Another suggestion is Friendship Armstrong, at 1st and P NW. It's a doable walk from the Convention Center metro station. They have a Reggio preschool program and last I heard, have a short PK4 waitlist. You would probably want to rent somewhere east of the school (Bloomindale, Eckington, NOMA) area. There are 2-3 bedroom condos and basement apartments in those areas at around $2500/mo.

Anonymous wrote:OP - what's your budget?

Some of these neighborhoods, like Petworth, are fairly expensive $800K+ for a 3-4BR that's really not downtown.

$800K(or stretching to $900K) would pretty much be my preferred upper price point... but my plan is really to rent for a while (so my ranges will likely have to change accordingly over time). I don't like to buy until I really know I'm going to be in the same location for >5 years.

Anonymous wrote:

So, you don't care about the school itself, just if it's on a metro line?

In most places, finding a school for your child that is along a public transportation line would be considered sane. And normal.

But here, no. Here, where there is no bus system, terrible public bus options, and where the metro barely runs... here, people will find issue. Because they have issues. So many issues.

I never take the metro, because it tends to catch fire, but I would look at Van Ness, as the poster suggested. Or... what is the school in Chinatown? Also Capitol Hill Montessori, it's right by Union Station, so not far off. Although, of course any transfer will suck.

Google maps tends to say to take the metro (even when I tried to prefer bus. Should I bother to look up bus lines and go by that? Or just give up and live in NoVa?

In DC:

Raymond would likely have room for your PK4 student this fall, and it's an easy walk to Georgia Ave metro station. Likewise, Walker-Jones has spots, is close to the Convention Center, and you might be able to find somewhere to live to the east of there. Both schools, however, are not popular on DCUM.

Bridges is right at the Ft. Totten metro station. I have friends there who love it, and there was speculation on DCUM that it might be easier to get in this year because the school has just moved to this location. There are new apartments there too (although I'm not sure of the price, but you can probably find something on the "more affordable" side of the DC rental market in that area).

Van Ness Elementary is a new school near Navy Yard metro, and it has some boosters on this board for sure! If you move into it's boundary, you will jump to the front of the waitlist for PK4 and could get a spot. The problem is that housing around Navy Yard is generally on the pricier side, although their may be some cheap rentals to be found.

Good luck!

OP - what's your budget?

Some of these neighborhoods, like Petworth, are fairly expensive $800K+ for a 3-4BR that's really not downtown.

So, you don't care about the school itself, just if it's on a metro line?

In most places, finding a school for your child that is along a public transportation line would be considered sane. And normal.

But here, no. Here, where there is no bus system, terrible public bus options, and where the metro barely runs... here, people will find issue. Because they have issues. So many issues.

I never take the metro, because it tends to catch fire, but I would look at Van Ness, as the poster suggested. Or... what is the school in Chinatown? Also Capitol Hill Montessori, it's right by Union Station, so not far off. Although, of course any transfer will suck.

There are lots of great charter schools near the Fort Totten metro (DC Bilingual, Bridges, Capital City), but only a small portion of that neighborhood is zoned for a decent DCPS (Barnard) and it is still pretty affordable. Petworth also has some decent schools (Powell, Bruce Monroe for DCPS and CMI, E.L. Haynes for charters), but is not as affordable anymore. The farther south you go along the yellow line, the more expensive it gets.

Taking the yellow line from Tort Totten to Crystal City is a hike though. Would take around 30 minutes by train, I'd estimate. I commuted from Fort Totten to Braddock Road for about a year, but found that combining that commute with school drop-off and pick-up made driving a better choice than metro for me.

Anonymous wrote:

Are you new to this city? You don't know where you are going to live, you don't know where you are going to work - you just know you want a school somewhere near a metro. Possible to be yellow, green or blue.

Do I have that correct?

Have you factored in.....bus lines????

Man, this forum is a gem.

Yes. I assumed that being in DC would be centrally located in the area, urban, and walkable. Caveats to this were affordability and school quality. Yes I'm new to the area.

I guess I shouldn't post on forums to search for information in a certain metro unless I already fully understand that metro... geez

OP - go to myschooldc.org and use the school finder tool.

Plug in some addresses (use the metro stops along the lines you prefer) and it will tell you schools that are nearby.

Once you have a potential list come back and ask about those that seem most promising from your initial search.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will likely be moving to work right off the yellow line. While I'm fine with the metro, changing trains, etc... I'd like to live off the yellow line just to reduce commute time (I'm currently spoiled and even 10 minutes each way is worth altering my residence for). Does anyone have any experience with schools (public or charter) easily walkable to the yellow line? Cost is also an issue (and a strong reason I'm considering not living in the district).

