The op needs recommendations for a school she can enroll in over the summer - and the older child will pull the younger child in. We all know that siblings are not guaranteed a spot at Brent - do not look there. You need to look at schools that have some pre-K 4 waitlist movement in august. Navy yard and Van ness is a great option. No = Ross and Brent.

Anonymous wrote:Highly recommend Ross elementary. Wonderful community of families and lots of expats in DC for work and very welcoming. Tons of families and easy access to downtown, museums, activities, parks. Easy to walk everywhere or take public transit.
It is a tiny boundary so do check the address carefully. But there are many rental options.
Enjoy your time here!

This would be a great urban neighborhood if you can afford it.

Don’t neglect to look at NE DC such as Brookland. If you are able to lottery you can access most of the best charter schools there, but you will have to lottery in. Bonus is for the same price of a tiny condo in the areas mentioned you get a whole house with a yard, and still proximity to the metro.

Highly recommend Ross elementary. Wonderful community of families and lots of expats in DC for work and very welcoming. Tons of families and easy access to downtown, museums, activities, parks. Easy to walk everywhere or take public transit.
It is a tiny boundary so do check the address carefully. But there are many rental options.
Enjoy your time here!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is taking advantage of the system, but if you are living in a hotel at the beginning of the school year, you are technically covered under the family and youth in transition program (https://dcps.dc.gov/service/families-and-youth-transition-program). Basically, this means you can enroll your 3rd grader in any DCPS school you want (not sure how PK4 works). Then of course, you can find a rental where you want and they will not make you switch schools.

Wow. You are suggesting someone games the system meant for homeless families who are not living in a hotel by choice, with a $3-4K housing allowance under the belts. Please do not do this, OP!

I mean, it’s not like you’re taking food (or any other finite resource) out of the mouths of homeless children…

Anonymous wrote:It is taking advantage of the system, but if you are living in a hotel at the beginning of the school year, you are technically covered under the family and youth in transition program (https://dcps.dc.gov/service/families-and-youth-transition-program). Basically, this means you can enroll your 3rd grader in any DCPS school you want (not sure how PK4 works). Then of course, you can find a rental where you want and they will not make you switch schools.

Wow. You are suggesting someone games the system meant for homeless families who are not living in a hotel by choice, with a $3-4K housing allowance under the belts. Please do not do this, OP!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I highly recommend Brent on Capitol Hill. You would likely be able to lottery your PK4 in since you would have an older kiddo enrolled. There are many families and you'd be walking distance to the museums, Navy Yard/ Nats Park, tons of playgrounds, etc. Eastern Market Metro is right there along with a bunch of great restaurants.

This sounds amazing!— thanks!

Second this - I know lots of happy Brent families.

Eaton or Van Ness is a fun neighborhood but it has more of an suburban feel compared to DuPont circle, georgetown or capitol hill. It's still the city with stores close by and you may be able to have a somewhat urban experience and also a garden in these places. Georgetown and Van Ness are less diverse compared to other neighborhoods, which in another downside, though their schools are diverse.

Anonymous wrote:I highly recommend Brent on Capitol Hill. You would likely be able to lottery your PK4 in since you would have an older kiddo enrolled. There are many families and you'd be walking distance to the museums, Navy Yard/ Nats Park, tons of playgrounds, etc. Eastern Market Metro is right there along with a bunch of great restaurants.

This sounds amazing!— thanks!

Wow, thanks everyone for these suggestions. Really appreciate the advice. we wouldn’t be living there yet when the lottery happens (feb/March?) - likely moving in the summer - so we might research your suggestions and come up with a list of schools/neighborhoods we like to enter both kids in the lottery and see what happens before finding a rental. We are also open to paying for daycare/preschool for the 4yo if necessary. Or, maybe we’d have a lease early enough for the lottery for the pk4...

It is taking advantage of the system, but if you are living in a hotel at the beginning of the school year, you are technically covered under the family and youth in transition program (https://dcps.dc.gov/service/families-and-youth-transition-program). Basically, this means you can enroll your 3rd grader in any DCPS school you want (not sure how PK4 works). Then of course, you can find a rental where you want and they will not make you switch schools.

I highly recommend Brent on Capitol Hill. You would likely be able to lottery your PK4 in since you would have an older kiddo enrolled. There are many families and you'd be walking distance to the museums, Navy Yard/ Nats Park, tons of playgrounds, etc. Eastern Market Metro is right there along with a bunch of great restaurants.

Navy Yard is such a fun neighborhood with kids and you could rent a pretty nice apartment with your budget. Your PK4 child would have a good shot at getting into Van Ness with sibling preference.

OP, I'd look at renting in boundary for Hearst, Eaton, Ross, Hyde-Addison, or Brent. Your 3rd grader should pull the PK4 in as a sibling through the lottery.

From there, the question is what kind of neighborhood you want. For one year and with an older elementary kid, it is wise to go with a school where things are established, not up and coming.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, top of the list is Chevy Chase (Maryland side, not DC side)!!

Bumping my recs for N. Arlington or downtown Bethesda to 2nd place

Is there public pk4 in MD (or VA)?

Hi OP, in Montgomery County, MD, pk4 is only public for kids with special needs or the neurotypical peers (usually neighborhood kids who have applied - I think it fills quickly) who have been chosen to balance out the class numbers. The program is housed in elementary schools (not every school has it). It's called PEP.

Anonymous wrote:Wait, top of the list is Chevy Chase (Maryland side, not DC side)!!

Bumping my recs for N. Arlington or downtown Bethesda to 2nd place

Is there public pk4 in MD (or VA)?