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I wish I could be more specific about where exactly I need a daycare, but we haven't locked down an apartment yet. We're moving from Chicago to DC or Silver Spring at the end of July, and have both children enrolled in Evergreen Montessori in Silver Spring to start in September 2016 and January 2017. I need a daycare for my daughter in that gap time (between August and December 2016). Any recommendations in DC proper and Silver Spring?
I just want a facility with a moderate caretaker to child ratio (nothing more than 1 to 7) and lots of play options for the children during the day.
I don't need anything academic.
My daughter will be 19 months on August 1.
I just want a facility with a moderate caretaker to child ratio (nothing more than 1 to 7) and lots of play options for the children during the day.
I don't need anything academic.
My daughter will be 19 months on August 1.
Anonymous wrote:This is "Relocated a couple of years ago"
We like it so far. It's a lot different. We had always lived very close to downtown and that level of urban density doesn't really exist in residential areas here -- even in the district. I do like that in the SS/TP (Mont. Co) area where we are we have the mix of being able to walk to movies, restaurants, library, whole foods, some shops, and metro, while also being in a place where the kids can ride down to friends' houses with no problem. That's different for us (kids riding unsupervised in Chicago was a nono -- all those cars jumping out of alleys). Also having grass is a novelty. We think of where we are as a little like Evanston if Evanston were a little more like Rogers Park. The weather is great -- short winter and where we are it's easy access to bike trails to explore with the kids -- also you can get to a lot more interesting nature pretty quickly than in Chicago.
We're in MoCo and the schools are a lot better than CPS across the county. CPS had some decent neighborhood schools, especially at the elementary level (Bell comes to mind -- I think you mentioned Roscoe V), but as you moved up the ladder things got tougher and the magnet competition became fierce. I know a lot of folks who bolted CPS at middle school. Here, from everyone I have talked to there is generally good feeling about the schools in MoCo up and down. People will dig on some of the "clusters" or "pyramids" -- I'm still not clear on terminology but basically it's the schools that funnel up to a specific high school. I live near the Einstein and Blair clusters (those are the high schools) and folks seem to favor Blair, but then I have heard from a number of people that Einstein has its benefits because it's more challenging course selections aren't as overwhelmed. Something like, very very hard to get a spot in Blair's IB program, but easier at Einstein. Also, Einstein is stronger arts, Blair is more math and science (what I was told -- not first hand for me yet). The middle schools seem ok -- I find that middle school is always tough, just that age is challenging. Some have more struggles than others -- but the best thing there is to maybe find a realtor who can get you in touch with people at different schools -- for middle school I think first hand experience is always best. Elementary schools, like in most large school systems, are the best quality tier. It's pretty easy to find a good ES in your price point.
I'd say drive around a little and get a feel for different areas. It'll become pretty obvious pretty quickly how different it is and what aligns more with your past experiences and with what you might be looking for now. As I mentioned, we felt more comfortable on the DC line on the SS/TP side -- just made sense for us. Bethesda was a little too clean for us (I know that makes no sense, but whatever) and it's really expensive. We could have swung it but it felt like moving to Winnetka, which wasn't what we were looking for. DC itself was indistinguishable from Bethesda in some areas (which was interesting) and in other areas I just felt i didn't know enough to confidently pick a transitional neighborhood (we were native Chicagoans, so we had a lifetime of experience to draw on). We never checked Virginia -- just didn't seem like it was worth our time given what we were looking for, plus I didn't want to be looking forever.
This response is so perfect!! Thank you!!!!
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.
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!!!
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 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...
Anonymous wrote:Relocated from Chicago couple of years ago.
How do you like it compared to Chicago? How do you feel the public school system compares to CPS? Which county are you currently in?
Also, do you feel the weather is milder?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:So you're moving here, but won't have commutes? Move as far out as you can. With that budget, you won't be getting much close-in and it doesn't seem necessary.
Which then begs the question, why bother moving at all? Higher cost of living, not higher income.
Higher cost of living for a better quality region.
Anonymous wrote:OP, I feel like you're not doing a great job of researching this move.
Posting in this forum is part of the research. The feedback I've received thus far has helped me tremendously to narrow things down and adjust my expectations.
Anonymous wrote:Okay, well, again, all you've explained is why you want to leave Chicago and you haven't really said anything about what it is that made you choose the DC area.
I have. Good public school districts, less crime, regional stability.
We also love that it is culturally diverse, close to New York and other East Coast cities, close to the ocean and museum-heavy. Also, it has milder weather than Chicago. I am so done with winter weather that lasts from mid October to early May.
