Zoning Lafayette out of Deal/Wilson - is this real?

[Anonymous]

We’ve just moved to Chevy Chase (DC). Our kids are still pre-kindergarten but one of the reasons we chose the neighborhood was because we loved Lafayette and were happy to have the option to use Deal/Wilson. I was told about DCUM by a friend who was using it to research lottery options and this is the first I’ve heard of any potential boundary changes or rezoning for Lafayette. Is this a real concern for Lafayette parents? It’s hard for me to judge if this is a real public policy option that’s actually on the table or just fear-mongering. If there are Lafayette parents or other Upper NW parents more plugged into this, I would appreciate your thoughts.

[Anonymous]

not UNW person but I don't think this is real.

[Anonymous]

No, it is not real

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it is not real

I think there is a small chance and I wish fervently it would happen. Send that many Lafayette kids to another middle school and your could revitalize a whole other part of the school system. However, I think Bancroft should have been left out and I think Shepherd/West should be removed from the Deal/WIlson feeder pattern first. But....someone has to go!!

Don't worry about it - if it does happen - its years away and it could work out for the best! Plus, you'll need that zen attitude to be a DCPS parent wherever you are. Otherwise, do us all a favor and go private now

[Anonymous]

I think this is at best a premature concern.

The city is supposed to be doing a review of all school boundaries in 2022-23. Whether it happens then has not been confirmed.

Deal and Wilson are overcrowded, and families in the Wilson feeder path are pressuring DCPS to do something about it.

Kicking schools that are toward the outer edge of the boundary is always discussed as a solution by some. As you might imagine, everyone in teh Wilson pattern has an idea of how to reduce Deal / Wilson overcrowding so long as it doesn't touch their own school.

When DCPS last reviewed boundaries, there was a lengthy grandfathering period. That allowed families with students in the affected schools to continue in the feeder pattern as they had anticipated.

[Anonymous]

There is no plan yet. A redistricting process is not likely to begin before 2023 and will take several years to undertake and implement. In previous redistrictings, there have been long grandfathering processes.

Will Lafayette always feed to Deal and Wilson? Maybe not. Will your kids have many years at Lafayette before any changes are made? Yes. There's no place in DC (or MCPS, or anywhere) where you are 100% guaranteed a certain school through 12th grade. Even districts with a single high school could always open a second one.

[Anonymous]

It wouldn't be the first time that DC policy makers got an idea from DCUM, but I'd rate it highly unlikely in the near term, but certainly a future possibility. It is the solution that makes the most sense (but DC doesn't always go for that).

[Anonymous]

We can only hope!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it is not real

I think there is a small chance and I wish fervently it would happen. Send that many Lafayette kids to another middle school and your could revitalize a whole other part of the school system. However, I think Bancroft should have been left out and I think Shepherd/West should be removed from the Deal/WIlson feeder pattern first. But....someone has to go!!

Don't worry about it - if it does happen - its years away and it could work out for the best! Plus, you'll need that zen attitude to be a DCPS parent wherever you are. Otherwise, do us all a favor and go private now

West is already out of the Deal/Wilson pattern. Agree that Bancroft and Oyster should go to MacFarland and Roosevelt with all other bilingual programs. Then Lafayette and Shepherd to Wells and Coolidge.

[Anonymous]

Rerouting the largest elementary school would be the easiest way to make a big impact.

It was real enough during the last go around that enterprising Lafayette parents started petitions and made a lot of noise of concern.

[Anonymous]

Despite what you will read on here - it will NEVER happen. There are too many people in CC DC who are too politically connected. The Ward 4 argument is bogus too - the fact that the line runs down Broad Branch Road was an arbitrary decision to move some people for numbers purposes for city council reputation (and its been a good thing, we've generally had excellent city council reps).

Just sit back and enjoy the thread devolving into a bunch of finger pointing accusing the neighborhood of being elitist, racist, you name it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve just moved to Chevy Chase (DC). Our kids are still pre-kindergarten but one of the reasons we chose the neighborhood was because we loved Lafayette and were happy to have the option to use Deal/Wilson. I was told about DCUM by a friend who was using it to research lottery options and this is the first I’ve heard of any potential boundary changes or rezoning for Lafayette. Is this a real concern for Lafayette parents? It’s hard for me to judge if this is a real public policy option that’s actually on the table or just fear-mongering. If there are Lafayette parents or other Upper NW parents more plugged into this, I would appreciate your thoughts.

Don't worry. And I'm glad you want to "use" Deal and Wilson. These schools are not your nanny or contractor, you sound kind of rude with a statement like that.

[Anonymous]

No, it's not for real.

[Anonymous]

Yep! Say hello to Ida B. Wells or move to BCC.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone. Sounds like the “no’s” have it - and even if it was “yes” it wouldn’t happen in 2022, as I had understood it. Appreciate it!