IOW, paying income taxes gets you into a DC school, but it is your residence (which determines your property taxes) that determines which school you may attend. At least charters disambiguate the two.

In any event, any school you would actually want to enroll your child in (either DCPS or charter) most likely has a waiting list. By law, you can attend as long as you pay tuition. However, you should be aware that your position on the waitlist will - by law - be subordinate to the position of any DC resident, even one who signed up after you.

It's effectively impossible to attend a desirable DC public school (DCPS or Charter) from outside the District, despite a willingness to pay tuition. You'll always come in last place on the priority list, and all the good (even some of the mediocre) schools have lists.

OP, I can think of a number of DC schools I would prefer to schools in, say, North Arlington or Fairfax. But as is with all desirable schools, the best are over-subscribed, or in the case of charters, have long waitlists.

The only way you can legally use your DC address is if it is your primary residence. I can see how it seems unfair - you're paying property taxes on house and can't receive the benefits, whereas someone else may not own at all, is merely renting.

It would be helpful if the difference between income tax and property tax was relevant to actual schools. IOW

Make sure the school isn't in demand. If there's a waitlist, your willingness to pay tuition won't matter. DC residents with residency that checks out take priority. Don't to criticize, but why not a VA school? Good luck!

If it isn't an option at the school, attending would be completely illegal. Your renters could attend. Your children could not!

Thanks all. We do want to be honest and will pay tuition-didn't know that was an option.

Anonymous wrote:as others have said, you simply can pay out of state tuition. if you are honest and do not want to break the law and be a cheater, simply disclose your situation to DCPS and they will tell you if you have the right to attend or if you need to pay out-of state tuition. don't talk yourself into the idea that you can sign up your child in DC as a DC resident and being honest just because you pay real estate taxes in DC.

+1.

why would you chose a dc school over a virginia?

as others have said, you simply can pay out of state tuition. if you are honest and do not want to brake the law and be a cheater, simply disclose your situation to DCPS and they will tell you if you have the right to attend or if you need to pay out-of state tuition. don't talk yourself into the idea that you can sign up your child in DC as a DC resident and being honest just because you pay real estate taxes in DC.

Owning is not enough and paying real estate taxes is not enough. You have to be a DC resident or else you're breaking the law.

If you don't live in the DC house, you aren't a resident and should enroll in VA, period.

pps are correct. if you reside in virginia your kid goes to school in virginia. who occupies the d.c. property? if a tenant, don't even think of going there.

Unless the DC house is your primary residence, that is breaking the law. You can pay out-of-state tuition if you really want your child to go to the DC school and there is room.

Where's your legal residence?

Yikes, forgive the typos!

Ive seen a fair amount of people talking about "address cheaters" and was wondering what people thought of our situation. We own a tiny 2 br house in DC that we bought before kids. Now we have four and live in VA. We have a specific school in DC that we want one of our kids to go to and want to use our DC address. We sill own the DC house and pay taxes, thoguhts??