Anonymous
Post 10/25/2013 10:08     Subject: Charters v JKLM
Anonymous wrote:I think most people's issue with the Hill isn't the elementary schools, it is the middle and high school options. Of course this can change in the next several years, but if you are looking at the situation right now, WOTP is that way to go for 14 years of security.


I guess it depends on whether OP is willing to move again if (a) she doesn't get a good middle/HS option through the charter/OOB public lotteries in 12 years or b) the schools don't improve. I live in the city because I really like the urban feel--I'm in Adams-Morgan so I can walk to everything, including two large supermarkets that are less than two blocks from my house. I easily live without a car. Given that choice, if I felt I needed to get a place inbounds for a good school, then I would much rather be on the Hill for more than a decade and then move if I had to for schools. But between Basis, Latin, Cap City, and some other schools that tend to take a lot of kids in the middle school years, I think OP would be okay.
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2013 10:01     Subject: Charters v JKLM
958, are you happy about your zoned middle and high school as well?
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2013 10:01     Subject: Charters v JKLM
I think most people's issue with the Hill isn't the elementary schools, it is the middle and high school options. Of course this can change in the next several years, but if you are looking at the situation right now, WOTP is that way to go for 14 years of security.
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2013 09:58     Subject: Charters v JKLM
Anonymous wrote:Actually, I don't think I've seen anyone mention that there are EOTP schools that are an option. Pretty much every reply has implied that if you want to do DCPS, you must buy in-boundary for JKLM and "a few of the other WTOP schools". That's not the case anymore, so OP might look for an in-boundary school on the hill.


My child attends an East of the Park elementary school and we love it.

But it seems clear from OP's tone that that kind of school is not for her family, and she wants either charters or West of the Park elementary schools.

I don't think people with that frame of mind want to hear about the great things going on in up and coming schools. They want a sure thing and probably have other requirements that are either unconscious or would not like to write down or announce in public.

And in this, the only sure thing is to move inbound to a West of the Park school as the top charters are literally a lottery.
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2013 09:54     Subject: Charters v JKLM
I would much rather live on the Hill (IB for a good school) than WOTP. It is much more urban on the Hill. That's what I would do if I were OP, and then maybe also try the charter lotteries if there were some that really appealed.
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2013 09:46     Subject: Charters v JKLM
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think so much depends on your risk tolerance. When we were house hunting on the Hill, everyone we knew told us to buy wherever we wanted because the OOB lottery was still a viable way to get into a decent school. At that time, you could still lottery into Maury, Brent and SWS/Peabody.

Fast forward to when we actually tried the lottery and we were shut out everywhere! It's nearly impossible to know what the school scenario will look like in the next few years. Fortunately we were able to get into a great charter the next lottery year, so it did work out for us. But it was very, very stressful.

I think you need to weigh how many years you think you want to stay in the area, how far you might be willing to travel for school, and what neighborhoods you really like. Are you willing to try one of those neighborhood schools? JKLM and a few of the other WOTP schools are a sure bet, but some of the charters are really great as well.


Of course, if OP buys in-boundary for Maury, Brent, or SWS/Peabody, they won't have to lottery in, their children will be able to attend as a matter of right.


Yes, of course. It's been made clear that she can relieve some of the uncertainty by buying in-bounds for a certain school.


Actually, I don't think I've seen anyone mention that there are EOTP schools that are an option. Pretty much every reply has implied that if you want to do DCPS, you must buy in-boundary for JKLM and "a few of the other WTOP schools". That's not the case anymore, so OP might look for an in-boundary school on the hill.
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2013 09:40     Subject: Charters v JKLM
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think so much depends on your risk tolerance. When we were house hunting on the Hill, everyone we knew told us to buy wherever we wanted because the OOB lottery was still a viable way to get into a decent school. At that time, you could still lottery into Maury, Brent and SWS/Peabody.

Fast forward to when we actually tried the lottery and we were shut out everywhere! It's nearly impossible to know what the school scenario will look like in the next few years. Fortunately we were able to get into a great charter the next lottery year, so it did work out for us. But it was very, very stressful.

I think you need to weigh how many years you think you want to stay in the area, how far you might be willing to travel for school, and what neighborhoods you really like. Are you willing to try one of those neighborhood schools? JKLM and a few of the other WOTP schools are a sure bet, but some of the charters are really great as well.


Of course, if OP buys in-boundary for Maury, Brent, or SWS/Peabody, they won't have to lottery in, their children will be able to attend as a matter of right.


Yes, of course. It's been made clear that she can relieve some of the uncertainty by buying in-bounds for a certain school.
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2013 09:37     Subject: Charters v JKLM
Anonymous wrote:I think so much depends on your risk tolerance. When we were house hunting on the Hill, everyone we knew told us to buy wherever we wanted because the OOB lottery was still a viable way to get into a decent school. At that time, you could still lottery into Maury, Brent and SWS/Peabody.

