Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Diplomats do not pay taxes, neither do non-US citizen World Bank/ IMF/ IADB Staff. Not only that, I remember going shopping with an Embassy friend, long time ago. They do not have to pay sales taxes on their purchases. But kids can attend public school, just like any kid. Not only that, what amazed me was that we had a diplomatic family who just moved to DC (this was a few years back), and the kid got into PK-4 with the lottery, without speaking a word of English. While several long-time, tax-paying, DC residents did not get in.

If the kid got in through the lottery, it was a legitimate entry. Ability to speak English is not a prerequisite for public education.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Diplomats do not pay taxes, neither do non-US citizen World Bank/ IMF/ IADB Staff. Not only that, I remember going shopping with an Embassy friend, long time ago. They do not have to pay sales taxes on their purchases. But kids can attend public school, just like any kid. Not only that, what amazed me was that we had a diplomatic family who just moved to DC (this was a few years back), and the kid got into PK-4 with the lottery, without speaking a word of English. While several long-time, tax-paying, DC residents did not get in.

If the kid got in through the lottery, it was a legitimate entry. Ability to speak English is not a prerequisite for public education.

In this area lots of kids who are not kids of diplomats come from abroad and also don’t speak English at the start. And whether from abroad, Wyoming, or N. Va, a new resident to DC has as much right to a lottery spot as someone here for years or generations. If you don’t like that rule, lobby the DC government to create a longer residency requirement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Diplomats do not pay taxes, neither do non-US citizen World Bank/ IMF/ IADB Staff. Not only that, I remember going shopping with an Embassy friend, long time ago. They do not have to pay sales taxes on their purchases. But kids can attend public school, just like any kid. Not only that, what amazed me was that we had a diplomatic family who just moved to DC (this was a few years back), and the kid got into PK-4 with the lottery, without speaking a word of English. While several long-time, tax-paying, DC residents did not get in.

If the kid got in through the lottery, it was a legitimate entry. Ability to speak English is not a prerequisite for public education.

Anonymous wrote:Diplomats do not pay taxes, neither do non-US citizen World Bank/ IMF/ IADB Staff. Not only that, I remember going shopping with an Embassy friend, long time ago. They do not have to pay sales taxes on their purchases. But kids can attend public school, just like any kid. Not only that, what amazed me was that we had a diplomatic family who just moved to DC (this was a few years back), and the kid got into PK-4 with the lottery, without speaking a word of English. While several long-time, tax-paying, DC residents did not get in.

Anonymous wrote:Maybe those diplomat plates at times are drivers who drop their kids off at school (and not necessarily the diplomat).

Would a driver get diplomatic immunity if a non-dc resident, but non-diplomat?

Anonymous wrote:Diplomats do not pay taxes, neither do non-US citizen World Bank/ IMF/ IADB Staff. Not only that, I remember going shopping with an Embassy friend, long time ago. They do not have to pay sales taxes on their purchases. But kids can attend public school, just like any kid. Not only that, what amazed me was that we had a diplomatic family who just moved to DC (this was a few years back), and the kid got into PK-4 with the lottery, without speaking a word of English. While several long-time, tax-paying, DC residents did not get in.

Anonymous wrote:Diplomat here - we do not pay income taxes and most of us do not pay sales taxes either (depends on the country though). This is based on reciprocity (US diplomats do not pay taxes abroad either, and US Embassies usually have much more personnel overseas than we do here!) Having said that, most of my colleagues and friends’ children attend DC public schools (some go to Maryland or Virginia’s schools) and my son will hopefully get a spot in pk3 for the next academic year (yes, we also have to suffer from DC lottery stress even though in my country of origin I would have an excellent PK spot guaranteed, along with very affordable health care! ). Most people send their kids to the school close to the Embassy because that is usually our official address.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I daresay there would be more kids from diplomatic families in Maryland and Virginia as most embassies do not fund private school. Some do, especially where it is believed that the kids would be disadvantaged when transitioning back to the school systems in their home countries due to significant differences. Others also fund private schooling where the diplomatic families are forced to live in owned residences which are located in school districts in D.C. which are seen as unfavourable. This usually only pertains to senior staff.

There is another factor at work. Some countries require their families with children rent only in two school districts. Neither is DCPS.

Anonymous wrote:I daresay there would be more kids from diplomatic families in Maryland and Virginia as most embassies do not fund private school. Some do, especially where it is believed that the kids would be disadvantaged when transitioning back to the school systems in their home countries due to significant differences. Others also fund private schooling where the diplomatic families are forced to live in owned residences which are located in school districts in D.C. which are seen as unfavourable. This usually only pertains to senior staff.