Bad Lottery Number

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free Pre-K lol, you get what you pay for. It is like watching a bunch of hungry people fight over cake.

Why not just pay for some small group instructional early learning center that fits well with your kids personality? That way you avoid the whole puppy-mil construct that is DCPS pre-K. My neighbors do the rat race and drive their kid halfway across town all for the privilege of saving a few dollars a day. People are cheap

You 1,000% missed a key concept. You stress about pre-k because that can be the easiest entry years into elementary schools and if you get lucky, middle and high schools. There are PLENTY of options I would be good with for pre-k, but I worried my first year (and still worry, though less) about not ever getting a good enough lottery draw to have a decent elementary option. Plus you are in your elementary school starting in pre-k, then that's one (or two or three) fewer transitions you have to put your kid through instead of switching schools every few years. People who are in bounds for Deal feeders are not stressing this way, it's those of us in not so great DCPS zones.

Seems like you also 1000% missed a key concept: you avoid that worry over schools by choosing to live at a DC address zoned for schools acceptable to you. That you freely chose to live at an address that doesn’t have solid assigned schools K - 12 means you have prioritized other factors. Commute, square footage, owning vs rent, etc.

It’s obvious PP, on their high horse, seems to think all families can afford to live in the areas in DC where all the schools are acceptable which is a major flaw in their argument. Above point not based on economic realities at all.

DP. Well, not based on economic realities if you insist on staying in DC, maybe. There is a very good chance that at most people’s HHI here there would be very viable options in MD or VA that would be quite manageable. But, people prioritize commute and other factors over schools.

People shouldn’t have to choose between a good school for their kids and not having a 2 hour one-way commute. Your argument is implying that no one making under an extremely high HHI should live in DC. That’s absurd and offensive.

I am the PP. I don’t post the other responses to your comment.

But, I agree your hyperventilating about my comment is completely over the top and misplaced. Your comment about 2 hour one way commutes is ridiculous. At almost any income, there would be solid options with a far shorter commute than that. And I didn’t remotely say no one without an extremely high HHI should be in DC. But, at almost any income, you have to make choices. Some people choose to prioritize commute, others size of house, others school locations, etc.

That’s simply reality. Most people can’t get everything they want. Some choose to do the lottery and/or become comfortable with schools that might not have been their first choice. Others choose to live in a small/old house or apartment in a better DC feeder pattern (or inner burb) so that they can have schools and a good commute. Others choose to go farther out (not usually 2 hours out) so they can have other things they couldn’t afford closer in. There is no right or wrong approach. But those are the options almost everyone faces.

I’m not hyperventilating, nor am I exaggerating in any way. I was giving an example from my lived experience. If you work in NW and live in Southern MD (due to things such as affordability of housing while taking into consideration quality of schools), your commute is ridiculous. You seem to not realize that people have different experiences than you, and that we can’t all in fact live close to where we work.

My lord you are a drama queen. I never said no one had that commute or such a commute was impossible. But there would be other options that were not a two hour one way commute.

Some people live that far out even when they can afford to be lots closer for all sorts of reasons. But that’s a choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free Pre-K lol, you get what you pay for. It is like watching a bunch of hungry people fight over cake.

Why not just pay for some small group instructional early learning center that fits well with your kids personality? That way you avoid the whole puppy-mil construct that is DCPS pre-K. My neighbors do the rat race and drive their kid halfway across town all for the privilege of saving a few dollars a day. People are cheap

You 1,000% missed a key concept. You stress about pre-k because that can be the easiest entry years into elementary schools and if you get lucky, middle and high schools. There are PLENTY of options I would be good with for pre-k, but I worried my first year (and still worry, though less) about not ever getting a good enough lottery draw to have a decent elementary option. Plus you are in your elementary school starting in pre-k, then that's one (or two or three) fewer transitions you have to put your kid through instead of switching schools every few years. People who are in bounds for Deal feeders are not stressing this way, it's those of us in not so great DCPS zones.

Seems like you also 1000% missed a key concept: you avoid that worry over schools by choosing to live at a DC address zoned for schools acceptable to you. That you freely chose to live at an address that doesn’t have solid assigned schools K - 12 means you have prioritized other factors. Commute, square footage, owning vs rent, etc.

It’s obvious PP, on their high horse, seems to think all families can afford to live in the areas in DC where all the schools are acceptable which is a major flaw in their argument. Above point not based on economic realities at all.

