Accepted! Now how to make it work? Is it worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the continued advice.

I'm a little confused by those who think I'm paying $20K for the school? For one, the 3 day program doesn't cost near that even without the FA. Second, if we didn't get enough FA to make it affordable, then we're obviously going to have to turn it down. It's not like I suddenly will find an extra $800 a month lying around that could be going to rent... The absolute most we can afford for childcare per month is $1200. That means no savings and having a very tough time. But because childcare is so expensive, that's what we pay right now and we make it work by living very carefully and within our means. So if the FA we're offered doesn't allow us to pay that - INCLUDING what we'd be paying a 15 hour/wk sitter - then we obviously turn it down. So that's not the issue, the issue is just whether it's worth it logistically. I've been getting great answers on that, and thank you for them.

To those talking about the DC lottery, I'll be honest and say that I'm scared but have every intention of trying. I have a lot of friends where I live, and we're not in a good school district. I have seen many, MANY of them lose both the elementary lottery and the charter lottery two years in a row. I have to admit that I am terrified of relying on a lottery when I have an admission. And this coming year, either way I have to pay because my son isn't old enough for the preschool. I will obviously do both the lottery and the charter lottery next year, when he is eligible, but wouldn't I take a bird in the hand while I've got it? If I get into a good school, we can always leave if the logistics and money just aren't working out for us, right?

To the PP who said I was whining about not being able to find anything, I am thankful for your link and that was great. But if you look at my post, I was hardly whining. I said I had a coffee break (so a short time) and I searched around. I looked at craigslist, padmapper, rent, and homesdatabase. Obviously a more exhaustive search may have uncovered something I missed, but I was hardly whining and saying "ANYWHERE." I simply said that on my search, I didn't see anything less than that. But I'll just admit upfront that I don't know anything about that school district. Not everyone has your level of knowledge and you shouldn't expect that. I am quite educated for my background, and am trying to become moreso, but it's not a very fair judgment on your part. Thank you for sharing, but it would have been nice to have left it at that rather than just assuming I was whining. Not sure I know what that's about.

Then move to FFX or Montgomery Co and you won't have to worry about the lottery.

Look, OP, you don't have the money to afford the premium DC lifestyle you want. Even sacrificing, you are barely getting by.

BTW have you checked the holiday and summer schedule of the preschool? Do you have care to cover all those days?

And talking about sending your kid to DC private on the hopes that you are going to get 100%FA. That's nice - but how are you going to pay for everything else. Look at the private school schedules and check out the number of vacation days. Who is watching your kid those days? What about before and after care - they offer it - at a price and may not discount that price. And then how are you paying for summer camp? In DC, at private schools, summer camp fees can easily go upwards of $500 a week for camp and after care. And no, they don't offer FA for many of the camps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's a Foxhall Rd (Key?) Bungalow for $1000:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/2901321786.html

This is a steal, OP. If I didn't own already, I'd be all over this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. The adorable bungalow is sadly a scam . I obviously tried to get in touch IMMEDIATELY!!!!

Ah! Didn't see this yet when I posted the above comment.

[Anonymous]

I know, such a bummer.

Look, this is OP. I think this is getting a bit off topic. You really don't know why I live in DC etc. It's certainly not for a "lavish lifestyle." (???) If anything, it saves us money in commuting costs and several other things to live in the district. It's not like I'd save money by moving out to FFX or anything like that because I'd STILL be paying for preschool!!! Maybe more house for the money, but I wouldn't SAVE a lot of money. If I moved WAYYY out, then I would save SOME in rent costs, but I would also never see my son with my commute. Literally ever. But maybe it DOES make more sense to do that WHEN my son hits K. He is 3 years from that. So that's not what's at issue right now. So whether I should live in FFX is fairly off topic for the discussion at hand.

So again, thanks to all who have given me such great food for thought on both sides of this issue. It certainly has helped me to think it over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know, such a bummer.

Look, this is OP. I think this is getting a bit off topic. You really don't know why I live in DC etc. It's certainly not for a "lavish lifestyle." (???) If anything, it saves us money in commuting costs and several other things to live in the district. It's not like I'd save money by moving out to FFX or anything like that because I'd STILL be paying for preschool!!! Maybe more house for the money, but I wouldn't SAVE a lot of money. If I moved WAYYY out, then I would save SOME in rent costs, but I would also never see my son with my commute. Literally ever. But maybe it DOES make more sense to do that WHEN my son hits K. He is 3 years from that. So that's not what's at issue right now. So whether I should live in FFX is fairly off topic for the discussion at hand.

