OP again. The adorable bungalow is sadly a scam . I obviously tried to get in touch IMMEDIATELY!!!!

OP here. Thanks for the continued advice.

I'm a little confused by those who think I'm paying $20K for the school? For one, the 3 day program doesn't cost near that even without the FA. Second, if we didn't get enough FA to make it affordable, then we're obviously going to have to turn it down. It's not like I suddenly will find an extra $800 a month lying around that could be going to rent... The absolute most we can afford for childcare per month is $1200. That means no savings and having a very tough time. But because childcare is so expensive, that's what we pay right now and we make it work by living very carefully and within our means. So if the FA we're offered doesn't allow us to pay that - INCLUDING what we'd be paying a 15 hour/wk sitter - then we obviously turn it down. So that's not the issue, the issue is just whether it's worth it logistically. I've been getting great answers on that, and thank you for them.

To those talking about the DC lottery, I'll be honest and say that I'm scared but have every intention of trying. I have a lot of friends where I live, and we're not in a good school district. I have seen many, MANY of them lose both the elementary lottery and the charter lottery two years in a row. I have to admit that I am terrified of relying on a lottery when I have an admission. And this coming year, either way I have to pay because my son isn't old enough for the preschool. I will obviously do both the lottery and the charter lottery next year, when he is eligible, but wouldn't I take a bird in the hand while I've got it? If I get into a good school, we can always leave if the logistics and money just aren't working out for us, right?

To the PP who said I was whining about not being able to find anything, I am thankful for your link and that was great. But if you look at my post, I was hardly whining. I said I had a coffee break (so a short time) and I searched around. I looked at craigslist, padmapper, rent, and homesdatabase. Obviously a more exhaustive search may have uncovered something I missed, but I was hardly whining and saying "ANYWHERE." I simply said that on my search, I didn't see anything less than that. But I'll just admit upfront that I don't know anything about that school district. Not everyone has your level of knowledge and you shouldn't expect that. I am quite educated for my background, and am trying to become moreso, but it's not a very fair judgment on your part. Thank you for sharing, but it would have been nice to have left it at that rather than just assuming I was whining. Not sure I know what that's about.

I think competition to get into an "Elite preschool" only exists in a few cities that are overpopulated with relatively wealthy and hyperachieving parents such as NY and DC. "Elite preschools" is only going to feed your child into an even more expensive school and does not guarantee success in later life.

Anonymous wrote:Most Pre-schools don't teach kids much about math and reading; I belive parents can do a much better job. I recommend going to the local library and check out children's books and read it to your toddler everyday and supplement math skills with age appropriate workbooks.

I would also recommend setting up playdates at least twice a week to supplement social skills.

Most Pre-schools don't teach kids much about math and reading; I belive parents can do a much better job. I recommend going to the local library and check out children's books and read it to your toddler everyday and supplement math skills with age appropriate workbooks.

i really think you are over thinking the value of an elite preschool. Preschool is for socialization first and foremost. Quite frankly, since you are a concerned parent the pre-academic skills that are emphasized such as letter recognition, counting to 10, phonemic awareness you will be doing at home and will be covered in school. My #1 requirement in preschool is proximity to my house. Trust me, your kid is not going to want to shlep 45 minutes each way to get there...think about how you could you that car time more constructively and pick a closer preschool.

Anonymous wrote:Here's a Foxhall Rd (Key?) Bungalow for $1000:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/2901321786.html

PP, this looks like a really cute little house for the money.
If DH wasn't ensconsed, I would be tempted LOL

Here's a Foxhall Rd (Key?) Bungalow for $1000:

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/2901321786.html

Here's one for Glover Park (Stoddert): $1675/Mo 1 bd + Den

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/apa/2893538565.html

Anonymous wrote:OP has already said she can't afford rent in a neighborhood near the kinds of schools she'd like to send her DC to.

But she can spend $20K on 1/2 day preschool and then some for a nanny during off hours? Let's find out with the FA package first, then decide if she can afford to rent a small apartment in a good school district.

Given that you don't know where both parents work (and OP does), I'm more inclined to take her word on the rent issue than yours.

14:19 here (again). I strongly urge you to consider finding something affordable IN DC for a few reasons. If you are not averse to moving, that is. DC offers free preschool and although competition for the public programs is cut throat in higher income neighborhoods there are tons of GREAT charter options in the early childhood level. You have to do your research of course and it's possibly too late for this year, although I wouldn't count myself out if I were you. Yes, the lotteries have a deadline, but if you're interested in a school ask about their waitlist policy. At the school DD currently attends she did not place in the lottery, but once the lottery was completed space was available on a first come first serve basis. She got a spot in PS becauase her file was complete the day OF the lottery. Don't assume that charter schools kids don't get into top private schools because it's not true.

And I've already posted a link to at least one large apartment community, in a highly desired school district, and less than 45 minutes from NCRC for $6.00 more a month than she's currently paying.

As someone who has been in the same situation, I can tell you that options do exist. The "there's nothing under $2100 ANYWHERE!!!!" whine is not accurate.

OP has already said she can't afford rent in a neighborhood near the kinds of schools she'd like to send her DC to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If it's NCRC, it's a big leg up in getting into schools like Beauvoir, Sidwell, Maret and GDS, but not a guarantee by any means. It's also a wonderful experience in and of itself, for the child and the family (great community). But for OP, hard to say if it's worth the commute and difficult logistics. Will/would it be more manageable a year on, when your DC is there a full day? If so, it might be worth the short-term hassle.

Great! So then you get to deal with the same situation for the next 12+ years, multipled in spades because all of the schools you mention are $30K per year. And equally far from OP.

Those schools aren't $30K when you qualify for aid; they cost whatever the aid formulas determine your family can afford to pay. And OP seemed to be saying it was the half day that made the logistics difficult. Fwiw, I come from a background like OP's and somewhat accidentally fell onto the private school track. We applied to NCRC because we lived a few blocks away, having no idea it was a feeder to the kinds of schools our kids now attend. Once we saw what NCRC and these ongoing schools had to offer, we made the choice to make it work financially, even though it means a fair amount of sacrifice. We don't have the logistics issues that OP has, but I'm saying that I completely understand the appeal. It has been worth it for us.

There is a big difference, IMO, between choosing an expensive preschool if it is also your neighborhood preschool, and schlepping 45 minutes each way for a 1/2 day expensive preschool program when your work schedules aren't flexible. If OP wants to reap the socio-economic benefits from going to this preschool, I would suggest that instead she use that money to rent in a good neighborhood, where her child will still gain those benefits AND have the benefit of a good neighborhood public elementary, without losing the opportunity to apply to upper-tier schools in the future.