DP. Well, not based on economic realities if you insist on staying in DC, maybe. There is a very good chance that at most people’s HHI here there would be very viable options in MD or VA that would be quite manageable. But, people prioritize commute and other factors over schools.

People shouldn’t have to choose between a good school for their kids and not having a 2 hour one-way commute. Your argument is implying that no one making under an extremely high HHI should live in DC. That’s absurd and offensive.

I am the PP. I don’t post the other responses to your comment.

But, I agree your hyperventilating about my comment is completely over the top and misplaced. Your comment about 2 hour one way commutes is ridiculous. At almost any income, there would be solid options with a far shorter commute than that. And I didn’t remotely say no one without an extremely high HHI should be in DC. But, at almost any income, you have to make choices. Some people choose to prioritize commute, others size of house, others school locations, etc.

That’s simply reality. Most people can’t get everything they want. Some choose to do the lottery and/or become comfortable with schools that might not have been their first choice. Others choose to live in a small/old house or apartment in a better DC feeder pattern (or inner burb) so that they can have schools and a good commute. Others choose to go farther out (not usually 2 hours out) so they can have other things they couldn’t afford closer in. There is no right or wrong approach. But those are the options almost everyone faces.

I’m not hyperventilating, nor am I exaggerating in any way. I was giving an example from my lived experience. If you work in NW and live in Southern MD (due to things such as affordability of housing while taking into consideration quality of schools), your commute is ridiculous. You seem to not realize that people have different experiences than you, and that we can’t all in fact live close to where we work.

Agreed. To get cheaper housing AND better schools, you're looking at 1.5-2 hours during rush hour. I'd like to see PP come back and post some neighborhoods that are under an hour commute DURING RUSH HOUR, have good schools, and have 3 bedroom houses for less than, say, $750k. Because if you can find those, I'll give my realtor a call tomorrow.

call your realtor: 3brs under $750k with elementary schools with Great Schools rankings of 8+:
https://www.redfin.com/MD/Kensington/9838-Campbell-Dr-20895/home/11104242 shows a 45-50 minute drive or similar by public transit to Metro Center.
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/6819-Haycock-Rd-22043/home/9480978 is a slightly shorter drive and even faster on the orange line.

And I know Great Schools isn't the definitive for quality schools. There's a house for sale IB for Flora Singer that I'd definitely check out if I were you, even though it's a GS 6.

[Anonymous]

OP, NP here

I completely empathize with you. I’ve been through the school lottery process. It is stressful via Hunger Games style. It brings out the worst character traits in a large amount of people. However, an earlier poster made a valid point. You freely chose to live at an address that doesn’t have solid assigned schools K - 12 which means you have prioritized other factors. Commute, square footage, owning vs rent, etc.

Every choice has a positive and a downside.

I do believe other posters made a great point, try to put down schools in which you can deal with but also realistically if you can afford it look into maybe depositing at private schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free Pre-K lol, you get what you pay for. It is like watching a bunch of hungry people fight over cake.

Why not just pay for some small group instructional early learning center that fits well with your kids personality? That way you avoid the whole puppy-mil construct that is DCPS pre-K. My neighbors do the rat race and drive their kid halfway across town all for the privilege of saving a few dollars a day. People are cheap

You 1,000% missed a key concept. You stress about pre-k because that can be the easiest entry years into elementary schools and if you get lucky, middle and high schools. There are PLENTY of options I would be good with for pre-k, but I worried my first year (and still worry, though less) about not ever getting a good enough lottery draw to have a decent elementary option. Plus you are in your elementary school starting in pre-k, then that's one (or two or three) fewer transitions you have to put your kid through instead of switching schools every few years. People who are in bounds for Deal feeders are not stressing this way, it's those of us in not so great DCPS zones.

Seems like you also 1000% missed a key concept: you avoid that worry over schools by choosing to live at a DC address zoned for schools acceptable to you. That you freely chose to live at an address that doesn’t have solid assigned schools K - 12 means you have prioritized other factors. Commute, square footage, owning vs rent, etc.

It’s obvious PP, on their high horse, seems to think all families can afford to live in the areas in DC where all the schools are acceptable which is a major flaw in their argument. Above point not based on economic realities at all.

