Who has kids and lives in DC? Where do you send them?

[dbaggs]

Since it doesn't seem like many people are answering this poll, I thought I'd dive in.

I have two kids aged 6 and 11. They are going to Deal MS and Lafayette ES. This will be the first year for both of them as we've moved from the Canadian Public school system to the American.

I'm really nervous about sending my oldest to Deal. I've heard very conflicting things about that school. Our philosophy is to try it for a year and if its not working we'll pay for a private school.

I'm not worried about Lafayette. It seems like a pretty good school.

Any comments about Deal or Lafayette?

On another note, my oldest kid love lacrosse and was wondering if they have teams at the middle school level.

[Moth]

Originally Posted by dbaggs

Since it doesn't seem like many people are answering this poll, I thought I'd dive in.

I have two kids aged 6 and 11. They are going to Deal MS and Lafayette ES. This will be the first year for both of them as we've moved from the Canadian Public school system to the American.

I'm really nervous about sending my oldest to Deal. I've heard very conflicting things about that school. Our philosophy is to try it for a year and if its not working we'll pay for a private school.

I'm not worried about Lafayette. It seems like a pretty good school.

Any comments about Deal or Lafayette?

On another note, my oldest kid love lacrosse and was wondering if they have teams at the middle school level.

I went to Murch, but Lafayette is excellent. No worries there.

I went on to Deal and a bigger hellhole would be hard to imagine. At one point, I had to bring a knife although I luckilly never pulled it. Some good teachers and some seriously bad ones.

Granted that was the late 70s. But it was also before crack, guns, and metal detectors. I have a hard time believing Deal is any better now. Were that so, folks like you would not be asking the question and more would have answered.

[dbaggs]

OMG.... Thanks for the honest reply.

We'll really need to sit down and think this through in the next few weeks.

There is no way I'll be sending my kids to anything that is remotely close to what your describing. We really don't have a lot of money but will go into debt to ensure a safe and productive enovironment to learn.

[DCadvocate]

Originally Posted by chicagotodc

An interesting discussion. I live in the Janney district and intend to send my kids to public school up until middle school and then will look for alternative options. It is my understanding that Janney is perfectly fine and the real issues only show up after that. We shall see.

I admit I'm a little concerned about it - I balk at the idea of spending $30,000 to send my kid to a private like Sidwell. My income, while certainly good, I think is probably a little below average for the neighborhood im in (a lot of world bankers, etc) - and there's no way I can afford $30K post tax year after year. I suppose anything can be done, but it would be quite a stretch. At the same time, I absolutely love where I live and I have no intention whatsoever of moving to VA or MD unless there's truly no other option.

We considered Mclean, Arlington, etc when we moved here based on recommendations that they had good schools, but I found McLean to be a suicidally depressing collection of cul-de-sacs and Arlington a grossly overpriced juicy-pants infested planned community. Neither came close to having the charm and feel of NW DC. Forget Fairfax, Burke, Annandale, Falls Church etc -- those really felt like deep suburbia.

I may well eat those words one day, but if my income can keep pace and give me choices, my choice is to stay in DC. For all the hate that gets flung around on the site, I actually love the city.

Where is Janey District?