Why we opted out of public school (for now)

I’m an all-around believer in the public school system. Yet this fall I opted to send my son to a private school in Maryland. We failed at the charter school lottery, and our neighborhood school isn’t a good fit. And ultimately, my decision was made easier by the fact that next year, we can think it all over again.

I was always a public school kid. From kindergarten through high school, then right on through college, it was public school for me. Growing up in suburban Chicago, I had a first-rate education within walking distance of my house. And I’m a former DCPS and charter school teacher.

I believe that every child is entitled to an excellent, free education, and it is only when parents invest in their local schools that this can be a reality. Why, then, does my 3-year-old son, born and bred in Washington, attend a Catholic preschool in Hyattsville? Well, let me tell you:

1. He didn’t get in. As a former DC charter school teacher, I was not intimidated by the charter application process. I looked at all the possibilities, ruled out the ones that were too far away, and filled out application after application. And guess what? He did not get into a single school that I applied to. At Latin American Montessori Bilingual (LAMB), my top choice, his lottery number was somewhere north of 700.

2. I was looking for added value. I am a teacher-turned-stay-at-home-mom. I have a one-year-old in addition to my son, so I knew that I wasn’t going back to work this year. I like being home with my children. So, if I was going to send my boy off for a large part of every day, I wanted to know that he was getting something that he couldn’t get at home. A dual-language program would have met this criterion, or perhaps one with expeditionary learning. The school that our family opted for has a traditional Montessori program for 3- to 6-year-olds, which is well-suited to my son’s personality.

3. Our neighborhood school was not a good fit. We live in Eckington, and our neighborhood school, Langley Education Campus, can be charitably described as “up and coming.” There is a cohort of involved parents, some dedicated teachers, and a new principal. In a few years, I think it is going to be great. Even now, it is a safe, learning-filled place. For parents who need to send their kids to school for 7 hours a day, it is no doubt better (and much more affordable) than daycare. But my son just turned 3 in September, and to send him off all day, every day, seemed like too much. His preschool is a half-day program (with a full-day option), which gives us lots of time in the afternoons to pursue his other interests.

4. It’s a one-year decision. There were some agonizing moments this summer as I contemplated my son’s school destination. After all, what more important role do we have as parents than helping our children find their path in life, beginning with school? When I took a step back, though, I saw that I wasn’t determining his future with this one decision. Our family may stay in DC, or we may not. Next year, I may feel like our neighborhood school is a better fit. Or, by some miracle, we may win that coveted spot at LAMB. In the end, our family chose what we thought was best, for now. Next year? We’ll wade in those waters when we get there.

Other DC families, what has been your school choice experience? GGE would love to hear about it, so please share your story in the comments below. Or click on “Contribute” at the top right-hand side of this page for information about submitting a guest post.