP Co-op).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would rent in Takoma (several new buildings) and try to lottery into SP next year (probably can't find a house in SP for 750, but Takoma, yes).

Lotterying into Shepherd isn't so easy anymore. I would only try this strategy if I'd be okay sticking with Takoma if the lottery doesn't work out.

This. 0% chance in PK3, 0% in PK4, 4% chance in K, 0% chance in 1st-5th for Shepherd OOB this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Suggest living in-bounds for Ludlow Taylor and walking to NoMa. It's basically my situation/commute now and I love it.

This is what I would suggest too. Great area, good IB schools. As soon as you move (wherever it is) enroll your K child so your younger one can get IB & sibling preference. It will help...maybe not enough, but depending on when you move, it may do the trick. H Street and NOMA area are very walkable and tons of families with small kids.

Younger child would not get in for PK3 and maybe not for PK4 though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Suggest living in-bounds for Ludlow Taylor and walking to NoMa. It's basically my situation/commute now and I love it.

This is what I would suggest too. Great area, good IB schools. As soon as you move (wherever it is) enroll your K child so your younger one can get IB & sibling preference. It will help...maybe not enough, but depending on when you move, it may do the trick. H Street and NOMA area are very walkable and tons of families with small kids.

Younger child would not get in for PK3 and maybe not for PK4 though.

I don't see why they wouldn't being IB with an enrolled sibling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your future self will thank you if you move WOTP park along the redline. Best for ease of commute and top schools. DuPont for Ross. Cleveland Park for Eaton. And Van Ness for Hearst/Murch.

I recommend this as well. Or AU park for Janney. I’ve seen quite a few for rent signs in the area lately!

Can you rent a place with at least 2 bedrooms for less than $3000/mo? Because OP would be paying for private preschool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your future self will thank you if you move WOTP park along the redline. Best for ease of commute and top schools. DuPont for Ross. Cleveland Park for Eaton. And Van Ness for Hearst/Murch.

I recommend this as well. Or AU park for Janney. I’ve seen quite a few for rent signs in the area lately!

Can you rent a place with at least 2 bedrooms for less than $3000/mo? Because OP would be paying for private preschool.

Yes

[Anonymous]

I'd concur on living on Capitol Hill within walking distance of a redline station. It would be a great commute and it's a great neighborhood to raise a kid, plus if you need a nanny share until your younger child gets it, it will be easy to arrange. Also get yourself on the waiting list for Appletree Capitol Hill. Ludlow-Taylor would be great, and J.O. Wilson is also worth considering.

In addition to looking on Craigslist for rentals, you should look at John C. Formant and Yarmouth Management, which are local management companies. Renting a house would definitely be in your price range.

If you are excited to get back to the city and like the Philadelphia vibe, Capitol Hill is going to be much more your speed than Glover Park or other upper NW areas. But Capitol Hill will be more family-friendly (and a *much* better commute) than Columbia Heights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd concur on living on Capitol Hill within walking distance of a redline station. It would be a great commute and it's a great neighborhood to raise a kid, plus if you need a nanny share until your younger child gets it, it will be easy to arrange. Also get yourself on the waiting list for Appletree Capitol Hill. Ludlow-Taylor would be great, and J.O. Wilson is also worth considering.

In addition to looking on Craigslist for rentals, you should look at John C. Formant and Yarmouth Management, which are local management companies. Renting a house would definitely be in your price range.

If you are excited to get back to the city and like the Philadelphia vibe, Capitol Hill is going to be much more your speed than Glover Park or other upper NW areas. But Capitol Hill will be more family-friendly (and a *much* better commute) than Columbia Heights.

I don’t live in either, but I’m why you think CH is more city like than GP?

[Anonymous]

If the OP is not going to have PK3 for the younger child, she should look into private preschool immediately.

[Anonymous]

Depends on what she wants for private preschool. Many of the federal agencies offer daycare through age five (for workers from VA/MD) and while it can be very hard to get a spot for an infant (or even a toddler) there is a lot of movement at age 3 as many of the kids of DC residents leave for PK3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I were you, I'd rent in boundary for Seaton, Thomson, or Garrison. All would likely be able to get your three year old in as IB with sibling enrolled and will work for your K kid for several years (or longer). You could do the same on the Hill at Brent, Maury, or Ludlow-Taylor, but with a slightly more annoying commute.

When you buy, you'll likely have the choice to keep your kids at the school where they start or to move them to the new IB school. DCPS guidance on this is fuzzy and changes all the time but most people find this works.

Could you please post the link for the DCPS guidance on this? Does this work the other way around if you own now and end up renting for a year or two?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I were you, I'd rent in boundary for Seaton, Thomson, or Garrison. All would likely be able to get your three year old in as IB with sibling enrolled and will work for your K kid for several years (or longer). You could do the same on the Hill at Brent, Maury, or Ludlow-Taylor, but with a slightly more annoying commute.

When you buy, you'll likely have the choice to keep your kids at the school where they start or to move them to the new IB school. DCPS guidance on this is fuzzy and changes all the time but most people find this works.

I'd post lottery app now for Hyde-Addison and Frances Stevens with planted addresses-- your K will likely pull in your PK3 at both.

No way on H-A. PK3 is only 14 kids and it's already filled. Only 6 IB kids without siblings got in during the lottery. The waitlist is hundreds of kids long.