Fast forward to when we actually tried the lottery and we were shut out everywhere! It's nearly impossible to know what the school scenario will look like in the next few years. Fortunately we were able to get into a great charter the next lottery year, so it did work out for us. But it was very, very stressful.

I think you need to weigh how many years you think you want to stay in the area, how far you might be willing to travel for school, and what neighborhoods you really like. Are you willing to try one of those neighborhood schools? JKLM and a few of the other WOTP schools are a sure bet, but some of the charters are really great as well.


Of course, if OP buys in-boundary for Maury, Brent, or SWS/Peabody, they won't have to lottery in, their children will be able to attend as a matter of right.
Anonymous
Post 10/25/2013 01:11     Subject: Charters v JKLM
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I think so much depends on your risk tolerance. When we were house hunting on the Hill, everyone we knew told us to buy wherever we wanted because the OOB lottery was still a viable way to get into a decent school. At that time, you could still lottery into Maury, Brent and SWS/Peabody.

Fast forward to when we actually tried the lottery and we were shut out everywhere! It's nearly impossible to know what the school scenario will look like in the next few years. Fortunately we were able to get into a great charter the next lottery year, so it did work out for us. But it was very, very stressful.

I think you need to weigh how many years you think you want to stay in the area, how far you might be willing to travel for school, and what neighborhoods you really like. Are you willing to try one of those neighborhood schools? JKLM and a few of the other WOTP schools are a sure bet, but some of the charters are really great as well.


On the other hand, if you buy in-boundary you are at the whim of redistricting. Every plan for redistricting I have seen has said that current OOB students -- and not IB students -- would be grandfathered.

Think about this: fifteen years ago the landscape of public education was completely different. There were no charters. They were closing and consolidating schools west of the Park. For kids who are in high school now, that was the time when their parents were making decisions about where to settle and raise their families. Who knows what the next 15 years will bring.


That doesn't seem fair that OOB students are grandfathered in but IB students aren't. Why would they do that?


It wouldn't be fair, but don't worry because it's not true. I participated in a parent boundary committee in a very popular WotP school, and it was made abundantly clear that ALL IB families would be grandfathered in when/if boundaries change in the near future. Can you even imagine the bloodbath that would ensue in Ward 3 if that wasn't the case? No DC politicians have the stomach for that scenario.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2013 22:07     Subject: Charters v JKLM
Anonymous wrote:Is anyone out there whose IB school is not good and who was shut out of the lottery for a good charter? There are so many people applying for the lottery that this must happen. What are the options?


Move or go private.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2013 21:59     Subject: Charters v JKLM
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you want to avoid the headache of a lottery move IB for one of the sought after schools in Ward 3. However, could you use someone’s address to enter the lottery for a Charter and then move to your neighborhood of choice?


Calling it now: T-R-O-L-L.



I don't understand why this can't be done. They are moving to DC. I would do it if I were in her shoes.


Because it's illegal. You need to lottery using your address. You can make a note that you will move to DC if you get in, but you cannot pretend that you live somewhere that you don't.


Using "your" address. I can see this if you are shooting for an IB school, but other than that I don't see a problem with it.


Just because you would do it doesn't mean that it's legal. It's not.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2013 21:35     Subject: Charters v JKLM
I think some of the charters are awesome and many EOTP neighborhoods are great but I couldn't take the stress of the charter/OOB lottery process. Plus I really wanted my kids to be able to walk to school.

I bought IB for Hearst and couldn't be happier.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2013 21:29     Subject: Charters v JKLM
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you want to avoid the headache of a lottery move IB for one of the sought after schools in Ward 3. However, could you use someone’s address to enter the lottery for a Charter and then move to your neighborhood of choice?


Calling it now: T-R-O-L-L.



I don't understand why this can't be done. They are moving to DC. I would do it if I were in her shoes.


Because it's illegal. You need to lottery using your address. You can make a note that you will move to DC if you get in, but you cannot pretend that you live somewhere that you don't.


Using "your" address. I can see this if you are shooting for an IB school, but other than that I don't see a problem with it.
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2013 21:15     Subject: Charters v JKLM
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:If you want to avoid the headache of a lottery move IB for one of the sought after schools in Ward 3. However, could you use someone’s address to enter the lottery for a Charter and then move to your neighborhood of choice?


Calling it now: T-R-O-L-L.



I don't understand why this can't be done. They are moving to DC. I would do it if I were in her shoes.


you understand very well why this can't be done. when you use somebody else's address as if you were living there and you are not, you know it's wrong even if your IQ is 3
Anonymous
Post 10/24/2013 19:27     Subject: Charters v JKLM
Anonymous wrote:OK I will use The Google for you, grandpa. Send me your address and I will send you a bill. Kidding.

Try these, and work on your Google-fu:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/297187.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/220551.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/292980.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/25/277590.page

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/293739.page


Thanks! And that's Mrs. Grandma, dearie. Be kind to your elders