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Help moving to SE DC and clueless about Elemenatary Schools
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jewelsjackson
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I currently live in Alrington, VA and my daughter goes to Taylor Elementary Kindergarten and loves it. We are moving to DC in June and have to enroll her in first grade in a public elemenatry school and I have no idea where to start. She is terrified to switch as I am as well. We are going to be living in SE where the new developments are going up by the new stadium. Please if you have any information on good elementary schools and what the process is I would really appreciate it. Do you have to go to the school in your area or can I apply to other surrounding area schools?
Any information that anyone can offer would help a great deal, like I said I don't know much about the area. I am originally from Utah and have only lived out here a few years. Thanks!!!! |
Anonymous
| I think that is part of the "Capitol Cluster" of schools. If you map Eastern Market, you will see a number of schools together there. |
Anonymous
| I hate to tell you this, but I don't think there is one decent public school that I would send my child to where you are moving (and I have children in DCPS). I know there are schools, and I know that there are parents who send their children to those schools, but many of them don't have any choice. I continue to hope that one day all DC children will have access to a good public education, but I'm not optimistic. However, you might want to check out charter schools. I believe there are some good ones in SE, although the quality varies widely. Definitely check out the test scores. I know the KIPP schools have very good reputations. |
Anonymous
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How to enroll:
http://www.k12.dc.us/schools/procedures.htm Some information on test scores (and parents' reviews) are at http://www.greatschools.net/ |
Anonymous
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I suggest getting on the newhilleast listserve (search at yahoo groups for newhilleast) and ask for advice and also ask for someone to put you on the Moms on the Hill listserve (you have to be invited by a current member, which I am not). The Capitol Hill Cluster Schools (Peabody and Watkins for elementary) are well-regarded but there is a move on by people in other areas of Capitol Hill to improve their local schools. I don't know the details but on newhilleast I've seen people mention Brent and Ludlow-Taylor, among others.. I do know that John Tyler at 10th and G SE has started a Spanish immersion program that seems to be quite popular. If my kid were in elementary school, I'd investigate that. I'd be more cautious about the traditional program though.
In terms of charters, Friendship Chamberlain on Potomac Ave is quite well-regarded as is KIPP-Key Academy (at 8th and M SE). Bus service over to SE Capitol HIll from the Stadium is pretty easy. The V7 runs right over by Chamberlain from M St. There are definitely some good options over this way so don't panic! The key is doing your research and getting your kid into a school that works for her and then staying engaged. But do check out the newhilleast list and see if you can get into Moms on the Hill so you can talk directly to people whose kids go to these schools. (my kid stayed in her northwest school out of boundaries after we moved over here so I don't have direct experience) Also you should investigate whether there is a Southwest listserve because there may be some good options over that way as well. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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Agree with PP - no need to panic. (Great info PP!) DCUM tends to focus on NW and private schools. Not to worry.
Tyler and Peabody get good feedback and there are lots of charter options. http://www.dcpubliccharter.com/pcschools/index.html Like anywhere - Utah as well I presume - visiting the schools and meeting parents and neighbors is the best way to make a choice. Congratulations on your move! Welcome to 202! |
Anonymous
| I live in SWDC at the waterfront, and we send our daughter to Two Rivers in NEDC. Other families in our neighborhood - and there are many families with young kids here, send thier kids to Brent or private schools. It's a pain to have to figure out schools and then commute around town for drop-off and pick-up, but you can't beat being so close to so many activities. I think it's worth the headache. Best of luck! |
Anonymous
| safety issues can be of great concern in that area. i wouldn't send my kid to a public school in that area and i am very pro public schools. your child's well being must come first. definitley would go private. |
Anonymous
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Wow to 03/18/2008 09:30 poster. Not a single decent one. I guess you've been to all of them in the area hmmm? Brent ES on North Carolina is a nice school in the SE area. The principal Arienne Clark went to Brown and Columbia and is working hard to make it a top notch school in the area.
As for Two Rivers, first grade is a nightmare. There are two classes and neither teacher has good classroom management skills or offer work for students that are above grade level. What assignements are given are too basic and don't really challange kids. Nevermind that they have extremly low test scores. I can't say that I am a fan of charter schools since I have yet to see any major results education wise. |
Anonymous
AND THERE YOU HAVE IT.. ANOTHER UNSOLICITED OPINION OF THE ELITIST NW'er WHO'S PROBABLY NEVER SET FOOT INSIDE CAPITOL HILL. |
Anonymous
Opinions were solicited actually. |
Anonymous
I am wondering if you realize what part of SE the OP is referring to. The area around the stadium is quite livable (except maybe for all that construction). Maybe it's not Palisades or Friendship Heights but it's not Sursum Corda by any means. |
Anonymous
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I live on the Hill and I can assure the 14:19 poster that safety is not "of great concern" in many/most of our area elementary schools. I do not have a child in the public school system yet (we're expecting our first) but I have heard enough from neighborhood parents to feel good about Watkins, Brent, and Peabody. I cannot say the same for our middle schools and high schools currently, but the elementary schools are not a safety problem.
I ADORE Capitol Hill, and I bristle anytime someone suggests that SE is somehow universally unsafe. This is completely inaccurate. The area around Eastern Market is now yuppie enough (for better or for worse) that even the snobbiest of the DC Urban Moms should feel comfortable. |
Anonymous
| We have Bugaboos. Heck, Dawn Price Baby on 7th Street SE, SELLS Bugaboos. |
Anonymous
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OP -- You made a great choice. You are moving to a great neighborhood that has tons of energy and diversity and is changing every day. I live very close to where you are moving and, while it may be a little wierd in the beginning with the construction, I can tell you that the near SE develpment has been a long time coming and is going well. There are no special safety issues (it is the city though, so you obviously can't take your safety for granted, but that applies all over town). There are good schools, especially lower grades, and tons of devotees all over the Hill. As mentioned above, MOTH is a great resource for this. Most of the Hill Moms I know prefer MOTH to DCUM and really don't lurk here at all.
I generally agree with the leads above, but mostly just wanted to reply to chime in that the Hill, especially the new expanding parts, is a great place to live. |