OP, I have also considered this route but ruled it out for a couple reasons (at least for the moment): with 2 kids (if you only have one now, you might have one later), you'll be paying $60k/year for 12 years (possibly 14). A huge sum of money. It just seems financially smarter to invest in a house where you are in good public schools.

Another big factor is that, if you're sending your kids to an expensive private school (most likely across town in NW), playdates and socializing with other families will be very difficult. 90% of the people will be living in "better" neighborhoods and won't want to trek to Brookland. They are also going to be from families where dropping 60K a year for 14 years is not a big deal. Consider the gap in social strata and what that means in the long run.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So buying, say, a 500k house you'd expect a private school to give you 22k in aid? That is a little shocking, amazing if true!

It is actually a little shocking. I had friends whose income is probably $400k+ and own a $800k house, and they were offered aid at private schools.

Good to know! Thanks! Had no idea

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow this thread sounds like it's dominated by people who can afford houses in upper nw or who don't mind renting a crappy apartment in a good school district. Wake up--the difference between a "cheap house" in upper nw and a "regular" house in Brookland is like $400,000. Also factor in the most people who opt for private (especially those who cannot afford to live in upper nw) are eligible for financial aid. Average package at Sidwell is $22K. So chill out and leave the poster to his/her choices.

My cheap house in upper-ish NW was $750k. Are houses in Brookland really $350k? Not all houses in NW cost $1+ million. Almost everyone I know who lives in Columbia Heights/Petworth/Shaw paid more for their house then I paid for mine. It's not impossible to live in-bounds for a high-performing elementary school.

I think the OP should do whatever she wants, but she should consider all her options. And even with financial aid, putting 2 kids through Sidwell is going to cost at least $40k unless you are very low income.

Yes buy I'm not trying to make the case of expensive Columbia Heights vs affordable NW. I'm trying to make the case of affordable CH/Petworth/Brightwood/Brookland which still has houses (not gut renos but live able houses) in the $400k range. You just cannot expect everyone to be able to afford a "cheap" $750k house.

Anonymous wrote:Deal and Eaton.

It can be very rough, about 2 half hours a day. Military Road just sucks.

ONce they get to Deal, can't they take metro?

Anonymous wrote:So buying, say, a 500k house you'd expect a private school to give you 22k in aid? That is a little shocking, amazing if true!

It is actually a little shocking. I had friends whose income is probably $400k+ and own a $800k house, and they were offered aid at private schools.

Anonymous wrote:Wow this thread sounds like it's dominated by people who can afford houses in upper nw or who don't mind renting a crappy apartment in a good school district. Wake up--the difference between a "cheap house" in upper nw and a "regular" house in Brookland is like $400,000. Also factor in the most people who opt for private (especially those who cannot afford to live in upper nw) are eligible for financial aid. Average package at Sidwell is $22K. So chill out and leave the poster to his/her choices.

My cheap house in upper-ish NW was $750k. Are houses in Brookland really $350k? Not all houses in NW cost $1+ million. Almost everyone I know who lives in Columbia Heights/Petworth/Shaw paid more for their house then I paid for mine. It's not impossible to live in-bounds for a high-performing elementary school.

I think the OP should do whatever she wants, but she should consider all her options. And even with financial aid, putting 2 kids through Sidwell is going to cost at least $40k unless you are very low income.

So buying, say, a 500k house you'd expect a private school to give you 22k in aid? That is a little shocking, amazing if true!

Wow this thread sounds like it's dominated by people who can afford houses in upper nw or who don't mind renting a crappy apartment in a good school district. Wake up--the difference between a "cheap house" in upper nw and a "regular" house in Brookland is like $400,000. Also factor in the most people who opt for private (especially those who cannot afford to live in upper nw) are eligible for financial aid. Average package at Sidwell is $22K. So chill out and leave the poster to his/her choices.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. yes, applied to Stokes, too!

to the PP who asked why Brookland. Brookland is awesome. mixed family friendly neighborhood, less expensive housing with a possible return on investment down the road (moreso than already established NW neighborhoods), more green space, super easy commute to 2 workplaces. in the end, financially we would much rather carry a lesser mortgage and have the possibility of going charter and not spending $ on private down the road than carrying a bigger mortgage that will not change for the next 30 years.

That is a pretty big assumption. Your return on investment would have to be more than the amount you spend on private. I'm not sure I would count on houses in Brookland increasing by that much anytime in the near future.

Also private tuition will rise year to year, frequently as much as 5%, just keep it in mind...

Anonymous wrote:OP here. yes, applied to Stokes, too!

to the PP who asked why Brookland. Brookland is awesome. mixed family friendly neighborhood, less expensive housing with a possible return on investment down the road (moreso than already established NW neighborhoods), more green space, super easy commute to 2 workplaces. in the end, financially we would much rather carry a lesser mortgage and have the possibility of going charter and not spending $ on private down the road than carrying a bigger mortgage that will not change for the next 30 years.

Like so many, you're trading super awesome super easy super green funtime for certainty on the schools piece. "Going charter" is not synonymous with "good." Or should I say "super awesome." Maybe for pk3 -2. Not for 6-12.

And fwiw, independent school tuition is now at the $33,000 a year mark for the top ~13 schools. A catholic parish k-8 will be much less.

Good luck to you.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. yes, applied to Stokes, too!

to the PP who asked why Brookland. Brookland is awesome. mixed family friendly neighborhood, less expensive housing with a possible return on investment down the road (moreso than already established NW neighborhoods), more green space, super easy commute to 2 workplaces. in the end, financially we would much rather carry a lesser mortgage and have the possibility of going charter and not spending $ on private down the road than carrying a bigger mortgage that will not change for the next 30 years.

OP I agree that Brookland is a nice neighborhood, although I think it has a few more downsides than you are mentioning. Regardless, we are risk averse and could not afford private so we bought the cheapest house we could find in an established neighborhood. If I were you I would wait to see where you get in, and if you don't get where you want, wait another year and try again before moving since your kids are young. Having a crappy commute really can be a huge drag on your lifestyle.

Anonymous wrote:0749 the above neighborhoods you listed do not have good middle and high school options, at least not currently.

Not PP, but I rank the odds of Hardy being a viable option pretty high given the age of OP's children. Deal was not a viable option when my oldest started K at Janney and she is now in 3rd and I am looking forward to sending her there.

Anonymous wrote:0749 the above neighborhoods you listed do not have good middle and high school options, at least not currently.

Yes, but her kids won't be middle school for 7 more years, a lot can change in that time. Kid weren't going to Deal 7 years ago and now it's too full. The same will happen to Hardy by the time her kids start. And what are her high school options if the kid gets into IT, which will go to 8th grade?

Plus, even if she decides to do private for middle and high school it will still be cheaper to live in one of those neighborhoods and do elementary at a DCPS for the next 9 years than private. If they kids went to IT they'd still have to do private for high school I'm guessing.

And really for additional $325k she could really live in any neighborhood that feeds to Deal/Wilson. It just seems like you have to REALLY want to live in Brookland to justify spending all that money if you don't get into a charter. There are many other options if you are in a position to spend $50k/year on private.

OP here. yes, applied to Stokes, too!

to the PP who asked why Brookland. Brookland is awesome. mixed family friendly neighborhood, less expensive housing with a possible return on investment down the road (moreso than already established NW neighborhoods), more green space, super easy commute to 2 workplaces. in the end, financially we would much rather carry a lesser mortgage and have the possibility of going charter and not spending $ on private down the road than carrying a bigger mortgage that will not change for the next 30 years.