Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:buying is a waste of your money for less than 5 years.

Not necessarily in DC. We have owned our Petworth row house less than five years and it's appreciated $350k.

it's just luck though. We bought in 2010 (near bottom of market) and lost money after agent fees. owned 4 years.

Be honest -- you didn't buy in the District, right?

Maury is just such an amazing and warm place.

OP, you list the ideal school we all want and that so many of us contribute on a daily basis to create. Some schools are closer to that ideal than others but none will ever achieve it, very simply because what you describe is a "process", not a "state". Hill-side I would say just about any school comes with quite a bit of warm fuzz, because it's just a fuzzy neighborhood. Though, as a reasonably long-term resident, I encounter more abrasiveness these days, the kind that comes with "I paid for this, so get out of my way". But it's still the exception and frankly sometimes also warranted.

With all this said, I'd say Maury for the following reasons: the warm and fuzzy portion you mention (because it's got a long tradition in that respect, dating back several principalships and at least one generation of teachers); your "tests-okay-but-let's-be-real" ideal, and a standing track-record with differentiation and some acceleration pushed into the classroom. But if you feel like you're asked to pay way too much for that, try Miner. It's got all of these same ingredients, with just a bit more consolidation and parental activism to go. In return, it comes with more space (literally and figuratively) and more opportunities to make a difference.

Don't discount that you may want to stick around beyond elementary. Your family may build lasting relationships and your older one my start enjoying some early independence getting to and fro that an urban environment offers. But I agree with you that planning for that in some way is non-sense, especially in DC, where new options come and go each year.

Anonymous wrote:I think either private or Brent (on the Hill) but only till 3rd grade. The upper NW schools are large and foster independence over "warm and fuzzy." I know people who love Brent, and it is much smaller, but people start defecting at 3rd. So, if you are going private in 6th anyway, why not just start now.

We did a private until we moved to DC and you pay for your and your little snowflake's hand holding. It was a bit shocking to move to our large elementary but not because of academics. It was precisely because she had to figure things out, had to ask for things, and be independent. The school community is wonderful, but warm and fuzzy in the classroom it is not.

This is antique advice. When someone explicitly says they sent their kids to a NW DC school and then starts spouting of about hill schools discount all that advice immediately.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Brent, Maury

Hit submit too soon. Live in bounds for one of these and then try to lottery in to SWS. SWS is all lottery, no boundaries. But if you live in bounds for Maury or Brent you will have excellent back ups.

She listed "fairly diverse" first on the list. SWS is the least diverse school in all of DCPS.

Unless we've re-defined "diverse" to mean "black or latino" then NO.

I agree that Hearst could be perfect, from everything I've heard about it. We're at Murch, and it aligns with most of your wants but is really big and is about to undergo massive renovation, so Hearst might be a better bet. Both feed Deal for MS.

Eaton

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:buying is a waste of your money for less than 5 years.

Not necessarily in DC. We have owned our Petworth row house less than five years and it's appreciated $350k.

it's just luck though. We bought in 2010 (near bottom of market) and lost money after agent fees. owned 4 years.

that said, I think 8 was the magic number for us - when our miniscule appreciation turned into us breaking even. this is DC btw. not everything, and espeically not older condos, appreciate

Yes, and no guarantee that next 5 years will be like the past 5 years. Very unlikely that the current pace of appreciation in some neighborhoods is sustainable.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe play for lottery for a school and then decided, but if you buy IB for Brent or Muray you will be ok.

Why is it that every urban pioneer is looking for "diversity"? It's becoming a broken record already.

Living in the city alone exposes you to a lot of diversity.

This is so absolutely NOT TRUE. If you stay in a lily white bubble of WOTP/Bethesda you will NOT be exposed to a lot of diversity--unless you are talking about diversity of hair color.

I think either private or Brent (on the Hill) but only till 3rd grade. The upper NW schools are large and foster independence over "warm and fuzzy." I know people who love Brent, and it is much smaller, but people start defecting at 3rd. So, if you are going private in 6th anyway, why not just start now.

We did a private until we moved to DC and you pay for your and your little snowflake's hand holding. It was a bit shocking to move to our large elementary but not because of academics. It was precisely because she had to figure things out, had to ask for things, and be independent. The school community is wonderful, but warm and fuzzy in the classroom it is not.