We rent an apartment next to decent schools.

Anonymous wrote:Idk what you’re defining as middle class, but I consider us middle class ($375k HHI). Moved from DC to Loudoun. Great schools, big lot, safe neighborhood. Only have to be in the office 1-2 times a month, so worth it for us.

Are we really not going to comment on $375k being called middle class?

My kids go to Title 1 MS and ES. My kids are both doing really well academically and have (actually diverse) friends, and they like school. DC has a lot of options for selective HS, so depending on what my kids want to do when they get to that point, they’ll apply there or they will go to our in-bounds of Eastern and do the EPIC Program/IB Program. I have found that talking to families with kids who go to these schools (and haven’t just read about them here) has provided me the best information and the most comfort that these schools will be solid options for my kids.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Private is too expensive but good pyramids are also too expensive but people don’t want kids in bad schools so what do people do?

How are you any different than the people who send their kids to the schools in the neighborhoods you can afford? Are they not middle class, and you are?

Some are, but all schools in my pyramid are 60% FARMS or more so technically no.

so they are your peers, as you live in the same pyramid as them. Where we go, where are are, is what we are.

If OP wanted to live below their means then that would make sense. Honestly, in the dc area it seems it’s either expensive for good schools, or affordable by this area’s standards but horrible schools, really no middle ground. Also, op a middle class person and someone who lives in a subsidized apartment are gonna have two completely different experiences.

That's the issue, people feel like they are lost in this unserved "middle" that actually doesn't exist. You are either the lower class, or the higher class.

So would 100-150k be lower class?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private is too expensive but good pyramids are also too expensive but people don’t want kids in bad schools so what do people do?

How are you any different than the people who send their kids to the schools in the neighborhoods you can afford? Are they not middle class, and you are?

Some are, but all schools in my pyramid are 60% FARMS or more so technically no.

so they are your peers, as you live in the same pyramid as them. Where we go, where are are, is what we are.

If OP wanted to live below their means then that would make sense. Honestly, in the dc area it seems it’s either expensive for good schools, or affordable by this area’s standards but horrible schools, really no middle ground. Also, op a middle class person and someone who lives in a subsidized apartment are gonna have two completely different experiences.

That's the issue, people feel like they are lost in this unserved "middle" that actually doesn't exist. You are either the lower class, or the higher class.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private is too expensive but good pyramids are also too expensive but people don’t want kids in bad schools so what do people do?

How are you any different than the people who send their kids to the schools in the neighborhoods you can afford? Are they not middle class, and you are?

Some are, but all schools in my pyramid are 60% FARMS or more so technically no.

so they are your peers, as you live in the same pyramid as them. Where we go, where are are, is what we are.

If OP wanted to live below their means then that would make sense. Honestly, in the dc area it seems it’s either expensive for good schools, or affordable by this area’s standards but horrible schools, really no middle ground. Also, op a middle class person and someone who lives in a subsidized apartment are gonna have two completely different experiences.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private is too expensive but good pyramids are also too expensive but people don’t want kids in bad schools so what do people do?

How are you any different than the people who send their kids to the schools in the neighborhoods you can afford? Are they not middle class, and you are?

Some are, but all schools in my pyramid are 60% FARMS or more so technically no.

so they are your peers, as you live in the same pyramid as them. Where we go, where are are, is what we are.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Private is too expensive but good pyramids are also too expensive but people don’t want kids in bad schools so what do people do?

How are you any different than the people who send their kids to the schools in the neighborhoods you can afford? Are they not middle class, and you are?

Some are, but all schools in my pyramid are 60% FARMS or more so technically no.

Anonymous wrote:Private is too expensive but good pyramids are also too expensive but people don’t want kids in bad schools so what do people do?

How are you any different than the people who send their kids to the schools in the neighborhoods you can afford? Are they not middle class, and you are?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Idk what you’re defining as middle class, but I consider us middle class ($375k HHI). Moved from DC to Loudoun. Great schools, big lot, safe neighborhood. Only have to be in the office 1-2 times a month, so worth it for us.

Like 100-150k yr what do they do?

I make 138k and send my kid to a catholic high school, I rent, and have 2 jobs.

HHI 140k.

We live in a condo in the city and lucked into a great elementary via lottery. We will lottery for one of three public MS we find acceptable when the time comes, and if we don't get in, we have a plan to move to a lower cost city near my ILs where we can afford to live in a good school district. We have some career options that would make that feasible.

I think DH would be fine just sending our kids to mediocre-to-bad MS and HS in DC, but I am not so we have a backup plan.

I make $95k as a public school teacher. I send my kid to a parochial school. We get some FA. I work 2 jobs to afford it.