Teachers' favorite neighborhoods?
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Anonymous
| I am an ESL teacher moving to DC with young kids. If possible, I might teach for DCPS and live in the city, sending my kids to DCPS as well. Are there neighborhoods affordable to teachers? Neighborhoods with school boundaries they would be comfortable sending their kids through? Thanks! |
Anonymous
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The starting salary for DCPS teachers is 52 K. The average rent on a one bedroom apartment within walking distance to a Metro station is 2K per month.
I don't know how many years of experience you have, nor do I know what kind of salary bump an ESOL certification gets you. Also, is there another salary coming into the home? |
Anonymous
| You may be able to find something in the Takoma area that is "affordable". It is going to be tight. Apartments give a discount for low to moderate income folk. I think family of three has to make under $80kish. You have to call around as there aren't many apartments in DC that participate and there is a waitlist for affordable units. |
Anonymous
| I know teachers who have lived in Brightwood, Takoma DC, and Riggs Park, so those are neighborhoods to check out. |
Anonymous
| Also Woodridge. |
Anonymous
Takoma is a lovely place to live and the school is great for very little kids. How old are your kids? |
Anonymous
| The teachers I know who are in single income families often choose to live in MD. You can find much more affordable options by simply crossing the line. I know DC teachers who live in Hyattsville and are quite happy with the elementary schools there. I also know teachers who live in Chevy Chase, an area that is incredibly expensive for houses but surprisingly affordable for apartments, and in Silver Spring. The downside of this, of course, is that you'll be on a somewhat different schedule from your kids. |
Anonymous
| If you're a single parent, I really recommend avoiding moving anywhere but DC. The school schedules are so different. This year MCPS and DCPS have the same spring break, but usually they don't. Different professional development days, different Christmas break, and MCPS starts two to three weeks after DCPS teachers need to report back to school. Living somewhere else if you don't have a spouse or grandparent nearby is going to be really, really tough. |
Anonymous
| Maybe you can find a job at a charter that will let you bring your kids to work. |
Anonymous
agree and then you can live ne in a cheaper place in a not great school district. the good school districts are just out of reach in dc. or you can play the lottery and teach dcps |
Anonymous
|
I know a teacher family that lives off of Gallatin in NE. I think there's a good slice of real estate relatively near Fort Totten Metro station between about Buchanan NE and Kansas Ave or New Hampshire Ave NE that can be pretty quiet, reasonably sized and affordable (for DC).
If I was buying for myself, I would look in Manor Park, but it might be a wait to get one of the really nice houses there. |
Anonymous
| It's the poster- wow thanks for the feedback! We have a two income home-my husband earns about 120k. My kids are 3 & 4 |
Anonymous
How many kids? you have my salary (about 200) and we are priced out of three bedrooms in good school districts but could do a two bedrooms. Otherwise, getting a job at good charter (your kids can attend) or playing the lottery and getting your kids into a good charter will make your life in DC most livable. Woodridge is a good choice with affordable housing and so many good charters in ward 5. |
Anonymous
That's probably doable in the Petworth area. You can get a decent 3-4 BR house with a yard. You may want to check out the schools. As a teacher, you can figure out better whether they area "up and coming" or not. |
Anonymous
You can afford to live in nicer neighborhoods (with better schools) than Petworth. However, you'll probably have to purchase a (2 BR) condo. |