Why do some parents of DC private school children choose to live in the suburbs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hinterlands? Really? Woodley Park isn't exactly Manhattan. And many areas in NoVA and MD have a lot more to do than than that hub of fun, Cathedral Ave. Crime notwithstanding, there's not a lot going on there outside of the zoo. It's obvious to most people why we choose to live across the City limits. The question should be, if you have kids, why on earth would you live in DC? The only possible edge DC would have for parents with kids in DC schools is proximity. But as several posters have pointed out, even that edge is not decisive. And BTW Rosslyn is a lot closer than 5 mins to DC. Check a map.

You check a map. Besides Georgetown, Rosslyn isn't close to anyplace desirable. And the ONE desirable neighborhood it's near is (gasp!) in DC. Oh, the "hub of fun" WP is near is a little street called Connecticut Ave. Maybe you've heard of it? Besides the Zoo, WP is walking distance to two large hotels, tons of shops and restaurants, lots of embassies (that open their doors to the public every spring), the National Cathedral, and many neighborhoods that are destinations themselves (i.e., Dupont Circle, Kalorama, Adams Morgan, Cleveland Park).

I notice that you keep comparing Rosslyn (or Arlington) to all of DC. I'm only talking about WP here, so pay attention. There are many reasons, as I've outlined above, to raise children in this neighborhood. If I wanted to be bored to death, I'd move into your neighborhood. I guarantee that when my children are teens, they won't be looking for things to do in NoVa or other surrounding burbs. Your kids, on the other hand, will be dying to hang out "in the city" (a real one). Just make sure they know how to carry themselves in this VERY dangerous and scary city, or else they will be easy targets.

But WP IS so exciting. It's walking distance to two hotels for Christ's sake. Can't get much more exciting than that!

[Anonymous]

PP: And where do you live dear? (eye roll)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is so great about Woodley Park??? There's almost nothing there. And really, what true urbanite wants to live in DC? If someone's really looking for an urban experience, they move somewhere else. I find it truly bizarre for someone to be a city-snoot living in DC. It's provincial compared to what most people consider to be a vibrant urban city. 21:27--Get a fucking life! You sound like a true idiot. "well my kids will be playing in DC, blah, blah, blah." What are you, 12?!?!

Written like a true adult! For someone who lives in the cultural wasteland that is Rosslyn (or whichever suburban hell you occupy), you certainly have a lot to say about this city. I'm really not interested in taking lessons about what is appropriately urban from someone who lives in the burbs. This exchange has been purely for my amusement--btw, thanks! I have done my time in a suburb, and frankly, I would have preferred to cut my wrist with a dull knife. Yes, I am a proud and committed city-snob who was born and raised in a major city (not DC), and I wouldn't have it any other way. Good luck to you in suburgatory!

Oh, honey, you really are the one providing the amusement for the rest of us. (New poster, but enthralled lurker, here.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sorry woodley park poster, but there is no way that you are getting to gtown in less than 5 minutes. i used to live right near the entrance to RCP and there is no way I ever got to gtown in 4 minutes. also - i'm no fan of the burbs either, but I can tell you that woodley is really not that exciting either.

Obviously, you didn't live near the Woodley Park/RCP entrance I take to get to Georgetown. As a matter of fact, it usually takes me less than 5 minutes to get there. I just timed it about a week ago and it took about two and a half minutes (exiting on P St.). So, please talk only about things you actually know.

Btw, when did I say that WP was the most exciting place in the world? It suits my needs and desires, and it's a great neighborhood with a FREE school that I love. There are plenty of things for my family to do--all within walking distance. I also said that if I didn't love it here, I could easily move to any neighborhood in the DC metro area. However, it doesn't sound as if all of you are as happy with your neighborhoods. Perhaps that's why you're hating on WP so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is so great about Woodley Park??? There's almost nothing there. And really, what true urbanite wants to live in DC? If someone's really looking for an urban experience, they move somewhere else. I find it truly bizarre for someone to be a city-snoot living in DC. It's provincial compared to what most people consider to be a vibrant urban city. 21:27--Get a fucking life! You sound like a true idiot. "well my kids will be playing in DC, blah, blah, blah." What are you, 12?!?!

Written like a true adult! For someone who lives in the cultural wasteland that is Rosslyn (or whichever suburban hell you occupy), you certainly have a lot to say about this city. I'm really not interested in taking lessons about what is appropriately urban from someone who lives in the burbs. This exchange has been purely for my amusement--btw, thanks! I have done my time in a suburb, and frankly, I would have preferred to cut my wrist with a dull knife. Yes, I am a proud and committed city-snob who was born and raised in a major city (not DC), and I wouldn't have it any other way. Good luck to you in suburgatory!

Oh, honey, you really are the one providing the amusement for the rest of us. (New poster, but enthralled lurker, here.)

Well, then it's a win-win for everyone!

