Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 18:12     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
Look in Ward 4, if that’s really your budget.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 17:48     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about Barnard but there are a number of good options in that neighborhood.

If you tell us your budget we can tell you three or four neighborhoods to target with decent and/or up-and-coming elementary schools.


We are looking to spend max 800k for a small place (2-3 bedrooms). I previously lived in petworth in my early 20s so definitely interested in that area, but don't know much about the schools.

Thank you!


You should look into McLean Gardens in NW DC. 2-3 bedroom condos are in your price range and zoned for either Hearst-Deal-Jackson Reed or Eaton-Hardy-Macarthur.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 17:32     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
Anonymous wrote:Here's what a DCPS teacher friend told me when I was in a similar spot:

1) PK is done will throughout the district.
2) Schools change very rapidly in DC. It's hard to plan ahead (especially for things like middle school) when your kid is just a twinkle in your eye.

So, she encouraged me to just buy in a neighborhood we liked and figure it out later. So that's what we did. We sent our kids to PK and K at our "mediocre" (but great for ECE!) IB school, then lotteried to a nearby DCPS for elementary school. It's worked out great, and there were definitely acceptable schools that were getable for K/1st in reasonable commute to our house (and I think that's true most places, MAYBE not east of the river). And we now have way more info (and, let's be honest, more money, home equity, and options) as we look towards middle school.

Bottom line: Pick a house you like in a neighborhood you like and figure out the schools later.

That being said - some schools I like are Ross, Garrison, Powell, John Lewis, Whittier, and Seaton.


this is very "elementary school parent" advice.

that said, if you really are only looking at elementary schools, there are many (like 20? 30?) perfectly fine DCPS elementary schools. things get much more real in middle school. We lucked out in the lottery but have friends who didn't and it really is not a good situation.

Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 17:26     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Here's what a DCPS teacher friend told me when I was in a similar spot:

1) PK is done will throughout the district.
2) Schools change very rapidly in DC. It's hard to plan ahead (especially for things like middle school) when your kid is just a twinkle in your eye.

So, she encouraged me to just buy in a neighborhood we liked and figure it out later. So that's what we did. We sent our kids to PK and K at our "mediocre" (but great for ECE!) IB school, then lotteried to a nearby DCPS for elementary school. It's worked out great, and there were definitely acceptable schools that were getable for K/1st in reasonable commute to our house (and I think that's true most places, MAYBE not east of the river). And we now have way more info (and, let's be honest, more money, home equity, and options) as we look towards middle school.

Bottom line: Pick a house you like in a neighborhood you like and figure out the schools later.

That being said - some schools I like are Ross, Garrison, Powell, John Lewis, kWhittier, and Seaton.


PP to add - and Marie Reed.


This is very bad advice. I live in my “starter” home now. Never moved away because truthfully I am priced out of where I want to live. Dcps has gotten worse over time IMO. We were fine with elementary ed but middle school and onward is bad. Dcps has signed contracts with Ed tech companies, and I’m going broke trying to keep my kid engaged with tutors and extra curriculars. If I could do over I would get a nice home in a great school district. It is statistically very hard to get a spot in a charter.

Best of luck either way.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 17:16     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
Why would you buy and pay 40% more compared to rent? You will never get your money back.
Rent in NW and done.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 17:06     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
Most parents on the neighborhood don’t see their children to Barnard after ECE; however, the neighborhood has a lot of charters within 10-15 min drive.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 16:34     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
Anonymous wrote:The problem with Petworth is the IB school (Bancroft) is really, really good with a great feeder pattern so houses there tend to be $$. I doubt you can find something for under $800k.

If you can though, do it!


You’re mixing up Petworth with Mt Pleasant
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 16:04     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
The problem with Petworth is the IB school (Bancroft) is really, really good with a great feeder pattern so houses there tend to be $$. I doubt you can find something for under $800k.

