Relocating to DC with young Children

[Anonymous]

If you were brand new to DC with children pre-school age 3-5, where would you start in researching schools?

If YOU relocated here, what do you wish you knew before coming as it relates to navigating the school system. (with children that don't have special needs and with children who do)

What advice would you give to a family brand new to the area DC interested in Public & Charters?

Resources? websites, consultants ect.

TIA

[Anonymous]

Your housing budget is going to be a big factor.

[Anonymous]

If you want your kids in public pre-k or a charter K in fall 2020, you need to have an address and residency in time for the lotto. Otherwise you'll be stuck until 2021.

[Anonymous]

I assume you mean DC proper, and not the DC area, which would include MD and VA? You said "new to the area DC" which I assume means DC area?

[Anonymous]

To help we would need your budget, priorities (free preschool vs strong schools later on), commuting concerns, and whether you are considering the suburbs. Also, where are you coming from? Do you want a similar vibe?

[Anonymous]

OP: DC proper - is there a website or resource to answer these questions?

Folks relocating will often ask their real estate agents theses questions, due to fair housing agents need to be careful how they answer. Best practice is to provide resources versus discussing school ratings especially as they correlate to economics.

[Anonymous]

A lot of it depends on where exactly your jobs are as the commute can be excruciating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you were brand new to DC with children pre-school age 3-5, where would you start in researching schools?

If YOU relocated here, what do you wish you knew before coming as it relates to navigating the school system. (with children that don't have special needs and with children who do)

What advice would you give to a family brand new to the area DC interested in Public & Charters?

Resources? websites, consultants ect.

TIA

What I learned: Upper Elementary/Middle School programs are more important than a year of free PreK.
What advice: Sort of like how you look at reviews on Amazon you read the 2 and 3 star reviews to see why someone was unhappy - be open to the critical feedback as there probably is not just someone with an ax to grind.
I used to be of the mindset that standardized testing does not matter - I have learned that standardized testing is one indicator of the quality of delivery of instruction. When you are looking at scores, make sure you look at scores for the subgroups. It is the element that takes out the enrichment that is done by families with means.

For children with learning differences - not all schools are equal. Even schools that may on paper look the same. We are in NW DC in what is typically considered a top elementary school. We are exploring moving as our school is not able to support our child's moderate learning needs. When visiting neighboring schools, the delivery of services is very different.

Other Advice: Everyone's needs and expectations are different. Tune out the noise and determine what feels right for you and your family. When you drive around neighborhoods - look at car stickers. It is interesting how many private car stickers (and not for elite private schools) are in neighborhoods that have good schools. Use this as a indicator for yourself as to why these families have made their choice not to send their child to the neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you were brand new to DC with children pre-school age 3-5, where would you start in researching schools?

If YOU relocated here, what do you wish you knew before coming as it relates to navigating the school system. (with children that don't have special needs and with children who do)

What advice would you give to a family brand new to the area DC interested in Public & Charters?

Resources? websites, consultants ect.

TIA

With two children in HS, my biggest regret in life is that I raised them here in DC. So what advice would I give? Don't do it. It's a horrible place to raise a family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of it depends on where exactly your jobs are as the commute can be excruciating.

+1
I wouldn't consider schools that are more than a 10 minute drive from wherever you decide to live. A school within walking distance is even better.

[Anonymous]

https://www.myschooldc.org/schools

[Anonymous]

OP, is this for your family? Or are you doing general research for ...?

Easier to advise for a specific family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were brand new to DC with children pre-school age 3-5, where would you start in researching schools?

If YOU relocated here, what do you wish you knew before coming as it relates to navigating the school system. (with children that don't have special needs and with children who do)

What advice would you give to a family brand new to the area DC interested in Public & Charters?

Resources? websites, consultants ect.

TIA

With two children in HS, my biggest regret in life is that I raised them here in DC. So what advice would I give? Don't do it. It's a horrible place to raise a family.

What high school? Most people I know with kids at Wilson or Walls don't feel this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were brand new to DC with children pre-school age 3-5, where would you start in researching schools?

If YOU relocated here, what do you wish you knew before coming as it relates to navigating the school system. (with children that don't have special needs and with children who do)

What advice would you give to a family brand new to the area DC interested in Public & Charters?

Resources? websites, consultants ect.

TIA

With two children in HS, my biggest regret in life is that I raised them here in DC. So what advice would I give? Don't do it. It's a horrible place to raise a family.

What high school? Most people I know with kids at Wilson or Walls don't feel this way.

Don't feed the troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you were brand new to DC with children pre-school age 3-5, where would you start in researching schools?

If YOU relocated here, what do you wish you knew before coming as it relates to navigating the school system. (with children that don't have special needs and with children who do)

What advice would you give to a family brand new to the area DC interested in Public & Charters?

Resources? websites, consultants ect.

TIA

With two children in HS, my biggest regret in life is that I raised them here in DC. So what advice would I give? Don't do it. It's a horrible place to raise a family.

What high school? Most people I know with kids at Wilson or Walls don't feel this way.

I couldn't disagree more. My kids have grown up in DC and have attended DCPS from PK to now high school and they're had a phenomenal school experience and childhood.
I think they're extremely lucky to have grown up in DC and they would agree.