Anonymous
06/13/2016 13:25
Subject: Schools along the yellow line
Anonymous wrote:I think DcPs is no longer partnering with Filmore. If you are moving now, try to see if you can get into Breakthrough and rent in Petworth. You can drop kid off and take metro. Driving is crazy. Not worth it. The other schools mentioned have long waists and will be difficult to get into. The DCPS schools are not good (unless you want WEst of the park or on the Hill- both come with horrible commutes). Live in Arlington or silver spring. People flee DC because of the schools. This comes from a parent and DCPS teacher.
i didn't want to drive. i was just getting the impression that public trans was not worth using or something.
i assume your opinion is Breakthrough if I choose not to listen to your primary advice to live in VA/MD?
Anonymous
06/13/2016 13:23
Subject: Re:Schools along the yellow line
Anonymous wrote:A few things:
- If you live north of Capitol Hill, I can assure you that driving to Pentagon City during rush hour will suck. It will take you over an hour, likely almost 2 hours (each way) at rush hour. If you need to drive in to work one day, you will want to leave early or late to avoid the worst traffic.
- If you plan on skipping DC schools for the 16-17 year, renting somewhere with a well regarded inbound and doing the lottery next year makes sense. What you need to do now is search for rentals in your price range. It will be hard to find a two bedroom apartment in bounds for one of the highly regarded DCPS near the yellow or blue line for under $2500, but maybe you can find something in bounds for one of the hill schools. I think you'd have to pay more than $2500 for a two bedroom in bounds for Thomson, Hyde-Addison, Key, etc.
- IMO (others may disagree), although many DCPS tout their specialized programs and curricula, the program at each school is pretty much the same. (With the one exception being bilingual/immersion programs.) The big differences in the schools come from their location/student demographic. So while Raymond may have some arts program that sounds good on paper, I suspect your daily experience there will have more in common with schools that share its demographics but lack that arts program than with, say, some DCPS WOTP that has that arts program but draws a much higher income group of kids. (If others on this board disagree, I'd like to hear your opinions though . . . maybe my biases are speaking here.)
Wow, 2 hours. My intention was to not drive, but it seems that people think that even commuting from silver springs or DC to pentagon city is going to be hell.
i'm thinking maybe i'll just have to nova it. and even then up my price range. but i'm still looking into the suggestions.
Anonymous
06/12/2016 20:01
Subject: Schools along the yellow line
I think DcPs is no longer partnering with Filmore. If you are moving now, try to see if you can get into Breakthrough and rent in Petworth. You can drop kid off and take metro. Driving is crazy. Not worth it. The other schools mentioned have long waists and will be difficult to get into. The DCPS schools are not good (unless you want WEst of the park or on the Hill- both come with horrible commutes). Live in Arlington or silver spring. People flee DC because of the schools. This comes from a parent and DCPS teacher.
Anonymous
06/10/2016 12:54
Subject: Re:Schools along the yellow line
A few things:
- If you live north of Capitol Hill, I can assure you that driving to Pentagon City during rush hour will suck. It will take you over an hour, likely almost 2 hours (each way) at rush hour. If you need to drive in to work one day, you will want to leave early or late to avoid the worst traffic.
- If you plan on skipping DC schools for the 16-17 year, renting somewhere with a well regarded inbound and doing the lottery next year makes sense. What you need to do now is search for rentals in your price range. It will be hard to find a two bedroom apartment in bounds for one of the highly regarded DCPS near the yellow or blue line for under $2500, but maybe you can find something in bounds for one of the hill schools. I think you'd have to pay more than $2500 for a two bedroom in bounds for Thomson, Hyde-Addison, Key, etc.
- IMO (others may disagree), although many DCPS tout their specialized programs and curricula, the program at each school is pretty much the same. (With the one exception being bilingual/immersion programs.) The big differences in the schools come from their location/student demographic. So while Raymond may have some arts program that sounds good on paper, I suspect your daily experience there will have more in common with schools that share its demographics but lack that arts program than with, say, some DCPS WOTP that has that arts program but draws a much higher income group of kids. (If others on this board disagree, I'd like to hear your opinions though . . . maybe my biases are speaking here.)
- If you live north of Capitol Hill, I can assure you that driving to Pentagon City during rush hour will suck. It will take you over an hour, likely almost 2 hours (each way) at rush hour. If you need to drive in to work one day, you will want to leave early or late to avoid the worst traffic.
- If you plan on skipping DC schools for the 16-17 year, renting somewhere with a well regarded inbound and doing the lottery next year makes sense. What you need to do now is search for rentals in your price range. It will be hard to find a two bedroom apartment in bounds for one of the highly regarded DCPS near the yellow or blue line for under $2500, but maybe you can find something in bounds for one of the hill schools. I think you'd have to pay more than $2500 for a two bedroom in bounds for Thomson, Hyde-Addison, Key, etc.
