Relocating to DMV from Chicago, Desperately Looking for a Full-Time Daycare/Preschool

[Anonymous]

donewithchicago wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is really short sighted in Fairfax County. Pre-school is 2 years. FCPS is 13, and in many cases can provide a better education than privates. And different parts of the county have very different vibes, and parents with very different priorities. You really don't want to limit yourself to schools and neighborhoods. that are a bad fit in your quest for the perfect preschool experience. There are lots of high quality preschools, and you can find one in any area affluent enough to have really good schools.

So, start with your housing budget and tell us what you want out of your child's ES/MS/HS experience. The absolute best academics, with a push for AAP admittance and culminating in TJ? A more well rounded community experience (but still strong schools)? Would you be comfortable in a neighborhood where social status is very important, and all the moms SAH, live in 2 million dollar houses and wear full makeup to daily yoga? Or are you a professional, who want to be around other dual professional families? Do you really want urban and walkable? Or a more suburban feel with sidewalks and traditional neighborhoods? Even if location doesn't matter, the answer to these questions do.

What is TJ?

And this is a lot to mull over. Perhaps I should start with neighborhood and go from there? If I start with neighborhood can I be confident that I'll find good schools nearby?

OP, the above PP gave you very good advice. The FCPS schools are outstanding but you will have to aim for the high school pyramid you want which means knowing what neighborhood to buy or rent in. The preschools are really a secondary consideration.

[Anonymous]

OP- I just want to let you know that we moved to the DC area many years ago and we love it. I think it is one of the best places to raise my kids. Many on DCUM are opinionated and crazy so have thick skin when you post. I don't know much about Montgomery County but we are very happy with Vienna. The public schools have been excellent and we love the little town and their events. Preschool seems so important but it goes by in a second. We went to a fantastic play based school in VA if you reconsider location. Don't stress over the TJ hype - and I'm a teacher. Welcome to DC. Coming from Chicago you will be in disbelief how they cancel school for snow.

[Anonymous]

donewithchicago wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you both work from home, why are you relocating to the DC area?

Because we're concerned at where Chicago is headed and how the city is being run. City broke, state broke, public school system in disarray and property taxes just went way up. I voted for Rahm, but he seems way in over his head. We want to see how this all plays out from a safe distance.

You got what you voted for.

[donewithchicago]

Anonymous wrote:You got what you voted for.

The pension issue began decades ago, under Mayor Daley, when I was still in elementary school. So, yeh...

[donewithchicago]

Well thanks for all the responses. Truly. Even the ones I rolled my eyes really hard at.

All the feedback, positive and negative, does help to sharpen my focus and adjust my expectations. I think my housing budget might be too low, and I will adjust that.

I have a thick skin, so I'm not really thrown by the more aggressive replies. I will miss Midwestern friendliness though because, based on the replies in DCUM, I certainly won't be getting that out East, LOL!!!

[Anonymous]

I think the hardest thing is going to be finding the ratio you have for your older child. In Arlington the 3 year old class licensing ratios are 1;8 or 9 and the 4 year old are 1;10. I cannot think of a single full day center that intends to be lower than licensing ratios.
I think you may have also thrown people with the discussion of 'feeder' schools. I think the close in public schools are just better, and in general people who are committed to private school aren't in full day care- they have nannies and part day preschool.
If you are progressive, and looking for the benefits of urban living you might really like Arlington. Look especially at Lyon Park/Lyon Village/ Clarendon area.

[donewithchicago]

Anonymous wrote:I think you may have also thrown people with the discussion of 'feeder' schools. I think the close in public schools are just better, and in general people who are committed to private school aren't in full day care- they have nannies and part day preschool.

Yes, it's sinking in how different talk of education is in Chicago vs DMV. I took for granted that some language I used would be interpreted in the same way and it wasn't. Good for me to know.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you need to up your housing budget. PP made a wonderful suggestion for Arlington, specifically the Clarendon /Lyon Village area.

In general, people don't choose to live here. There are a lot of transplants who have found themselves here because of the jobs. It is truly overcrowded and the reality of a town, here in the area, is not what you know to be in a town. It's sprawl. There are very few actual towns to be found amongst all of the sprawl. Stick with Arlington (or Bethesda, if you are dead set on Montgomery County). You'll find what you need there -- in housing, schools, & lifestyle --just be prepared to shell out some bucks.

[Anonymous]

donewithchicago wrote:Well thanks for all the responses. Truly. Even the ones I rolled my eyes really hard at.

All the feedback, positive and negative, does help to sharpen my focus and adjust my expectations. I think my housing budget might be too low, and I will adjust that.

I have a thick skin, so I'm not really thrown by the more aggressive replies. I will miss Midwestern friendliness though because, based on the replies in DCUM, I certainly won't be getting that out East, LOL!!!

Yes, best get used to it now. People here are not as friendly as Midwesterners. It's not personal.

Signed, Hoosier

[Anonymous]

^^ I think it's due to the recent transient nature of the area. It wasn't like that growing up here.

[Anonymous]

We moved from Chicago 8 years ago. We choose the Vienna, VA about 15 miles outside of DC. My husband commutes to the city via the Metro. There are a ton of great schools in this area and they all feed into Marshall and Madison, which are highly regarded HS in the area. Housing can be steep, for $3000 you might find a decent town home or single family house to rent. Rent has really exploded with all the development in the area. You are close to all the major freeways, stores and plenty of parks and trails to walk and play. Good luck in whatever you decide.

[Anonymous]

You need to up your budget for a house.

[Anonymous]

Agree you need a higher housing budget. We are very progressive and we prefer VA to MD. I know you've decided on MoCo but I would really look at N Arlington and Falls Church City. The schools are fantastic. You don't have the same AAP drama as FCPS and there are a ton of fabulous full time preschools. Northern Virginia and Arlington/FCCare very well run and also really close in to DC to take advantage of the city. MoCo is further removed and a longer haul into town.

[Anonymous]

DH is a MoCo teacher in the Wheaton HS cluster (we also live in the Wheaton cluster, but my DD is 10 weeks, so we have time to move...). He recommends the "W" high schools (excluding Wheaton, haha): Walter Johnson, Walt Whitman, Winston Churchill, and Wooton, as well as BCC, Poolesville, Quince Orchard, and Richard Montgomery. RM's feeders are meh (he taught at a MS in the cluster), but RM has a tech program that one can apply for to attend from around the county.

I'm from Howard County, MD, and my DH is from Long Island. We love it here in MoCo. We will NEVER move to HoCo nor to the NY/NJ area. While NYC and its surroundings tout diversity, the reality is that there isn't any. At all. LI is still very segregated culturally, as is the area of NJ his sister lives in. One of the things we love about here is that there are all kinds of different people. Makes the area interesting--and the food!