Anonymous wrote:Seriously, there have got to be better options if you have the ENTIRE WORLD to chose from. People dream about leaving the dmv precisely because of schools and real estate. They only come here for jobs. You make no sense.
Jesus Christ.
No I don't have the 'entire world' to choose from. I would like to stay within the United States.
Where do people dream of going? I'm asking honestly!
The West Coast is out because it's too far removed from everything. The West (and the frontier culture) felt too foreign. Midwestern weather sucks. The South was our number 2 option (in terms of region) but I am politically progressive, and many areas aren't. The East Coast was my number 1 option in terms of region, and my top areas were New York, New Jersey and Washington DC. DC area felt like the best fit for single family home/good school district/close to urban center.
It feels really crass to say this, but I suppose I will because I'm being prodded and pried. My husband and I are high earners. We gross $400,000/year, have a nice investment cushion and own two properties in Chicago we plan to sell before our move (one currently on the market, one being touched up), so money is not an issue for us although we live below our means and have lived in socioeconomically diverse areas our entire married lives.
I've gotten some great advice from this thread, but one thing I've certainly come to realize is there are a ton of miserable people in DMV who hate it there.
Anonymous wrote:A $200 increase is really not that bad.
I meant $200 a month. $2400 total.
Anonymous wrote:I haven't lived there in a decade but my immediate family is all still there and we go back regularly. I keep up with the local issues and I understand what you're saying. I'm not questioning your decision to leave there; I'm not clear what it is about DC that made you choose DC over Chicago.
I get the impression that maybe you need to hear my reasons more for your sake than mine. So I'll oblige.
1. Regional stability
I've lived in the Chicagoland area for 14 years -- including 10 in Chicago proper. The city hasn't gotten better. It's gotten worse by many measures (more taxes, less affordable, more public school closures, park closures, mental health facility closures, crime rate increase.) I'm looking to move to an area of the country where quality of life measures have been stable over time or improved. I believe that the DMV fits that bill.
2. Good public schools
I'm not even going to begin to discuss the nightmare that is getting kids into good Chicago public schools. As a child my husband attended the top-ranked (in city and state) Andrew Jackson Language Academy. We live very very close to it and inquired about their application pool. There are 1,000 children who compete... for 60 slots. And this is not unusual. Even the neighborhood kids aren't guaranteed slots in top-ranked neighborhood schools. There is so much corruption, too, with suburban kids stealing slots at top-ranked city schools. I would like to skip all this and move to an area of the country where the public schools are good and easy to get into.
3. Less crime
This is self-explanatory.
4. Taxes that lead to better amenities
Right now Chicago is raising its taxes -- just to get out of debt. I am fine with being taxed if I see my dollars going to improved schools, parks, public transportation, etc. I'm not okay with being taxed to pay for the mistakes of shortsighted politicians.
I mean, I'm not sure what else I can say here. Chicago is more affordable than DC (although, with taxes on the rise, the COL is going up), and it has nicer people (Midwestern friendliness!) and a more vibrant culture. But these are not reasons to stay in a city that is deeply troubled. I've noticed and applaud Emanuel's efforts in bringing big businesses into Chicago, but this doesn't seem to be having an impact on the bottom line.
Anonymous wrote:The property taxes are generally lower out here, but mine just went up $2100, so it happens everywhere. I'm in DC.
Went up 'by' $2100 or 'to' $2100?
Anonymous wrote:I would love to live there now and would move back in a heartbeat if my husband could get a job there.
How long has it been since you lived here? My property taxes just went up by $200 and I have nothing to show for it -- no improvements in neighborhood schools, roads, parks, etc -- because that money is going to plug the city's never-ending budget deficit. The city and state's debt are at junk status and we can't borrow our way out of the budget crisis.
I am not anti-Chicago. It's a beautiful city with good people and a great culture and I hate to leave it. But I'm not willing to ignore the mounting issues. Some people choose to. I don't.
Anonymous wrote:No need to get defensive. You cited specific examples of why you were done with Chicago and as someone who has lived in both places, I was simply pointing out that the grass may not be greener in those respects. Best of luck to you.
Would it help you to know that we also considered and traveled to Seattle Washington, Denver Colorado and Raleigh North Carolina and liked the DMV area the best?
Chicago certainly has its charms, but it doesn't have regional stability.
Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP you are responding to and I was born in Chicago and lived there for 30 years. So yeah, I do realize how it is and I think you're a bit naive and unrealistic in choosing DC over Chicago. Where are you from originally? Why don't you move back there?
Why aren't you living there now?