Anonymous wrote:NP. I know about 50 "affluent AA families" from work, my neighborhood, and my kids' private school. For purposes of this discussion I'll define "affluent" as families with a HHI of about 250k or more. They all live in a wide assortment of neighborhoods throughout DC, MD, VA. I know it's a relatively small sample size, but I'm guessing "affluent AA families" don't congregate in particular neighborhoods. That suggests it would be hard to find any one neighborhood school with a greater than average number of "affluent AA families." Does that make sense? Are there any "affluent AA neighborhoods" people can name? I can think of several that are strong middle class AA neighborhoods, but none that are affluent. If people can think of one, then maybe it has the school OP is looking for.

Historically, the "Gold Coast" along 16th St. NW in DC--Crestwood, 16th St. Heights, Shepherd Park/Colonial Village/North Portal Estates for middle/upper middle class AAs. But, as noted earlier, many do private for schools (although this is starting to change in some of these areas).

But many more dispersed all around--WOTP, Chevy Chase, Somerset (Bethesda) neighborhood, Rockville, McLean, etc. to name a few places where I know folks.

NP. I know about 50 "affluent AA families" from work, my neighborhood, and my kids' private school. For purposes of this discussion I'll define "affluent" as families with a HHI of about 250k or more. They all live in a wide assortment of neighborhoods throughout DC, MD, VA. I know it's a relatively small sample size, but I'm guessing "affluent AA families" don't congregate in particular neighborhoods. That suggests it would be hard to find any one neighborhood school with a greater than average number of "affluent AA families." Does that make sense? Are there any "affluent AA neighborhoods" people can name? I can think of several that are strong middle class AA neighborhoods, but none that are affluent. If people can think of one, then maybe it has the school OP is looking for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're going private and are a lower middle class AA family, but this is probably the most useful information I've seen on this topic. Years ago, I considered renting within Murch (or Eaton) boundaries, because I had a feeling that it was probably our best shot at true diversity and high performing AA kids. The latter is what's most important to me and I will probably encourage DD to attend Banneker for HS as a result. Language immersion is the sole reason we're going private.

It seems that quite a few AA middle class and above opt to go private at some point. I know those that do elementary and junior high in private, and then go to Banneker for high school. i have heard this from parents who want their kids to have a more AA experience, or worry that their kids (boys in particularly) are becoming too into sports for their liking. If you want your child at an HBCU it may also be an easier transition. I also know those who opt out of public at junior high and high school because they feel that there may be too many challenging influences from kids that may be coming from less stable homes (there are a few DCUM threads that talk about this regarding Wilson from an AA and Latino perspective).

The OP is asking the question because some schools that are considered excellent don't do very well with AA kids.

We're considering Banneker so that she gets the HBCU experience at some point in life, if you know what I mean. Where she attends undergrad is ultimately her choice, so I would like for her to experience being around other likeminded AA kids at some point. I have colleagues whose AA kids have always been the only. What really struck me was meeting two families with AA sons that prefer not to socialize with other Black kids (unless from a similar background). One boy in particular was one of DD's closest friends. It's a long story, but it was a reminder to ensure that DD doesn't associate being Black with low performing or inferior. Unlike a PP, DD being an only at school IS a deal breaker for us. Our family is really diverse socioeconomically (Section 8 to upper class) and we're close-knit so DD needs to be comfortable maneuvering in different circles.

When I attended SWW, the top publics for high performing AA kids were Jefferson and Deal, fwiw.

Anonymous wrote:for working class: outer MoCo (like Germantown), southern MD, Prince William County, Frederick, Fredericksburg. It isn't DC. "middle class" white families in DC are still upper middle class in terms of educational level. I have seen white teachers (those with kids) living in Arlington, Silver Spring and Fairfax counties.

People (like you) do assume that white people in DC are all college graduates making $100k+, but that assumption is wrong.

Anonymous wrote:We're going private and are a lower middle class AA family, but this is probably the most useful information I've seen on this topic. Years ago, I considered renting within Murch (or Eaton) boundaries, because I had a feeling that it was probably our best shot at true diversity and high performing AA kids. The latter is what's most important to me and I will probably encourage DD to attend Banneker for HS as a result. Language immersion is the sole reason we're going private.