So again, thanks to all who have given me such great food for thought on both sides of this issue. It certainly has helped me to think it over.

If you live in DC - have you looked at Charters? Many of them start at PreS (need to be 3 by Sept 30th).
If you are considering NCRC, I would think that every charter would be closer to you.
I would consider (I am brainstorming - this is not an order of preferance)
1. AppleTree
2. Bridges
3. Mundo Verde
4. Inspired Teaching
5. Capital City Public Charter School
6. 2 Rivers
7. DC Prep
8. LAMB
9. Yu Ying
10. Elsie Stokes
11. KIPP
12. Creative Minds International
13. EL Haynes (Note - I am adding them only to complete the list - but they already had the lottery)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, no, no NO. preschool is all about joining a community, etc. If you live 45 minutes away you'll be total outsiders, playdates won't happen etc. you really want to go to preschool in your immediate area. You have PLENTY of time to worry about academics later.

This is a really good point. I don't have little ones anymore, but now I remember that preschool was all about the relationships and playdates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know, such a bummer.

Look, this is OP. I think this is getting a bit off topic. You really don't know why I live in DC etc. It's certainly not for a "lavish lifestyle." (???) If anything, it saves us money in commuting costs and several other things to live in the district. It's not like I'd save money by moving out to FFX or anything like that because I'd STILL be paying for preschool!!! Maybe more house for the money, but I wouldn't SAVE a lot of money. If I moved WAYYY out, then I would save SOME in rent costs, but I would also never see my son with my commute. Literally ever. But maybe it DOES make more sense to do that WHEN my son hits K. He is 3 years from that. So that's not what's at issue right now. So whether I should live in FFX is fairly off topic for the discussion at hand.

So again, thanks to all who have given me such great food for thought on both sides of this issue. It certainly has helped me to think it over.

Exactly why I said some just don't get it. Don't get yourself riled up by folks that while sometimes well meaning, WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND.

*Really ludicrous to think that people live in DC for a lavish lifestyle. Goes to show that some folks don't know how those outside of their bubble live.

[Anonymous]

So again, thanks to all who have given me such great food for thought on both sides of this issue. It certainly has helped me to think it over.

If you live in DC - have you looked at Charters? Many of them start at PreS (need to be 3 by Sept 30th).
If you are considering NCRC, I would think that every charter would be closer to you.
I would consider (I am brainstorming - this is not an order of preferance)
1. AppleTree
2. Bridges
3. Mundo Verde
4. Inspired Teaching
5. Capital City Public Charter School
6. 2 Rivers
7. DC Prep
8. LAMB
9. Yu Ying
10. Elsie Stokes
11. KIPP
12. Creative Minds International
13. EL Haynes (Note - I am adding them only to complete the list - but they already had the lottery)



Community Academy Public Charter - Butler has an AWESOME early childhood program and they will consider later birthdays.

[Anonymous]

None of those schools allow kids at OP's age, which is (since her child is not eligible for free preschool this year) probably 2.5.

How does that help her this year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of those schools allow kids at OP's age, which is (since her child is not eligible for free preschool this year) probably 2.5.

How does that help her this year?

I know for a fact that CAPCS accepts children with birthdays beyond Sept. 30th

[Anonymous]

This is OP. My son doesn't turn 3 until 2013. He can't do the charters until next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. My son doesn't turn 3 until 2013. He can't do the charters until next year.

in all seriousness, to jump through the hurdles that you are going to for age 2-3, I think it could be better spent elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
To the PP who said I was whining about not being able to find anything, I am thankful for your link and that was great. But if you look at my post, I was hardly whining. I said I had a coffee break (so a short time) and I searched around. I looked at craigslist, padmapper, rent, and homesdatabase. Obviously a more exhaustive search may have uncovered something I missed, but I was hardly whining and saying "ANYWHERE." I simply said that on my search, I didn't see anything less than that. But I'll just admit upfront that I don't know anything about that school district. Not everyone has your level of knowledge and you shouldn't expect that. I am quite educated for my background, and am trying to become moreso, but it's not a very fair judgment on your part. Thank you for sharing, but it would have been nice to have left it at that rather than just assuming I was whining. Not sure I know what that's about.

