Anonymous wrote:Huh. I wouldn't think either Bridges location is very accessible by public transit from Adam's Morgan. It's also out of the way of the Adam's Morgan-to-downtown commute. Maybe I'm missing something...

I am one block from the S bus line, which drops off 3 blocks away from Bridges, and that same bus goes to downtown by my work.

OP, you didn't explain why you would go back to your house and take the bus to work, instead of just driving to work and parking there after dropping your kid at IT. Others have assumed it's cost, but you didn't say. Anyway, if you do that, it won't be too bad a commute. Not great, but not awful.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, also look at the social aspects of going to a school where there are very few or no other same age students who live near you. It will affect your child.

Actually, that's something that doesn't concern me, since there seem to be a lot of IT families from the Adams Morgan/Mt. Pleasant/Columbia Heights area. The bigger issue is just the commute. Every other school we are applying to is accessible through walking or easy public transportation (no-transfer close-by bus ride). Part of why I live in Adams-Morgan is that I like the urban life. I currently walk with my toddler to daycare and then to my work. It's relaxed and fun for both of us. It seems like it would add a lot more stress to us both to have to drive and deal with traffic, and it already seems to take *forever* to get ready in the morning, the thought of having to leave a lot earlier to make it to school on time does not appeal to me. I will apply, just not sure how I will rank it.

Why not continue sending your child to this same daycare next year and the year after, rather than spending hours a day criss-crossing town?

Huh. I wouldn't think either Bridges location is very accessible by public transit from Adam's Morgan. It's also out of the way of the Adam's Morgan-to-downtown commute. Maybe I'm missing something...

There are quite a few bus lines that go right by their new campus. I know the D8 and H9 are near by, so if you aren't near metro that may be a good option too.

Anonymous wrote:OP, also look at the social aspects of going to a school where there are very few or no other same age students who live near you. It will affect your child.

Adams Morgan/Mt Pleasant area families are one of the higest represented (after Brookland) at ITS.

Anonymous wrote:For me personally, proximity does not trump quality. In a head-to-head quality contest (or even a close match), I would pick proximity because I am not going to drive far for something not much better. But I would not pick a lower quality school just because its closer. For IT specifically, we are planning to drive and then park downtown in my office's garage. If that is not a financial option for you, you could also consider parking at a garage near the Brookland or Rhode Island metro (which would cost less per day - the Home Depot parking lot would be free, but I am not sure if they'd ticket you or something) and then metro downtown.

If we get in we will do the same. Driving sucks, but doing metro/bus everyday sounds even more overwhelming. I am however ranking IT slightly lower than I would because of the commute.

We have a PS3 kid in at reasonably well-liked EOTP neighborhood school, and we moved mid year. This means we've been commuting to drop our child off each day (a reasonable, 20 minute commute), which is actually on the way to our work. Even so, it sucks. The morning is a scramble with a 3 year old, who is not all that helpful at getting him or herself out the door (permission slips/bookbag/lunchbox/shoes/coats/boots/hat/gloves/etc).

Obviously there are many families of kids in charter schools who make this work and feel it's worth it. I would caution you NOT To underestimate the effect of commuting on your day. For us, it means our days are longer and more hectic, and there's less time for us to enjoy just hanging out with each other, which is not a trade off that makes sense to us long term. We're looking forward to sending our kid to our new neighborhood school this fall.

Anonymous wrote:I have no good advice, but I totally agree. The thought of getting in a car every day gives me the shakes. I'm thinking of dropping schools from my list that don't have good public transit options. Otherwise I feel like I'll be getting too close to the world of mom jeans and minivans. We're in the city to not have to drive!

Thank you! It makes me feel a little better that I'm not the only person who feels this way.

I have no good advice, but I totally agree. The thought of getting in a car every day gives me the shakes. I'm thinking of dropping schools from my list that don't have good public transit options. Otherwise I feel like I'll be getting too close to the world of mom jeans and minivans. We're in the city to not have to drive!

Anonymous wrote:OP, also look at the social aspects of going to a school where there are very few or no other same age students who live near you. It will affect your child.

Actually, that's something that doesn't concern me, since there seem to be a lot of IT families from the Adams Morgan/Mt. Pleasant/Columbia Heights area. The bigger issue is just the commute. Every other school we are applying to is accessible through walking or easy public transportation (no-transfer close-by bus ride). Part of why I live in Adams-Morgan is that I like the urban life. I currently walk with my toddler to daycare and then to my work. It's relaxed and fun for both of us. It seems like it would add a lot more stress to us both to have to drive and deal with traffic, and it already seems to take *forever* to get ready in the morning, the thought of having to leave a lot earlier to make it to school on time does not appeal to me. I will apply, just not sure how I will rank it.

Anonymous wrote:OP, also look at the social aspects of going to a school where there are very few or no other same age students who live near you. It will affect your child.

Lol this could easily describe my IB school

Anonymous wrote:OP, also look at the social aspects of going to a school where there are very few or no other same age students who live near you. It will affect your child.

Methinks you sound like a poster who is trying to convince people to not apply to your chosen school. I laugh, because I have been tempted to do the same.

OP, also look at the social aspects of going to a school where there are very few or no other same age students who live near you. It will affect your child.

In addition to the bus that parents are putting together, there may be other parents who, like you, are not comfortable putting a young child on a bus. If your child is accepted reach out o other parents and see if someone would like to carpool. We're a new family and found other families in the neighborhood who were interested in carpooling. Its worked out well.