Reply to Future parents--heartburn over schooling--would love insight

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Reply to "Future parents--heartburn over schooling--would love insight"

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[quote=Anonymous]There are numerous old threads on here with people complaining about their lack of options and how awful things are in DCPS.  My general response to this is that people posting these threads (not including all citizens of DC here) often have more options than they are owning up to, although they might not like all of them (lose money on a house that is underwater, move to the burbs and have a nasty commute, etc.).

I was in your shoes 8 years ago sort of, but had a lot less info on charter schools, did not frequent DCUM, there was less easily accessible info.  We were pregnant and buying a house, moving out of our 1 bedroom condo and we bought in a known quantity school district.  I was aware of the well regarded JKLM schools in NW and knew there were some elementary schools on the hill that were doing good things.  I never considered that middle or high school in DC public would be an option.

Fast forward 4 years later and I was applying for pre-K.  Good in-boundary option, but not a lot of slots and I played the charter and DCPS lotteries.  Was actually quite interested in charters that might be good for the long haul.  I came up REALLY short in every lottery I entered.  I got a decent waitlist number for our in-boundary pre-K, but it only moved 4 slots I think that year.

Knew we had a good option for K in-boundary, but played the lotteries again.  Zippo, nada, nothing.  Never called off a waitlist, etc.  I do love our in-boundary school and much to my surprise middle and high school MAY be an option, so some things have changed for the better that I could not have predicted 8 y ears ago.  That said, we would have had to move had we bought where I knew the schools were sub-par.

This all depends on the level of risk you feel comfortable taking.  Reading your posts, you sound like a planner so maybe it is not so much.

Also, moving kids from school to school can be hard on the kids.  Yes they are adaptable, but do not underestimate the toll the process of finding a school you and your children are happy with may take on you and  your children.  Whatever you choose, own it and realize that you had a choice.  Good luck.[/quote]

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