Commuter nightmare- any options that you would consider?
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Anonymous
Thomson is a gem, and actually is quite likely, I think they often go through their whole lottery list. Wonderful principal. And Francis is a just fine middle school that actually sends plenty of kids to MacArthur, too. |
Anonymous
Yes. It seems like you have trouble gathering and processing information related to major life choices. Nobody can give you any advice unless you give more information and take on board the answers. 1. Are you a single parent or can someone else help with a pickup or drop off? 2. Can your older DD get herself to school on public transportation? Is the commute time on public transportation from Hillcrest doable for her? Do you know the routes? 3. Where do you and (if applicable) your partner need to be every day at pick up and drop off? WFH or an office? (otherwise nobody can help you with the commute if we do not know *where you are commuting to*) 4. Can you afford any help to do pick up and drop off? 5. Are you open to your DD going to Eastern? 6. Are you open to your DD going to the IB elementary? |
Anonymous
If you had asked here 8 months ago prior to the lottery *everyone* would have told you it was an astonishingly bad plan to depend on the lottery instead of IB choices. If you had asked prior to buying your home in Hillcrest we would have told you that unless you were willing to send kids IB it was a bad idea. what we would have told you is, rent IB where you can send both your kids. |
Anonymous
The kids also have to get home … |
Anonymous
That’s still a 3 hour daily commute for the older daughter and for OP. Is that really doable? Chosing Eastern at this point is probably more sensible. I am gathering that OP is a single mom so she needs to actually focus on keeping her job. if she is driving her kids to and from school that means she is out of commission for a long chunk of the working day. OP made a poor choice and needs to triage. |
Anonymous
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I think the reason people keep bringing up moving is bc it's an option that would instantly solve all of your problems. Hillcrest is lovely in regards to the homes and how it looks... But the IB schools are very bad and it's not in close proximity to good ones. That's the sad reality.
You need to talk to neighbors about what they are doing. |
Anonymous
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So many Debbie Downers in this thread!!
OP— pick the schools in which you think your kids will thrive. Hillcrest is a great neighborhood where folks are used to commuting. You will most likely find people with whom you can carpool, because people in that neighborhood are generous and used to helping each other out. My best recommendation is to get off if DCUM (if you haven’t already) and get to know your neighborhood. You’ll see how it will all work out. |
Anonymous
I don’t think Thomson has before care (though I know our school is adding it back this year due to parent request, maybe other schools are too). But if they do, sign the younger up and plan to drop her when that opens. Depending on traffic you could keep going to drop the older at McA or get her to the D94 bus stop (it only runs every 20-30 minutes depending on time of day and is still like 40+ minutes so she’d need to be on it by 7:30 at the latest). If your WFH job is flexible would also try to see if you could structure afternoon to be able to take 3-4:30 pm off to pick younger up at dismissal instead of doing after care, in order to beat the evening rush traffic. This would rely on older getting herself most of the way home on her own because I assume she might want to stay later for clubs or sports. A budget for Uber/Lyft will be in order so she can bus or metro part way and get something safer straight to the door if you can’t fetch her. Look into SkipHopDrive as well - it’s a more vetted version of Uber for kids. If might be an option for younger kiddo or even the older if you’re worried about creepy uber drivers. I was considering it for mornings when we switched schools but was able to get a second car and do the run myself. And the people here laying into you about choices and circumstances can pound sand. If someone can’t be supportive, scroll by. No one has a crystal ball and even people who have planned perfectly have life events that get in the way (look at all of the people laid off and having to take new jobs with different commutes or move due to financial issues…). |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
Incorrect. I would have told her that the lottery works for most people. My family relied on it and it worked out fine. Also, if she had ended up in Brookland, her choices would have worked out okay, if she were walking distance or close car distance from Stokes. I have neighbors who drop off near MacArthur every day from near Brookland. It's hard but they make it work. The curve ball is that she bought in SE. Was it a bad choice? None of us can say, really. In twenty years, the OP herself can come and say. But it is what it is, and she's making it work, so stop playing the "What if?" game. It's pointless. |
Anonymous
What? No. the lottery only “works for most people” if you are happy with an any charter preschool. OP is looking for two older kids and clearly does not think the commute is something she can make work. The “what if” game is important because OP needs to figure out why she got herself and her kids into this situation and whether it is a pattern with her. |
Anonymous
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OP here… I don’t have a pattern of poor choices.
I am a single mother who works from home and has the means to pay for private transportation if needed. I also have college aged children so finding a 4/5 bedroom rental in some of the named areas was difficult if not impossible without spending 10k a month or more. While I may not have purchased in my desired area I am happy with my choice, I do recognize it provides some challenges for my school aged children. My oldest is a free spirit who is sensitive and artsy. She has plans to enter a trade right out of high school, she’s on grade level and finished 9th grade with a 3.6 she is excited to navigate the city, it’s mama who is worried about that commute. My youngest is a project based learner, social butterfly and cannot tolerate yelling and negativity. She loves being outside, learning new things and is crafty. She plays tennis, crochets and plays 2 instruments. I have a couple of close friends who live in NE and can get the little one from Stokes at a moments notice. The way I see it unless you live in Georgetown, it’s not that greys to navigate. We have a couple of options… I can move my oldest to Sojourner Trith so both can be in Brookland I can move my youngest to Thomson so it’s “on the way” I can keep watching my waitlist numbers to see if they move as well. One of my employees has a close family member who attends eastern is in the IB and speaks highly of it(they are a white upper middle class family) I don’t know enough about Randle for my youngest to attend but I hear great things about beers. |
Anonymous
Got it… just wasn’t willing to spend upwards of 8500 on rent. My kids are accustomed to their own rooms and space and I wasn’t shifting on that. I can afford private transportation and based on some of the feedback I still have a few good options. I’m grateful for the folks who came and put their heads together on what makes sense for where I am now |
Anonymous
Ok so I have close friends in brookland and their daughter attends McA and she reports a 90 minute commute also. It’s not ideal and I’m researching a company now for morning drop off at minimum. I’m sure I also have neighbors I can car pool with… I’m researching that now. While I am a single mother, I’m self employed and work from home most days. I have the means to have private transportation as well. |
Anonymous
+1. Sorry. But have to agree. OP comes on here super aggressive. BUT SHE WORKS FROM HOME! She should have prioritized her children by renting inboundary for good schools and not left their education, social life and happiness to chance. |