DP. Well, not based on economic realities if you insist on staying in DC, maybe. There is a very good chance that at most people’s HHI here there would be very viable options in MD or VA that would be quite manageable. But, people prioritize commute and other factors over schools.

This. What should and should be is a theoretical argument. The reality is that isn’t isn’t universal so you chose commute or schools, if you can’t afford both that is the reality for now. You can’t complain about shoulds when talking about is. Everyone should not get raped, you don’t go black out drinking in large groups of unknown guys do you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Free Pre-K lol, you get what you pay for. It is like watching a bunch of hungry people fight over cake.

Why not just pay for some small group instructional early learning center that fits well with your kids personality? That way you avoid the whole puppy-mil construct that is DCPS pre-K. My neighbors do the rat race and drive their kid halfway across town all for the privilege of saving a few dollars a day. People are cheap

You 1,000% missed a key concept. You stress about pre-k because that can be the easiest entry years into elementary schools and if you get lucky, middle and high schools. There are PLENTY of options I would be good with for pre-k, but I worried my first year (and still worry, though less) about not ever getting a good enough lottery draw to have a decent elementary option. Plus you are in your elementary school starting in pre-k, then that's one (or two or three) fewer transitions you have to put your kid through instead of switching schools every few years. People who are in bounds for Deal feeders are not stressing this way, it's those of us in not so great DCPS zones.

Seems like you also 1000% missed a key concept: you avoid that worry over schools by choosing to live at a DC address zoned for schools acceptable to you. That you freely chose to live at an address that doesn’t have solid assigned schools K - 12 means you have prioritized other factors. Commute, square footage, owning vs rent, etc.

It’s obvious PP, on their high horse, seems to think all families can afford to live in the areas in DC where all the schools are acceptable which is a major flaw in their argument. Above point not based on economic realities at all.

DP. Well, not based on economic realities if you insist on staying in DC, maybe. There is a very good chance that at most people’s HHI here there would be very viable options in MD or VA that would be quite manageable. But, people prioritize commute and other factors over schools.

This. What should and should be is a theoretical argument. The reality is that isn’t isn’t universal so you chose commute or schools, if you can’t afford both that is the reality for now. You can’t complain about shoulds when talking about is. Everyone should not get raped, you don’t go black out drinking in large groups of unknown guys do you?

Not the last sentence I was expecting there.

[Anonymous]

Lol and yeah, that took a turn.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:call your realtor: 3brs under $750k with elementary schools with Great Schools rankings of 8+:
https://www.redfin.com/MD/Kensington/9838-Campbell-Dr-20895/home/11104242 shows a 45-50 minute drive or similar by public transit to Metro Center.
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/6819-Haycock-Rd-22043/home/9480978 is a slightly shorter drive and even faster on the orange line.

And I know Great Schools isn't the definitive for quality schools. There's a house for sale IB for Flora Singer that I'd definitely check out if I were you, even though it's a GS 6.

Nice try. Kensington is over an hour, up to 1.5 hours during rush hour depending on what part of the city you work in, and that part of Falls Church is a solid hour, PLUS that is the only house at that price point and it's been on the market almost a year. You want a house that isn't a money pit, you're back in the $900k+ range, in which case you may as well live in the city or Bethesda and not deal with 66 every day.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Metro+Center+Station,+13th+Street+Northwest,+Washington,+DC/9838+Campbell+Dr,+Kensington,+MD+20895/@38.9564432,-77.1746166,12z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m18!4m17!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7b796e2792d93:0x8393f85a9038ccfa!2m2!1d-77.0280918!2d38.8983281!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b7ced4278b71e3:0x53d7f2ac4ce897d6!2m2!1d-77.0601454!2d39.0167555!2m3!6e0!7e2!8j1581526800!3e0

[Anonymous]

There are lots of parts of DC where the commute to Kensington is under an hour. If you're going to the Navy Yard or something, yeah, Virginia is going to be closer. That house is under contract now anyway.

The Falls Church house is 33 minutes to Metro Center on the orange line, including driving to the station. It might not be HGTV-ready, but that's a different standard.

Here are some more:

https://www.redfin.com/MD/Chevy-Chase/6704-Offutt-Ln-20815/unit-197/home/10695549 and https://www.redfin.com/MD/Silver-Spring/8900-Maine-Ave-20910/home/11120668 (both IB for BCC)

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/6124-Madison-Crest-Ct-22041/home/9831146 (just under an hour by car or bus + metro)