Anonymous
Post 02/28/2014 09:21     Subject: Re:Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have both our kids at IT and love it! We currently drive to drop off the kids and then pay for a parking spot downtown by my office. The commute to the new location will be better for us as the roads over there are less congested and it's easy to go to Rhode island Ave after dropping off and then head downtown. I feel like we get a private school education for free at IT so the $250 I pay for parking is a steal when taking into consideration the amazing teachers my kids have and the wonderful family community we are a part of!


Hi, I am the poster who started the "Which would you choose thread" re: IT and Hearst. What does this mean--a private school education for free at IT? I have heard this comment more than once from IT parents and an administrator. But what, really does this mean? Some public schools have small class sizes, so it can't be that. A friend of mine said to me, "well you went to private school, so you know what that means." But the D.C. public schools nowadays -- at least the ones I have toured (Powell, Eaton and Hearst) -- don't seem to be the overcrowded kid hoarding public schools of my youth. What is "private" about IT?


Not the PP or IT family (applying), but I have heard this said about many other schools as well (MV, CM, and LAMB come to mind).
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2014 09:14     Subject: Re:Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
Anonymous wrote:We have both our kids at IT and love it! We currently drive to drop off the kids and then pay for a parking spot downtown by my office. The commute to the new location will be better for us as the roads over there are less congested and it's easy to go to Rhode island Ave after dropping off and then head downtown. I feel like we get a private school education for free at IT so the $250 I pay for parking is a steal when taking into consideration the amazing teachers my kids have and the wonderful family community we are a part of!


Hi, I am the poster who started the "Which would you choose thread" re: IT and Hearst. What does this mean--a private school education for free at IT? I have heard this comment more than once from IT parents and an administrator. But what, really does this mean? Some public schools have small class sizes, so it can't be that. A friend of mine said to me, "well you went to private school, so you know what that means." But the D.C. public schools nowadays -- at least the ones I have toured (Powell, Eaton and Hearst) -- don't seem to be the overcrowded kid hoarding public schools of my youth. What is "private" about IT?
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2014 09:03     Subject: Re:Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
I would not take Rhode Island. Michigan or Rock Creek Church is the way to go.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2014 08:32     Subject: Re:Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
If you do a test drive, make sure you do it during a work day. The traffic, as a previous poster mentioned, is atrotious during rush hour. My DS's grandma lives over there, and I pick him up in the evenings. That stretch of RI avenue east of North Capitol is the worst.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2014 03:37     Subject: Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
IT family here of a PS3 student. We are one if 15+families that commute from the Hill to attend. Some use metro, some bus, others drive. We have turned this into enjoyable family time in the am and as a place for conversation. Although at the beginning of the year it wasn't viable, we have used the kiss and go.

Although not originally planned, we have an afternoon sitter who picks up our little one and brings to our home, so that makes a difference. Might consider your options and factor in what the day will really look like.
Anonymous
Post 02/28/2014 00:18     Subject: Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
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!


I've dropped all schools that are not within walking distance off my list. I figure I'll have to move to the burbs anyway once my kid reaches K, so why not enjoy the carless lifestyle while I still can?
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2014 23:55     Subject: Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
Fwiw Rhode island avenue can get pretty congested. Traffic seems to be more spread out in the morning, at least at times that i travel, but in the evening (like end of aftercare time, if you're planning on that) it gets quite backed up leaving downtown.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2014 23:18     Subject: Re:Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
Anonymous wrote:We have both our kids at IT and love it! We currently drive to drop off the kids and then pay for a parking spot downtown by my office. The commute to the new location will be better for us as the roads over there are less congested and it's easy to go to Rhode island Ave after dropping off and then head downtown. I feel like we get a private school education for free at IT so the $250 I pay for parking is a steal when taking into consideration the amazing teachers my kids have and the wonderful family community we are a part of!


Same here. We have heard vanpool prices about $180/month and will be thrilled if that's the final price. Yes, PS families may not be as apt to use vanpool but we look at it as a long term decision.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2014 23:09     Subject: Re:Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
We have both our kids at IT and love it! We currently drive to drop off the kids and then pay for a parking spot downtown by my office. The commute to the new location will be better for us as the roads over there are less congested and it's easy to go to Rhode island Ave after dropping off and then head downtown. I feel like we get a private school education for free at IT so the $250 I pay for parking is a steal when taking into consideration the amazing teachers my kids have and the wonderful family community we are a part of!
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2014 19:38     Subject: Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.


Parking is expensive, but after-care and parking are still much less than what we are paying for daycare. My reluctance is that I work by the White House and it can get just so congested. I have never driven to work, but maybe it is not as bad as I imagine. I am going to try to do the drive tomorrow to the new school site and then to downtown with my toddler and see how it goes.


If you are in the area west of the White House there are numerous parking garages there and you won't have problems. I guess you will come in on Rhode Island and turn south at some point... anyway I think that will be a lot less stressful than driving back home and taking the bus - that sounds like it would wear me down.

Doesn't really answer your original question about the importance of commute vs quality (really tough question at that young age - quality begins to trump as the child ages). But hopefully this thread has made you more optimistic about the commute if you do decide IT.


Thank you! I will try it out tomorrow.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2014 19:26     Subject: Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
I think the location of IT is kind of a bummer. I test drove it from Mount Pleasant. 22 minutes to get there. Then for me the drive to work is another 25 minutes. SO much time in a car is not why I live in the city....
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2014 19:16     Subject: Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote: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.


Parking is expensive, but after-care and parking are still much less than what we are paying for daycare. My reluctance is that I work by the White House and it can get just so congested. I have never driven to work, but maybe it is not as bad as I imagine. I am going to try to do the drive tomorrow to the new school site and then to downtown with my toddler and see how it goes.


If you are in the area west of the White House there are numerous parking garages there and you won't have problems. I guess you will come in on Rhode Island and turn south at some point... anyway I think that will be a lot less stressful than driving back home and taking the bus - that sounds like it would wear me down.

Doesn't really answer your original question about the importance of commute vs quality (really tough question at that young age - quality begins to trump as the child ages). But hopefully this thread has made you more optimistic about the commute if you do decide IT.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2014 19:04     Subject: Re:Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
Anonymous wrote:
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.


You might want to test run that route. Those are some seriously long blocks, and a steep hill, from 16th Street to Bridges


Thanks! I actually did it with my toddler the other day. Not great, but okay. It will certainly get easier as she gets older. And I can always bring her in our frame pack if need be.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2014 19:02     Subject: Re:Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
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.


You might want to test run that route. Those are some seriously long blocks, and a steep hill, from 16th Street to Bridges
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2014 18:54     Subject: Getting to new Inspired Teaching location
Anonymous wrote: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.


Parking is expensive, but after-care and parking are still much less than what we are paying for daycare. My reluctance is that I work by the White House and it can get just so congested. I have never driven to work, but maybe it is not as bad as I imagine. I am going to try to do the drive tomorrow to the new school site and then to downtown with my toddler and see how it goes.