[Anonymous]

There's PP, sitting there Sheen-like, with a daffy, half-lit grin, shouting, "Winning!". Cracks me up, oh queen of Woodley Park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sorry woodley park poster, but there is no way that you are getting to gtown in less than 5 minutes. i used to live right near the entrance to RCP and there is no way I ever got to gtown in 4 minutes. also - i'm no fan of the burbs either, but I can tell you that woodley is really not that exciting either.

Bike down into Rock Creek Park, around to P Street or M Street and up. It is all down hill and can't take more than 5 -7 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's PP, sitting there Sheen-like, with a daffy, half-lit grin, shouting, "Winning!". Cracks me up, oh queen of Woodley Park.

Yes, I like the sound of that: "Queen of Woodley". Now bow down!

[Anonymous]

what happened to this thread. OMG!

some parents of DC privates that we know live in the suburbs as insurance in case they choose to withdraw their child/ren from DC privates down the road; they are close enough to the DC border that living in the suburbs does not add much in terms of a commute; they have other considerations such as living within reasonable distance to both a suburban work location and the DC private;

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My commute from Arlington to downtown DC is shorter than the commute from Woodley Park to downtown DC, and I can beat your drive/walk/metro ride to Georgetown any day of the week. Most of the people I know who've moved from DC to the burbs have done so because the public schools in DC suck, not because they were desperate for a bigger house.

I doubt that. I can get downtown from WP (via metro) to Farragut North much faster than you can from Arlington. That commute takes about 6 minutes. I can get to Georgetown ( Rock Creek Pkwy) in 5 minutes (with no traffic lights). I don't have much desire to venture to VA, but I can get to National Airport in 12 minutes (also via RCK) with the possibility of only that one traffic light near the Kennedy Ctr. I can also get to Bethesda, DuPont Circle, Friendship Heights, Adams Morgan, etc. in less time than it takes you. Now what?

Woodley Park's neighborhood public school is Oyster. Most of the people I know w/kids moved to WP specifically for this school. If they wanted a monolingual school, or to take their chances with a lottery for an immersion school in the burbs, they could have easily afforded to do so. Once again, my point is that no one who owns a home in WP (please note: I'm not referring to every neighborhood in DC) is being held hostage here. They live here because they want to, NOT because they have to. And the quality of life is pretty darn good over here.

You really need to hang out with a different crowd! A shit school is a shit school, whether it's shit in English, or shit in Spanish. No one moves to Woodley to attend Oyster. It' not one of the better public schools in DC. It's never mentioned in the JKLMM tier of schools, and if you visit the DC public school forum of this site, you'll read many flamers of Oyster. You're doing your kids a disservice by sending them there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP: And where do you live dear? (eye roll)

I live in Bethesda, but I'm thinking of moving to Crystal City. I hear there are many, many hotels there, so there's got to be loads of excitement!

[Anonymous]

You really need to hang out with a different crowd! A shit school is a shit school, whether it's shit in English, or shit in Spanish. No one moves to Woodley to attend Oyster. It' not one of the better public schools in DC. It's never mentioned in the JKLMM tier of schools, and if you visit the DC public school forum of this site, you'll read many flamers of Oyster. You're doing your kids a disservice by sending them there.

You sound both ignorant and angry--a very dangerous combination. You are certainly welcome to your ill-informed opinion about Oyster, because as we all know, opinions are like assholes--everyone has one. I know many people who moved to WP specifically for Oyster. However, I don't make decisions about where to educate my children based on the (rather narrow) opinions of people on this board. But obviously you do, so good luck with that lemming. Anyway, no need to worry about my children because they will be just fine. Remember, I live in WP by choice, so I'm more than willing and able to fill any academic gaps, as needed. My children would be pleased to tell you how happy they are at Oyster, in English and Spanish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most of my friends and neighbors in mid to upper MoCo would never consider being in the city.

Most don't work in the city. Many own their own businesses that are not in the city. Many work for companies in the suburbs.

Most are transplants from other areas - Ohio, Pennsylvania, Pakistan, Africa, Dominican republic, etc.

I don't think many even considered the city as an option. We never did and we lived there in our 20's.

All interesting but then why send kids to private school in DC? I did it because I live close and worked in DC. If I lived and worked up county I wouldn't drive in for school.

Why did you chose this poster to pick on? Maybe their schools are not what they want for their kids. Why don't liberals send their kids to public schools in order to help strengthen the system from the inside out?

[Anonymous]

We moved to the suburbs (Chevy Chase) thinking we'd send our kids to public. When Kindergarten rolled around, we took a look at our public option and didn't like what we saw. We love our neighborhood and see no reason to move just because our kids attend a school that is a 15 minute drive away in traffic. BTW, we're in good company. There are tons of families at our school that live in our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

New poster to this bizarre but amusing thread. It's clear from reading through these that the Woodley Park poster is the village idiot here and I don't want to appear to be defending her stupidity but I have to agree with her that Oyster is not a sh*t school. Too many people have too narrow a view on this board.