- IMO (others may disagree), although many DCPS tout their specialized programs and curricula, the program at each school is pretty much the same. (With the one exception being bilingual/immersion programs.) The big differences in the schools come from their location/student demographic. So while Raymond may have some arts program that sounds good on paper, I suspect your daily experience there will have more in common with schools that share its demographics but lack that arts program than with, say, some DCPS WOTP that has that arts program but draws a much higher income group of kids. (If others on this board disagree, I'd like to hear your opinions though . . . maybe my biases are speaking here.)
Anonymous
06/10/2016 12:09
Subject: Re:Schools along the yellow line
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have been thinking about your post today, and how we had a similar decision to make a few years back, also wanting an urban environment.
Here is my advice.
Just move to downtown silver spring. The schools are decent and getting better. There's a vibrant community. The commute isn't the best, but it's not the worst. They have buses that will pick up and drop off your child, which will make your life much easier. There are some decent restaurants. Yes, it isn't a "real" city, but frankly, neither is DC. I would do this, or, if you could afford it, I would move inbound for Francis Stevens. It's a nice little school, it has a middle school, and your kid may test into the high school too... so you're done.
This is the advice I wish I had gotten a few years ago. Good luck.
Thanks so much. Silver spring was actually on my radar, particularly if the spouse ended up with a MD job.
The commute from SS to Crystal city will be hell
Anonymous
06/09/2016 17:59
Subject: Re:Schools along the yellow line
It is full of chain stores, and not very big, but it has great pho, great ethiopian, great nepalese, great dim sum, a fantastic irish pub that transcends pub grub, and a good farmer's market. And a movie theater. Like I said, it's small and it isn't "the city," but I am more impressed with how many things it seems to manage that "the city" does not. If you can find a house in one of its close in neighborhoods? I don't see how that could go wrong.
As a second best, I'd look to takoma, and takoma park. DC and maryland. Maryland would guarantee you the schools, and DC would give you charter. Despite the crazy wait list stuff you'll read here, there are still many charters you might get into. They may not go all the way through... but with a four year old, it would be a safe-ish bet that there will be options.
As a second best, I'd look to takoma, and takoma park. DC and maryland. Maryland would guarantee you the schools, and DC would give you charter. Despite the crazy wait list stuff you'll read here, there are still many charters you might get into. They may not go all the way through... but with a four year old, it would be a safe-ish bet that there will be options.
Anonymous
06/09/2016 17:29
Subject: Re:Schools along the yellow line
Anonymous wrote:I have been thinking about your post today, and how we had a similar decision to make a few years back, also wanting an urban environment.
Here is my advice.
Just move to downtown silver spring. The schools are decent and getting better. There's a vibrant community. The commute isn't the best, but it's not the worst. They have buses that will pick up and drop off your child, which will make your life much easier. There are some decent restaurants. Yes, it isn't a "real" city, but frankly, neither is DC. I would do this, or, if you could afford it, I would move inbound for Francis Stevens. It's a nice little school, it has a middle school, and your kid may test into the high school too... so you're done.
This is the advice I wish I had gotten a few years ago. Good luck.
Thanks so much. Silver spring was actually on my radar, particularly if the spouse ended up with a MD job.
Anonymous
06/09/2016 17:07
Subject: Schools along the yellow line
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There are very low chances of getting into any charter near a yellow line metro as a kindergartner (with the likely exception of Sela). A lot of kids come back from PK, and siblings have preference for any open spots. You can apply for a bunch of them in early 2017 and see where you get in, and then move close to a school if you're accepted. But there will be dozens if not hundreds of applications for a handful of slots. If you like a DCPS school, you just have to move in-bounds to be guaranteed a slot for kindergarten. But use the EBIS system on the DCPS website to check the address and make sure you're in-bounds for the school you want.
This. OP, since you aren't in DC yet you may not understand how the lottery works and how popular schools have become.
After reading some of the other threads before posting I was aware that some schools have long odds and waiting lists. But I didn't realize it was so difficult. I'm thinking the strategy would be to find a decent in-bound school and be ready to move if I want a charter and get into one that's not too far. For in-bound the currently touted schools seem to be in the western area and capitol hill, which I'm guessing are both expensive? I'll zillow those areas. Thr western part seems suburban and super-pricey... I haven't checked out capitol hill yet.
I meant to say I'd move if I got into a charter that WAS too far
All the areas with good IB school are really expensive, OP. You can rent a 2-bed apartment for $2,500+ generally. Buying a house is going to be north of $800,000 generally.
Anonymous
06/09/2016 17:03
Subject: Re:Schools along the yellow line
I have been thinking about your post today, and how we had a similar decision to make a few years back, also wanting an urban environment.
Here is my advice.
Just move to downtown silver spring. The schools are decent and getting better. There's a vibrant community. The commute isn't the best, but it's not the worst. They have buses that will pick up and drop off your child, which will make your life much easier. There are some decent restaurants. Yes, it isn't a "real" city, but frankly, neither is DC. I would do this, or, if you could afford it, I would move inbound for Francis Stevens. It's a nice little school, it has a middle school, and your kid may test into the high school too... so you're done.
