Pp Maury is an awesome school and I would definitely look in the newly rezoned Maury area for great deals. There is a bit of crime on that block though, and that house looks like it needs work.

I moved here two years ago and rented inbounds for a safe NW dc school. I ended up not liking NW DC (nice area just not for me) and moved east of the park. Somehow we lotteried into our too choice HRCS, so we are thankful for our calculated risks. Calculated bc we always had a good alternative if it didn't pan out the way we wanted.

Another option for neighborhoods would be to look on the eastern edges of Capitol Hill. Here are two houses that hit the market today in your price range with decent school options (although both would need some work):

Maury: http://www.cbmove.com/property/details/1591773/MLS-DC8656775/312-17th-Place-Northeast-Washington-Capitol-HillUnion-Station-DC-20002.aspx?utm_campaign=EMAIL-Alert-JustListed&utm_source=www.cbmove.com-emailalert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=listing

Peabody/Watkins: http://www.cbmove.com/property/details/1591218/MLS-DC8656212/1634-G-Street-Southeast-Washington-DC-20003.aspx?utm_campaign=EMAIL-Alert-JustListed&utm_source=www.cbmove.com-emailalert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=listing

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is Petworth?

There are houses zoned for Barnard walking distance from Petworth Metro or walking distance from Fort Totten metro in your price range. Barnard would probably be your back-up as you attempt to lottery elsewhere.

Barnard is an awesome school - why would it be a backup?

That is really good to know. There are often houses in the Barnard boundary well within OP's price range.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is Petworth?

There are houses zoned for Barnard walking distance from Petworth Metro or walking distance from Fort Totten metro in your price range. Barnard would probably be your back-up as you attempt to lottery elsewhere.

Barnard is an awesome school - why would it be a backup?

Because middle school ???

Seriously? We have no idea what the middle school for Barnard will even BE in 7-8 years (or whenever the OP's kid will be enrolling in it). I'm willing to bet it will be a perfectly fine school. And even if it's not, why on earth would you base a decision on where to send your kid to school for the next 6-7 years on something that far away? That's absurd. Who knows what condition ANY middle school will be in at that point. You don't even know that you will still live in DC or that house in that many years.

To OP: Barnard is a great school, but for the pre-k programs you can't get in for next year at this point anyway (i believe that the waitlists include IB folks). But would be a great option for next year or for K. You may have trouble finding a house zoned for it for less than 550k, however, so that's definitely going to be a problem for you if you want to buy... but good luck!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is Petworth?

There are houses zoned for Barnard walking distance from Petworth Metro or walking distance from Fort Totten metro in your price range. Barnard would probably be your back-up as you attempt to lottery elsewhere.

Barnard is an awesome school - why would it be a backup?

Because middle school ???

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How is Petworth?

There are houses zoned for Barnard walking distance from Petworth Metro or walking distance from Fort Totten metro in your price range. Barnard would probably be your back-up as you attempt to lottery elsewhere.

Barnard is an awesome school - why would it be a backup?

Yes there are condo fees but with a 550k budget you can afford 400k with fees. Ideal? No but gets you in good schools if you don't want to take risk with the lottery. This doesn't have to be a forever home but gets you into a safe neighborhood with good schools in DC until you can afford more. My husband and I did it when we first moved here. It's called making choices and it's not impossible even in DC.