It seems that quite a few AA middle class and above opt to go private at some point. I know those that do elementary and junior high in private, and then go to Banneker for high school. i have heard this from parents who want their kids to have a more AA experience, or worry that their kids (boys in particularly) are becoming too into sports for their liking. If you want your child at an HBCU it may also be an easier transition. I also know those who opt out of public at junior high and high school because they feel that there may be too many challenging influences from kids that may be coming from less stable homes (there are a few DCUM threads that talk about this regarding Wilson from an AA and Latino perspective).

The OP is asking the question because some schools that are considered excellent don't do very well with AA kids.

Any interest in charters?

for working class: outer MoCo (like Germantown), southern MD, Prince William County, Frederick, Fredericksburg. It isn't DC. "middle class" white families in DC are still upper middle class in terms of educational level. I have seen white teachers (those with kids) living in Arlington, Silver Spring and Fairfax counties.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If someone had posted on here asking "Which DCPS elementary has the highest number of affluent white kids?" there would be 10 pages of people calling them racist right now. Just sayin'

Why would anyone here ask that question? Whether true or not, on DCUM white children in DC schools are assumed to be the product of affluent (or at least well educated) families.

Kind of tangential, but if all the white families in DC schools are well-educated and affluent, where do all the white construction workers, police officers, admin workers, teachers, etc. one sees everyday live? I'm guessing some far-flung suburb if not in DC?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shepherd and Cleveland for sure. Maybe Maury?

Hearst is 53% AA. Lafayette is only 11%, but it is a big school so not actually that many fewer black kids. I would guess that those who either live in the area or trek their kids to Lafayette from OOB have a lot of money (or possibly a lot of time + interest in using it on their kids' education, which is also good).

If you have a little kid, Van Ness seems to have a fair amount of racial and economic diversity. But there are a lot of people from one side of the boundary freaked out about the fact that kids from the other side mostly live in public housing. Hard to tell if it's racism and/or classism but it could lead to some awkward or painful moments. The school only reopens this year so time will tell.

I agree. Van Ness may be a very good option for PS3, PK4, and K. The leadership team and teachers they put together for the first year is phenomenal, and there seems to be a strong parents group already involved with the school. Also, Van Ness got like $20 Million in renovations for this summer and next summer, so the facilities should be nice too.

With the school not yet open, how are you truly able to answer OP's question this way? What affluent AA families are sending their children there? Having a school with affluent children and AA children is not the same as having a school with affluent AA children. Van Ness boosting is kind of cute, but getting to be very annoying.

I have been to several meetings of prospective parents. At the most recent one, the principal asked parents of enrolled students to raise their hands. I admit that I made some guesses about who was affluent based on things like the snacks they brought for their kids and the fanciness of their strollers.

Eaton has always seemed to me to have a number of well-connected AA families.

Anonymous wrote:If someone had posted on here asking "Which DCPS elementary has the highest number of affluent white kids?" there would be 10 pages of people calling them racist right now. Just sayin'

Why would anyone here ask that question? Whether true or not, on DCUM white children in DC schools are assumed to be the product of affluent (or at least well educated) families.

If someone had posted on here asking "Which DCPS elementary has the highest number of affluent white kids?" there would be 10 pages of people calling them racist right now. Just sayin'

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lafayette or Murch - best bets IMHO.

You're joking about Lafayette and Murch, right? I don't think OP wants her children to be the only Black kids in their class.

What's wrong with OP children or others being the only AA in their class? Are the other non-AA students unwelcoming? From my personal AA life experience and the personal life experiences of the other AA I know, we generally don't have a problem with our child being the only. What is most important for us is that if our child is going to be the only, that they get a high quality education and are treated fairly. However, I do personally know white parents who are extremely uncomfortable with their white child being the only in class of AA.

OP here. Thanks so much, everyone. This was incredibly helpful.

The affluent black DC families I know sent their kids private.