This is the advice I wish I had gotten a few years ago. Good luck.
Here is my advice.
Just move to downtown silver spring. The schools are decent and getting better. There's a vibrant community. The commute isn't the best, but it's not the worst. They have buses that will pick up and drop off your child, which will make your life much easier. There are some decent restaurants. Yes, it isn't a "real" city, but frankly, neither is DC. I would do this, or, if you could afford it, I would move inbound for Francis Stevens. It's a nice little school, it has a middle school, and your kid may test into the high school too... so you're done.
This is the advice I wish I had gotten a few years ago. Good luck.
Anonymous
06/09/2016 14:10
Subject: Schools along the yellow line
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There are very low chances of getting into any charter near a yellow line metro as a kindergartner (with the likely exception of Sela). A lot of kids come back from PK, and siblings have preference for any open spots. You can apply for a bunch of them in early 2017 and see where you get in, and then move close to a school if you're accepted. But there will be dozens if not hundreds of applications for a handful of slots. If you like a DCPS school, you just have to move in-bounds to be guaranteed a slot for kindergarten. But use the EBIS system on the DCPS website to check the address and make sure you're in-bounds for the school you want.
This. OP, since you aren't in DC yet you may not understand how the lottery works and how popular schools have become.
After reading some of the other threads before posting I was aware that some schools have long odds and waiting lists. But I didn't realize it was so difficult. I'm thinking the strategy would be to find a decent in-bound school and be ready to move if I want a charter and get into one that's not too far. For in-bound the currently touted schools seem to be in the western area and capitol hill, which I'm guessing are both expensive? I'll zillow those areas. Thr western part seems suburban and super-pricey... I haven't checked out capitol hill yet.
I meant to say I'd move if I got into a charter that WAS too far
Anonymous
06/09/2016 14:06
Subject: Schools along the yellow line
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:There are very low chances of getting into any charter near a yellow line metro as a kindergartner (with the likely exception of Sela). A lot of kids come back from PK, and siblings have preference for any open spots. You can apply for a bunch of them in early 2017 and see where you get in, and then move close to a school if you're accepted. But there will be dozens if not hundreds of applications for a handful of slots. If you like a DCPS school, you just have to move in-bounds to be guaranteed a slot for kindergarten. But use the EBIS system on the DCPS website to check the address and make sure you're in-bounds for the school you want.
This. OP, since you aren't in DC yet you may not understand how the lottery works and how popular schools have become.
After reading some of the other threads before posting I was aware that some schools have long odds and waiting lists. But I didn't realize it was so difficult. I'm thinking the strategy would be to find a decent in-bound school and be ready to move if I want a charter and get into one that's not too far. For in-bound the currently touted schools seem to be in the western area and capitol hill, which I'm guessing are both expensive? I'll zillow those areas. Thr western part seems suburban and super-pricey... I haven't checked out capitol hill yet.
Anonymous
06/09/2016 13:22
Subject: Schools along the yellow line
Anonymous wrote:There are very low chances of getting into any charter near a yellow line metro as a kindergartner (with the likely exception of Sela). A lot of kids come back from PK, and siblings have preference for any open spots. You can apply for a bunch of them in early 2017 and see where you get in, and then move close to a school if you're accepted. But there will be dozens if not hundreds of applications for a handful of slots. If you like a DCPS school, you just have to move in-bounds to be guaranteed a slot for kindergarten. But use the EBIS system on the DCPS website to check the address and make sure you're in-bounds for the school you want.
This. OP, since you aren't in DC yet you may not understand how the lottery works and how popular schools have become.
Anonymous
06/09/2016 13:21
Subject: Schools along the yellow line
There are very low chances of getting into any charter near a yellow line metro as a kindergartner (with the likely exception of Sela). A lot of kids come back from PK, and siblings have preference for any open spots. You can apply for a bunch of them in early 2017 and see where you get in, and then move close to a school if you're accepted. But there will be dozens if not hundreds of applications for a handful of slots. If you like a DCPS school, you just have to move in-bounds to be guaranteed a slot for kindergarten. But use the EBIS system on the DCPS website to check the address and make sure you're in-bounds for the school you want.
Anonymous
06/09/2016 13:16
Subject: Schools along the yellow line
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Creative Minds family here - it's 1/2 a mile from the metro. But a bus line (h8) stops right in front of the school.
oh, it doesn't look too far after all! I don't know why I thought it looked farther on the map.
Keep in mind for a school like CMI, your chances of getting in are going to be low. The lottery for the 2016-2017 school year has been completed, so you'd have to wait until next year to enter the lottery and it's not a guarantee.
Anonymous
06/09/2016 13:13
Subject: Schools along the yellow line
Anonymous wrote:Creative Minds family here - it's 1/2 a mile from the metro. But a bus line (h8) stops right in front of the school.
oh, it doesn't look too far after all! I don't know why I thought it looked farther on the map.