I'm sorry, I used the word whine because I hear that same number over and over again on these boards,

You said this:

I do realize that I think most people responding don't quite understand. I spent a little time this afternoon during a break looking at some rentals in the better school districts and it's WAY more expensive. Way way way more. We pay $1375/month for rent for a 1 bedroom + den (very tiny second bedroom). There are literally zero places to rent in better areas that are less than $2100 for that in better school districts. Not an option. The finances don't work out.

But in fact that's not true. There are places to rent. Yes, it will take a little research, more than what you can do on one coffee break. The place I linked to is about 3 minutes from the DC line, where rock creek park crosses into MD, it's not distant FFX, it's quite close in. It is served by an elementary school (Rock Creek Forest) that is at least as good as the best DC has to offer, if not better, and into a high school (BCC) that's one of the top 3 or 4 in the entire metro area. How do I know this? Because I make a similar income to you, albeit as a single parent, and moved to this neighborhood (not this particular community, a smaller complex that didn't have any two bedrooms for rent the day I posted that) specifically for the schools.

OP you are talking about jumping through all kinds of hoops, and committing yourself to 16 years of tuition payments. Think really carefully. Even if you get great financial aid packages of 80% you're talking about $100K tuition over those years. That's $100K you won't have to buy a home, or to send your child to college, or to give him the gift of a sibling. If you truly exhaust all your options, then yes, look at private schools for Kindergarten, but in the mean time spend as much time looking at some of the great public options, as you spent taking your kid to his private school interview. You may be pleasantly surprised.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't do it at that age. Most of the parents with kids in this program won't have any pickup and drop off challenges. Your kid might end up looking tired or hyper compared to the others who may be well rested etc. You might be putting them at a disadvantage. Secondly in preschool or pre-k your child will learn to count to 20, ABC and letter sounds and to write their name and other basic things. Find a place that they will be happy and teach them the rest. You will be better off and with the money that you do not spend commuting supplement educationally with a tutor, kumon or just tutor your DC yourself but make sure it mirrors an educational setting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
To the PP who said I was whining about not being able to find anything, I am thankful for your link and that was great. But if you look at my post, I was hardly whining. I said I had a coffee break (so a short time) and I searched around. I looked at craigslist, padmapper, rent, and homesdatabase. Obviously a more exhaustive search may have uncovered something I missed, but I was hardly whining and saying "ANYWHERE." I simply said that on my search, I didn't see anything less than that. But I'll just admit upfront that I don't know anything about that school district. Not everyone has your level of knowledge and you shouldn't expect that. I am quite educated for my background, and am trying to become moreso, but it's not a very fair judgment on your part. Thank you for sharing, but it would have been nice to have left it at that rather than just assuming I was whining. Not sure I know what that's about.

I'm sorry, I used the word whine because I hear that same number over and over again on these boards,

You said this:

I do realize that I think most people responding don't quite understand. I spent a little time this afternoon during a break looking at some rentals in the better school districts and it's WAY more expensive. Way way way more. We pay $1375/month for rent for a 1 bedroom + den (very tiny second bedroom). There are literally zero places to rent in better areas that are less than $2100 for that in better school districts. Not an option. The finances don't work out.

But in fact that's not true. There are places to rent. Yes, it will take a little research, more than what you can do on one coffee break. The place I linked to is about 3 minutes from the DC line, where rock creek park crosses into MD, it's not distant FFX, it's quite close in. It is served by an elementary school (Rock Creek Forest) that is at least as good as the best DC has to offer, if not better, and into a high school (BCC) that's one of the top 3 or 4 in the entire metro area. How do I know this? Because I make a similar income to you, albeit as a single parent, and moved to this neighborhood (not this particular community, a smaller complex that didn't have any two bedrooms for rent the day I posted that) specifically for the schools.

OP you are talking about jumping through all kinds of hoops, and committing yourself to 16 years of tuition payments. Think really carefully. Even if you get great financial aid packages of 80% you're talking about $100K tuition over those years. That's $100K you won't have to buy a home, or to send your child to college, or to give him the gift of a sibling. If you truly exhaust all your options, then yes, look at private schools for Kindergarten, but in the mean time spend as much time looking at some of the great public options, as you spent taking your kid to his private school interview. You may be pleasantly surprised.

Not the OP but kind of wondering if you make the same income as OP, why you send your kids to private school (assuming that you are on this board because you do).

I tend to agree that it's not worth the hassle, but I don't agree that the money over the years is a waste for a good education.