Anonymous wrote:Shepherd. No question even if commutes were similar. And 20 min. to ITS is not happening.

I have commutes from lower Shepherd Park to ITS for 3 years. It takes no more than 18 minutes each day. We have it down to the minute.

Anonymous wrote:You should talk to your neighbors about Shepherd since you’ve never attended. Talk to families who’ve attended past Prek and through 5th. Because walking to school doesn’t trump a good academic experience.

This is true but I don't think there is much to make one think ITS has stronger academics/more to offer compared to Shepherd.

Also, I do think an easy commute is not just better for parents but also for kids. You're talking not just about a congested drive every morning but then also dealing with parking, etc. The school would have be be unquestionably better for me to make that choice.

You should talk to your neighbors about Shepherd since you’ve never attended. Talk to families who’ve attended past Prek and through 5th. Because walking to school doesn’t trump a good academic experience.

Shepherd! You’ll thank yourself later. FYI, this is not a diss to ITS at all, just be thankful that you’re IB for a good school.

Shepherd. No question even if commutes were similar. And 20 min. to ITS is not happening.

Commute! No ax to grind against ITS. But if you have an option in walking distance vs a 20-30 minute commute you have an easy choice.

ITS parent in-bound for Shepherd. We never went to Shepherd so I cannot speak to the school. While I wish our commutes were easier, sending our kids to ITS was the best decision for them and us. Love the curriculum, teachers, and parent community. Our kids are thriving, and we know what thriving looks like after one our children (and us) had a horrific experience at another charter school.

ITS mom that loves the school. I would choose Shepherd. The value of waking to school can not be emphasized enough.

Shepherd because of commute.

Shepherd. No question.

Shepherd for sure.

--ITS mom who is underwhelmed

I did something similar and enrolled the kids in the charter for a few years.

I regret the decision. The stress and hours spent in the car trying to get End of Day pick up and then still have another 20 + minutes to get home.

Neighborhood friendships trump all others. On snowdays, my kids at out with friends - when we were with the charter it was not the same feel.

There is a different type of relationship when you see the families walking to and from school, in the neighborhood, at the park etc.

Neighborhood school enables spontaneity as it is easier to say yes to playdates and events. As your child gets older independence as they walk to and from school by themselves. Or head out on their bicycle to a friends house.

Commute is king in my book.

None of the above. You asked for my opinion. There it is.

Our kid will be in K in the fall. We are IB for Shepherd but put in for the lottery just to see what our options might be. Our numbers weren't stellar, but based on previous years' data, it looks fairly likely that we might get an offer from ITS, though if we do it'll probably be in October.

The two schools are so different -- Shepherd much more traditional, though with the International Baccalaureate program; ITS with its inquiry-based approach (which we really did like and think our kid would do very well with). Shepherd is 10 minutes' walk from our house (and that's walking slow); ITS would be a PITA drive of at least 20-25 minutes each way. And again, if we do get into ITS, it'll likely be after the start of the school year.

At the moment I'm inclined to just ignore the lottery outcome, stock up on uniforms, and go all in for Shepherd logistically and emotionally. It feels like we'd be nuts to give up a spot there, at a solidly good school with a non-commute.

But man, we really liked the ITS approach and vibe. I'm having trouble letting it go.

What say you, DCUM hive mind?