If you can though, do it!
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 15:58     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
as someone who also lived in the petworth area in my early 20s and then moved to north Cap Hill / H Street, you might consider living in the area north of H street NE and south of Florida Ave, zoned for JO Wilson. The school is already reasonably popular, and is just finishing a complete renovation that should further improve it. It's also a feeder to Stuart Hobson, which is slightly ahead of Eliot-Hine as the best DCPS MS option on the Hill. There are a fair number of 2-3 bedroom rowhouses available on that area, which is walkable to H street and Union Market and.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 15:51     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about Barnard but there are a number of good options in that neighborhood.

If you tell us your budget we can tell you three or four neighborhoods to target with decent and/or up-and-coming elementary schools.


We are looking to spend max 800k for a small place (2-3 bedrooms). I previously lived in petworth in my early 20s so definitely interested in that area, but don't know much about the schools.

Thank you!


Check out Manor Park. You can get a nice little house for that price and a good IB school (Whittier).
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 15:49     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
Anonymous wrote:Here's what a DCPS teacher friend told me when I was in a similar spot:

1) PK is done will throughout the district.
2) Schools change very rapidly in DC. It's hard to plan ahead (especially for things like middle school) when your kid is just a twinkle in your eye.

So, she encouraged me to just buy in a neighborhood we liked and figure it out later. So that's what we did. We sent our kids to PK and K at our "mediocre" (but great for ECE!) IB school, then lotteried to a nearby DCPS for elementary school. It's worked out great, and there were definitely acceptable schools that were getable for K/1st in reasonable commute to our house (and I think that's true most places, MAYBE not east of the river). And we now have way more info (and, let's be honest, more money, home equity, and options) as we look towards middle school.

Bottom line: Pick a house you like in a neighborhood you like and figure out the schools later.

That being said - some schools I like are Ross, Garrison, Powell, John Lewis, Whittier, and Seaton.


PP to add - and Marie Reed.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 15:48     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
Here's what a DCPS teacher friend told me when I was in a similar spot:

1) PK is done will throughout the district.
2) Schools change very rapidly in DC. It's hard to plan ahead (especially for things like middle school) when your kid is just a twinkle in your eye.

So, she encouraged me to just buy in a neighborhood we liked and figure it out later. So that's what we did. We sent our kids to PK and K at our "mediocre" (but great for ECE!) IB school, then lotteried to a nearby DCPS for elementary school. It's worked out great, and there were definitely acceptable schools that were getable for K/1st in reasonable commute to our house (and I think that's true most places, MAYBE not east of the river). And we now have way more info (and, let's be honest, more money, home equity, and options) as we look towards middle school.

Bottom line: Pick a house you like in a neighborhood you like and figure out the schools later.

That being said - some schools I like are Ross, Garrison, Powell, John Lewis, Whittier, and Seaton.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 15:45     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about Barnard but there are a number of good options in that neighborhood.

If you tell us your budget we can tell you three or four neighborhoods to target with decent and/or up-and-coming elementary schools.


We are looking to spend max 800k for a small place (2-3 bedrooms). I previously lived in petworth in my early 20s so definitely interested in that area, but don't know much about the schools.

Thank you!
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 15:38     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
I don't know much about Barnard but there are a number of good options in that neighborhood.

If you tell us your budget we can tell you three or four neighborhoods to target with decent and/or up-and-coming elementary schools.
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2026 15:36     Subject: Looking to move to DC and overwhelmed by school system!
Long story short, my husband and I are looking to buy a starter home/condo in DC. Our budget isn't particularly high. We are currently TTC so thinking about potential school options for our child. I know the lottery is a whole thing, but assuming we wanted to just send our kiddo to the neighborhood school, what are some less popular but still "good" schools that you might recommend? If it's in the top 10, it's probably out of our budget. We are assuming we'd have to move or look for other options for middle/high, but we aren't TOO picky on elementary school as long as our kid feels safe and excited about learning. Any recommendations of areas/schools to look at would be appreciated. Ideally, i'd like a diverse school where a wide range of perspectives/languages/etc would be welcomed.

One house we really liked is zoned for Barnard- would you recommend that school?