OP the house we're in currently backs up to a Middle School. I hear announcements, bells, and during recess I hear the kids but that's probably the least noisy element. I have people parking in my driveway to pick up their kids, blocking my car / stopping anyone else entering my driveway, or they park across the drive in the street, they move my trash cans so they can park on days when the trash cans need to be out there. And sometimes I get crap on the front lawn that kids have thrown out of their backpacks. Not often, but it exists.

Anonymous wrote:If you are talking about an elementary school in the city, one of the big plusses that no one mentions is actually much easier street parking (at least at all times except pick up time). Unlike rowhouses, all that street frontage of the school does not have residents with cars associated with it. Also, some space in front of the school is restricted during school days, which basically guarantees that there will be space available on evenings and weekends.

Friends who visit are routinely shocked at how easy it is to park at our house, and it's definitely because of the school across the street.

+1 - this is my experience in the city too. It's awesome, and it's quiet on the weekends.

If you are talking about an elementary school in the city, one of the big plusses that no one mentions is actually much easier street parking (at least at all times except pick up time). Unlike rowhouses, all that street frontage of the school does not have residents with cars associated with it. Also, some space in front of the school is restricted during school days, which basically guarantees that there will be space available on evenings and weekends.

Friends who visit are routinely shocked at how easy it is to park at our house, and it's definitely because of the school across the street.

We live around the corner from an ES, and our backyard is basically adjacent to the playground. I don’t mind it. There is some traffic around the corner at drop off and pick-up, but it’s not overwhelming. Also, when the kids are on the playground, I actually do not mind the noise. In a way, it is homey. That said, we have an ES age kid, so that may influence our tolerance level.

The only thing separating my parent's house and the neighborhood elementary school is a fence. Now that they're retired they really enjoy it when they can open the windows and hear the kids playing and my sisters and I have extremely fond memories of being able to head over after dinner and on the weekends to use the playground or get a pickup basketball game going.

I can think of zero pros and unlimited cons

I live four houses away from a high school and there is an elementary school directly across the street from the high school, on the other side. I'm too far away from the elementary school to hear any noise. The traffic/parking at my house is more an issue with the high school. The traffic in the morning is not too bad because it is staggered - the buses and drivers don't all arrive at the exact same time. But dismissal causes a traffic jam every day at 3:00pm. If I try to leave my house right at 3:00pm, I'm stuck behind all the buses and teenage drivers. It takes about 10-15 minutes for the traffic to clear out. I can hear the loudspeaker from the stadium at my house - I have good insulation so it's not an issue if my windows are closed. I'm not in direct line of sight of the stadium lights - they are on until 10:00pm most nights of the year. I'm far enough away that parking in front of my house is not an issue except on graduation, back to school night and the big rival football game.

What I love about living so close to the two schools: my kids only had to ride a school bus for middle school. If the roads were even slightly dicey, it was never an issue. My kids all played/play sports in high school. They never had to worry about being picked up at school after practice. We have tennis courts, a baseball field, softball field, football stadium and outdoor basketball hoops in our backyard for pickup sports games. As long as no one is on the fields, they are open to anyone to use.

Go for it. Elementary schools are better than most neighbors. Noise is non existeng yin weekends and evenings, summer and all other breaks

Noise, parking problems (even at night for PTA meetings, school events, and weekends when sports groups use the fields), lights on and bells ringing nonstop. No thank you

1. If you work from home you're going to hear a lot of screaming.
2. Keep in mind that they don't turn the bells off when school is closed for breaks. So you'll still hear those.

I hate airplane noise, but love the kid noise.

Right across the street? Hell no. Lights from the school and signs, traffic for school and after school activities, noise, all bad. And when your kids are in sixth grade you will not find the noise of screaming fifth graders cute.

If you want to be near the school get a house four houses down the street. Not across the street.

Is it in Ward 3 DC? I have seen some new builds right opposite my kids’ ES.

Bright lights at night (lighting around the school) is a negative.

We love it. Kids can walk on their own. Sure there’s more yraffic for a couple of windows a day. But we also get to enjoy the school grounds after school and on weekends. Kids convene there for playground and sports. We love it.