The Obama family on Tuesday appeared closer to settling into Washington, with the two girls touring area private schools and turning up at the White House to see their new home.
Michelle Obama has been in town since Sunday with daughters Malia, 10 and Sasha, 7. The threesome visited Georgetown Day School on Monday and Sidwell Friends on Tuesday – both schools Michelle Obama had checked out previously.
Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, joined them for a private tour of the White House. Once the family moves in, the president-elect’s mother-in-law is expected to live there at least part of the time.
The Obamas have said that finding the right school for their girls is a top priority. Citing privacy, neither Sidwell nor Georgetown Day is commenting.
“As with any potential applicant, we never discuss personal information,” said Ashley Hair, spokeswoman for Georgetown Day School. “The privacy of our community is vitally important to us.”
Ellis Turner, associate head of school at Sidwell, said “We don’t discuss admissions inquiries or any of the students in our schools.”
Registering the Obama girls would be a major coup for whatever local private school they choose. By the time the Bush family got to Washington in 2000, their twin girls were off at college. Chelsea Clinton attended Sidwell Friends, and Amy Carter went to public school.
The Obama girls currently attend the University of Chicago Lab School, a private school.
In an interview earlier this week with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” Michelle Obama sidestepped a question about whether they had considered public school for the girls.
“You know, we’re still in the process of figuring out that transition,” she said. “And what we have asked people to understand is that the decision that we make will be based on the best interest of the girls. We haven’t made that decision yet. And you know, we want that to be a personal process.”
When the Obamas toured the White House last week, both parents were keen to see the rooms their daughters would sleep in.
The family living quarters on the second floor includes two adjacent bedrooms with large windows and a history of serving as the bedrooms of Amy Carter, Chelsea Clinton, Tricia Nixon, Susan Ford, Caroline Kennedy, John Kennedy Jr. and other presidential offspring.
“I couldn’t help but envisioning the girls running into their rooms and, you know, running down the hall and with a dog,” Michelle Obama said on CBS. “And, you know, you start picturing your life there. And our hope is that the White House will feel open and fun and full of life and energy.”
President-elect Barack Obama added, “and sleepovers.”