We live in Petworth and really like it. There are a number of charters and DCPS options up this way that are walkable.

+1

Do you guys have any particular schools in that area that you have experience with or know about? There are a ton in the city so I'm a bit overwhelmed. I'm checking the school ratings sites and school websites, but its a lot and I figure this is something to do to narrow it down. I can't spend my life touring schools beforehand.

Why not just create a new post in the PG forum? You won't find many PG school experts here.

Because I'm posting in the DC forum about DC schools, and just mentioned the PG thing. I'm open as to where I'll end up at this point.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will likely be moving to work right off the yellow line. While I'm fine with the metro, changing trains, etc... I'd like to live off the yellow line just to reduce commute time (I'm currently spoiled and even 10 minutes each way is worth altering my residence for). Does anyone have any experience with schools (public or charter) easily walkable to the yellow line? Cost is also an issue (and a strong reason I'm considering not living in the district).

We live in Petworth and really like it. There are a number of charters and DCPS options up this way that are walkable.

+1

Do you guys have any particular schools in that area that you have experience with or know about? There are a ton in the city so I'm a bit overwhelmed. I'm checking the school ratings sites and school websites, but its a lot and I figure this is something to do to narrow it down. I can't spend my life touring schools beforehand.

Why not just create a new post in the PG forum? You won't find many PG school experts here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will likely be moving to work right off the yellow line. While I'm fine with the metro, changing trains, etc... I'd like to live off the yellow line just to reduce commute time (I'm currently spoiled and even 10 minutes each way is worth altering my residence for). Does anyone have any experience with schools (public or charter) easily walkable to the yellow line? Cost is also an issue (and a strong reason I'm considering not living in the district).

We live in Petworth and really like it. There are a number of charters and DCPS options up this way that are walkable.

+1

Do you guys have any particular schools in that area that you have experience with or know about? There are a ton in the city so I'm a bit overwhelmed. I'm checking the school ratings sites and school websites, but its a lot and I figure this is something to do to narrow it down. I can't spend my life touring schools beforehand.

Powell for dual-language, West for traditional. But that's quite a train ride down to Pentagon. Why not live in VA further south?

As in S Arlington/Alexandria? I am looking in those areas too. I don't want to get off track, but we're not sure where in the area my spouse will work and would like, at the very least, somewhere with sidewalks and neighborly streets without huge lots.

Are you new to this city? You don't know where you are going to live, you don't know where you are going to work - you just know you want a school somewhere near a metro. Possible to be yellow, green or blue.

Do I have that correct?

Have you factored in.....bus lines????

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, you don't care about the school itself, just if it's on a metro line?

Umm, that's my question, troll. If I didn't care I wouldn't be asking.

Do you know what a troll is? I don't think you do - I may have been rude, or even bitchy - but I my question was not trolling or being a troll.

Try and learn more about how our interwebz work before you fling insults about.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, so I should be clear. I will be travelling down to the Pentagon/Crystal city area which I believe is only on the yellow line?

The Blue Line also goes to Pentagon City though it takes longer (goes via Arlington cemetery). You might ask about schools along the Blue Line on the PG schools board.

oh ok! Let's include that in this discussion to then?

Or I guess really anywhere in DC if its easily accessible to crystal/pentagon city area. I guess I was assuming the yellow line was quickest because of no transfers, but I defer to the board on commute times/ease!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I will likely be moving to work right off the yellow line. While I'm fine with the metro, changing trains, etc... I'd like to live off the yellow line just to reduce commute time (I'm currently spoiled and even 10 minutes each way is worth altering my residence for). Does anyone have any experience with schools (public or charter) easily walkable to the yellow line? Cost is also an issue (and a strong reason I'm considering not living in the district).

We live in Petworth and really like it. There are a number of charters and DCPS options up this way that are walkable.

+1

Do you guys have any particular schools in that area that you have experience with or know about? There are a ton in the city so I'm a bit overwhelmed. I'm checking the school ratings sites and school websites, but its a lot and I figure this is something to do to narrow it down. I can't spend my life touring schools beforehand.

Powell for dual-language, West for traditional. But that's quite a train ride down to Pentagon. Why not live in VA further south?

As in S Arlington/Alexandria? I am looking in those areas too. I don't want to get off track, but we're not sure where in the area my spouse will work and would like, at the very least, somewhere with sidewalks and neighborly streets without huge lots.