Anonymous wrote:There are schools in DC that are better than Hoffman Boston. There are schools is DC that are far worse than Hoffman Boston. There is no free PreK in Arlington unless you are low income and qualify for VPI (and even then some schools are already full). I do not live in DC, but my understanding is that the schools you would want to get into for PK3 are already full, so you are probably going to end up paying for a year of daycare/preschool anyway.

Good luck.

OP if you are State Dept. on one income, depending on your family size, there is a chance you could qualify for VPI. I know foreign service colleagues who have been able to get free preschool in Arlington through that program. If you are dual income, it will likely put you over the income limit.

But I think you still would've had to have applied last year for this fall, though I could be wrong so you should call and ask.

I wouldn’t let the possibility of one year of preK dictate where we lived.

My kids went to Hoffman Boston and had a fantastic experience! All the teachers were excellent, we loved the counselor (though he has since left) and principal, super diverse community with special events like international food festival and fashion show (all brought/made by parents). The school building used to be a high school so it's fairly large with a huge field space and attached community center. Classrooms never felt overcrowded - most class sizes I remember over the years were only about 20 kids. We used before and after care and they had the kids playing outside all the time, including before school. My kids have great memories of that place!

Hoffman-Boston is great - tucked away in a neighborhood and its quiet back there. Very diverse. You might still find a good preschool that's private. Public slots are likely filled at this point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your child already 3 and ready to start this year? If so, I think you missed the boat for enrollment or at least enrollment at a school you'd want to be at.

Is it worth it to not pay for preschool though? Yeah. For it it was great!

Yes she is 3.5 and we just moved back
So maybe DC would be the better choice with the free prek3

No, I don't think you understood what I meant: people do the PreK lottery in winter BEFORE the child is 3. So usually when they're 2 or just turned 3. You could try to take a spot wherever they have one, but again, it won't be a super desirable school. Or you could try the lottery again for PreK4 next year, but again, same #s basically. I think you are actually out of luck with DC.

There are schools in DC that are better than Hoffman Boston. There are schools is DC that are far worse than Hoffman Boston. There is no free PreK in Arlington unless you are low income and qualify for VPI (and even then some schools are already full). I do not live in DC, but my understanding is that the schools you would want to get into for PK3 are already full, so you are probably going to end up paying for a year of daycare/preschool anyway.

Good luck.

There is VPI in Arlington for free preschool for those that qualify. HFB is a fine school.

Anonymous wrote:Is your child already 3 and ready to start this year? If so, I think you missed the boat for enrollment or at least enrollment at a school you'd want to be at.

Is it worth it to not pay for preschool though? Yeah. For it it was great!

Yes she is 3.5 and we just moved back
So maybe DC would be the better choice with the free prek3

Is your child already 3 and ready to start this year? If so, I think you missed the boat for enrollment or at least enrollment at a school you'd want to be at.

Is it worth it to not pay for preschool though? Yeah. For it it was great!

OP here. Well we are trying to decide if we should continue living in Pentagon city with HB or move to Dc to get free prek3 (also have a 3 year old). We are open to moving in Arlington also but like the pentagon city area. I realize Arlington doesn’t have prek3. Is the move to DC worth it for free prek and k elementary school? Hope that makes sense. Thank you

Your question doesn't make any sense. You're comparing just one Arlington elementary school to the entire DC public school system?

Anonymous wrote:We really need help- recently moved back to this area after being posted overseas. We have a kindergartner starting this fall and cannot make up where to live. We love Pentagon city but are confused about Hoffman-Boston. Love the diversity but any first hard experiences? Are DC public schools better? Any insight would help!

Don't know why you are "confused" about Hoff-Boston. A few years ago, a chunk of area designated for Oakridge ES (Pentagon City area) was redistricted to Hoffman Boston to alleviate overcrowding at Oakridge. Hoffman Boston is a fine school with more socioeconomic diversity.

We really need help- recently moved back to this area after being posted overseas. We have a kindergartner starting this fall and cannot make up where to live. We love Pentagon city but are confused about Hoffman-Boston. Love the diversity but any first hard experiences? Are DC public schools better? Any insight would help!