Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 12:27     Subject: Hearst - Deal - Wilson vs. Takoma ES, Takoma MS, and Blair?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, you should visit Hearst or talk to the PTA, we are very happy there.


+1 I think these should I do X or Y post are hard, OP. Almost no one has actually had their children in two different places with all other circumstances equal. If you have time, visit both places, talk to people, etc.. We too are very happy at Hearst and living in the city. We strongly considered buying a house in Takoma Park, MD at the same time we bought IB for Hearst. We loved TP but in looking at houses and the neighborhood, realized that still living in the city, even in a more residential area, was what we wanted, and buying in TP would mean longer commutes (at that time with kids in tow to daycare) and being farther from the metro. And we were attracted by the close-knit, friendly nature of Hearst. I am sure that in our alternative life where we bought a house in TP we'd still be happy with the schools and the neighborhood. Remember you are making a bundle of choices and after considering them all you might surprise yourself. I know we did.


Agree with this completely, as another happy family at Hearst. Living near the metro was a big priority for us.


We can live near the metro in Takoma too. Also, I'm thinking beyond elementary school. We are actually IB for a good DCPS elementary, but it's middle and high school that are bigger issues - plus college. I have no doubt that any number of DCPS elementaries check a lot of boxes for us, but after elementary that still leaves us with 11 more years of education to consider! (If you add in college.)


Certainly you can live close to the metro, but at the time we were looking, it was harder to do so. Houses were pricier and there not many of them, while we looked at quite a few metro accessible homes in NW DC. I suspect, but don't know for Takoma, that has changed some for NW DC. And even being close to the metro in Takoma would have made for a longer commute for us/kids. Again, I'd look in both places, talk to lots of people, and make a choice that feels right. I don't think you'll feel it was the wrong one either way.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 11:30     Subject: Hearst - Deal - Wilson vs. Takoma ES, Takoma MS, and Blair?
Your child will turn out the same in either school system, which is why I said above to go with the house and location you love.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 11:23     Subject: Hearst - Deal - Wilson vs. Takoma ES, Takoma MS, and Blair?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, you should visit Hearst or talk to the PTA, we are very happy there.


+1 I think these should I do X or Y post are hard, OP. Almost no one has actually had their children in two different places with all other circumstances equal. If you have time, visit both places, talk to people, etc.. We too are very happy at Hearst and living in the city. We strongly considered buying a house in Takoma Park, MD at the same time we bought IB for Hearst. We loved TP but in looking at houses and the neighborhood, realized that still living in the city, even in a more residential area, was what we wanted, and buying in TP would mean longer commutes (at that time with kids in tow to daycare) and being farther from the metro. And we were attracted by the close-knit, friendly nature of Hearst. I am sure that in our alternative life where we bought a house in TP we'd still be happy with the schools and the neighborhood. Remember you are making a bundle of choices and after considering them all you might surprise yourself. I know we did.


Agree with this completely, as another happy family at Hearst. Living near the metro was a big priority for us.


We can live near the metro in Takoma too. Also, I'm thinking beyond elementary school. We are actually IB for a good DCPS elementary, but it's middle and high school that are bigger issues - plus college. I have no doubt that any number of DCPS elementaries check a lot of boxes for us, but after elementary that still leaves us with 11 more years of education to consider! (If you add in college.)
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 08:25     Subject: Re:Hearst - Deal - Wilson vs. Takoma ES, Takoma MS, and Blair?
My daughter's at Deal and her good friend from pre-school is at Takoma. We live in a crappy, cranped rowhouse on an ugly street and the other child's family lives in a beautiful home on an idyllic street near a park. They have a big yard and tons of space.

The schools are comparable.

Deal is a good middle school for DC but it's just good- not great. Fantastic principal, very well-managed organization, mostly good teachers. But it's nothing special. Only in DC, where most middle schools are awful, would anybody consider Deal a top school.

I wish i could move to a place where I'd get more housing for my dollar but my child's whole social life is here. Like many kids school = the people for her.

OP, go get yourself a home you love.

Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 08:20     Subject: Hearst - Deal - Wilson vs. Takoma ES, Takoma MS, and Blair?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:OP, you should visit Hearst or talk to the PTA, we are very happy there.


+1 I think these should I do X or Y post are hard, OP. Almost no one has actually had their children in two different places with all other circumstances equal. If you have time, visit both places, talk to people, etc.. We too are very happy at Hearst and living in the city. We strongly considered buying a house in Takoma Park, MD at the same time we bought IB for Hearst. We loved TP but in looking at houses and the neighborhood, realized that still living in the city, even in a more residential area, was what we wanted, and buying in TP would mean longer commutes (at that time with kids in tow to daycare) and being farther from the metro. And we were attracted by the close-knit, friendly nature of Hearst. I am sure that in our alternative life where we bought a house in TP we'd still be happy with the schools and the neighborhood. Remember you are making a bundle of choices and after considering them all you might surprise yourself. I know we did.


Agree with this completely, as another happy family at Hearst. Living near the metro was a big priority for us.
Anonymous
Post 05/05/2016 08:14     Subject: Hearst - Deal - Wilson vs. Takoma ES, Takoma MS, and Blair?
Anonymous wrote:OP, you should visit Hearst or talk to the PTA, we are very happy there.


+1 I think these should I do X or Y post are hard, OP. Almost no one has actually had their children in two different places with all other circumstances equal. If you have time, visit both places, talk to people, etc.. We too are very happy at Hearst and living in the city. We strongly considered buying a house in Takoma Park, MD at the same time we bought IB for Hearst. We loved TP but in looking at houses and the neighborhood, realized that still living in the city, even in a more residential area, was what we wanted, and buying in TP would mean longer commutes (at that time with kids in tow to daycare) and being farther from the metro. And we were attracted by the close-knit, friendly nature of Hearst. I am sure that in our alternative life where we bought a house in TP we'd still be happy with the schools and the neighborhood. Remember you are making a bundle of choices and after considering them all you might surprise yourself. I know we did.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2016 19:52     Subject: Hearst - Deal - Wilson vs. Takoma ES, Takoma MS, and Blair?
I would do Hearst/Dea/Wilson. The MCPS are just huge.
Anonymous
Post 05/04/2016 18:07     Subject: Hearst - Deal - Wilson vs. Takoma ES, Takoma MS, and Blair?
OP, you should visit Hearst or talk to the PTA, we are very happy there.