yeah but she's moving so who cares about 8th grade?

2R no question. U r most likely set through 8th grade.

As a TR parent living in Takoma, I am biased to convince you to come to TR, but I certainly respect the desire to have a short commute and to have your child's classmates live in the neigborhood. Here are some observations I can offer.

1. My commute from Takoma to TR typically takes about 20 minutes door-to-door if I take the metro (longer when kids dawdle) and about 25-30 minutes by car (going via North Capitol is quickest).
2. There are at least 3-4 families in Takoma that send their kids to TR. Two of them will have incoming preschoolers this fall, including our family. However, most families at TR are from other parts of the city, with a high concentration of Capitol Hill families.
3. In general, Takoma families do not send their kids to the neighborhood schools, but increasing numbers are choosing TEC. An exciting development! I belive that many, if not most kids at TEC are still not from the neighborhood though.
4. The expeditionary model has been a great fit for my kids. They are very happy at the school and doing very well academically. The school fosters a very learning-loving community. My oldest is in 3rd grade and we are still happy with the school.
5. Volunteerng with an infant in tow can be a challenge, but it can be done. I did it and have seen others do it. TR is flexible about how parents volunteer.
6. The playground at TEC is way better than TR.
7. It's not really that hard to park near TR, but there is no official parking lot: just street parking.

In closing, here are a couple of suggestions I have for you to help you make up your mind. First, if you haven't done so already, try to meet the teachers you've been assigned. A teacher you and your kid love makes all the difference. Second, consider posting a similar inquiry to some of the Takoma neighborhood Yahoo Groups. You will probably be able to get connected directly to neighborhood families from both schools that way.

Good luck to you.

I would go with Takoma. A couple years ago we were lucky enough to get a spot at TR but left after a month when we got offered another spot at a DCPS we liked. TR was great, our son's teacher was great, etc. but the commute proved too much. We came from Petworth (closer than Takoma) and dealing with that NY Ave/Florida Ave intersection was a nightmare and stress-causing. While I completely understand your interest in identifying a long-term solution, in this case, OP, I honestly think your best bet is to stay close to home. Two years from now Takoma may look like a longer-term solution than you anticipated, new promising charters may have opened, popular charters may expand, etc. There are lots of things that can happen to make your future options more attractive than you think.

Op, if you are thinking that relocating is in your near-ish future I would go with the school that is going to make your life easiest for now. I Imagine you and your child will be very happy with either school for several years and staying local could help keep you and dh from having to spend so much time scrambling every day.

Anonymous wrote:there are lots of ways to volunteer outside of being at the school during the school day.

you can ask the teachers if there are things you can do in the evenings to help with the class? Pre-cut things, help create a newsletter, etc.
I am at another charter and when I had an infant at home I helped create content for website bios.

When you have young children, life changes month to month. This is the reality and I think sometimes when you are not in the middle of that you forget.

OP here. 11:11, Thank you, voice of reason.

For the TR parent, my plate is also very full, with things beyond kids. However, I absolutely did not write off volunteering or doing my part - at either school. I don't yet know what my part would be, the flexibility of the hours, or how the commute would/will go. I don't KNOW how things will go, which is why I truly appreciate the constructive responses I have received here. They give me insight into how others have made decisions and also information about how the schools are developing.

As for what we'd do for 1st grade, etc., we don't know. We will most likely relocate outside of the DC metro area within five years, though two or three years may be pushing it. Relocation is unrelated to the school situation.

there are lots of ways to volunteer outside of being at the school during the school day.

you can ask the teachers if there are things you can do in the evenings to help with the class? Pre-cut things, help create a newsletter, etc.
I am at another charter and when I had an infant at home I helped create content for website bios.

When you have young children, life changes month to month. This is the reality and I think sometimes when you are not in the middle of that you forget.

Not on the wait list, just a TR parent who has spent a lot of years volunteering, fundraising, and generally busting my a** to help improve a school while watching a shockingly high percentage of other parents doing nothing. Yeah, I get it - it's hard to juggle a lot of things. It's hard for me too - I work full time, have two kids in school, and even volunteer for other groups. But if you're not even enrolled at a school and you're already affirmatively broadcasting that you're not even interested in or planning to do anything to help make it better, while dropping your kid off there every morning, don't expect me to put out the welcome mat.

^^ I think she is on the TR waitlist.

Joking!

I encourage you to look at your day-to-day for the next few years as opposed to what's better four years from now. Who knows what will happen, that's a long time away (I'm obviously in the minority with this view point). What seems better for you, more enjoyable, better for your kid's schedule/happiness? Your own schedule/happiness/stress-level?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking at a TR parent, I have to say that if your plan is to drop your kid off and contribute nothing to the community, I wish you wouldn't come. It's hard enough to build a school community when families are spread out around the city, and having parents with an attitude like yours makes it even harder. You're not doing anyone a favor bringing your child, and if you can't see the opportunity for the incredible gift that it is, I think you should stay with your local school.

OP's attitude is what, exactly? Realistic?

Evidently the Two Rivers community needs lots of improvement, too.

Anonymous wrote:Speaking at a TR parent, I have to say that if your plan is to drop your kid off and contribute nothing to the community, I wish you wouldn't come. It's hard enough to build a school community when families are spread out around the city, and having parents with an attitude like yours makes it even harder. You're not doing anyone a favor bringing your child, and if you can't see the opportunity for the incredible gift that it is, I think you should stay with your local school.

OP's attitude is what, exactly? Realistic?

Yikes.

Speaking at a TR parent, I have to say that if your plan is to drop your kid off and contribute nothing to the community, I wish you wouldn't come. It's hard enough to build a school community when families are spread out around the city, and having parents with an attitude like yours makes it even harder. You're not doing anyone a favor bringing your child, and if you can't see the opportunity for the incredible gift that it is, I think you should stay with your local school.

I would go with 2Rs. It is good through 3rd or 4th - and a possiblity through 8th.

We were at an up-and-coming DCPS school for the first half of last year for preschool. It was a very good experience, however after we left there was a ton of PTA drama between the new and old guard (with a racial element). I was so glad to miss that. And I know not one in-boundary middle class parent who will stay at that school through 1st.

Someone once posted on DCUM about a 2Rs K expedition and it sounded amazing - something my oldest would have gone nuts about! We are very happy at a very established DCPS school, but I think 2Rs might have been better for my kids (other than the horrible little playground). There is actually ample parking a few blocks from there - we had the kids in a daycare near there and would often leave the car there and get on the NY ave metro.