Do You Live in North Ridge, Alexandria?

[Anonymous]

Debating between this neighborhood and North Arlington. Seems your money goes much farther here than Arlington and frankly, I think it's much prettier here (unless of course we are talking about Country Club Hills). I am curious about people's experience with the neighborhood including their experience with the elementary and middle schools. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

I think people call it Beverly Hills or rosemont. Never heard it called north ridge before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Debating between this neighborhood and North Arlington. Seems your money goes much farther here than Arlington and frankly, I think it's much prettier here (unless of course we are talking about Country Club Hills). I am curious about people's experience with the neighborhood including their experience with the elementary and middle schools. Thank you.

Yes, true. The school premium in Arlington is about $150,00 or $200,000 for a comparable property in Alexandria City.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I'm in North Ridge. It includes Beverly Hills, Jefferson Park and the Braddock Heights neighborhoods of Alexandria City. Love the school (George Mason) and my neighborhood. We originally looked in North Arlington, but so glad we landed here. What do you want to know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I'm in North Ridge. It includes Beverly Hills, Jefferson Park and the Braddock Heights neighborhoods of Alexandria City. Love the school (George Mason) and my neighborhood. We originally looked in North Arlington, but so glad we landed here. What do you want to know?

Mostly about the schools, especially elementary. Glad to hear you like the school. What do you like about it specifically? Do you have a sense of what people do for middle school (stay public or spring for private?) Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I'm in North Ridge. It includes Beverly Hills, Jefferson Park and the Braddock Heights neighborhoods of Alexandria City. Love the school (George Mason) and my neighborhood. We originally looked in North Arlington, but so glad we landed here. What do you want to know?

Mostly about the schools, especially elementary. Glad to hear you like the school. What do you like about it specifically? Do you have a sense of what people do for middle school (stay public or spring for private?) Thanks.

We love that George Mason is truly a neighborhood school and that there are incredibly involved parents/neighbors as well as lots of extra-curricular options sponsored by the PTA. The test scores are great and the principal (Kevin West) is open to meeting with parents about any issue. The playground is a social scene in the afternoons and all summer long...for all ages.

I can't speak personally about GW because my kids are still in elementary, but my friends who do have kids going this year are impressed thus far. The school gets a lot of bad press on this listserv, but not so much around town, so I am not sure what's up with the gossip rumors. The math scores went down last year, which definitely stirred up drama on the VA schools board and I haven't been able to get to the bottom of that yet. That said, most of the kids who are in public elementary with my kids are planning to go public at least through middle school. Some neighborhood folks go Catholic (St. Ritas, St. Mary's, Blessed Sacrament) and some go to St. Stephens/St. Agnes (which is in our neighborhood).

I would really suggest that you make an appointment to talk to Principal West before deciding about schools and neighborhoods. There are lots of anonymous people on these boards with strong opinions about the particulars of schools, but I think often you can get a sense of a school and whether it's a good fit just by spending some time inside the walls of the school. Also hang out in the afternoons during pick-up to see what is going on. We did this for several schools before our kids entered elementary and what we witnessed often didn't fit with our values. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I'm in North Ridge. It includes Beverly Hills, Jefferson Park and the Braddock Heights neighborhoods of Alexandria City. Love the school (George Mason) and my neighborhood. We originally looked in North Arlington, but so glad we landed here. What do you want to know?

Mostly about the schools, especially elementary. Glad to hear you like the school. What do you like about it specifically? Do you have a sense of what people do for middle school (stay public or spring for private?) Thanks.

We love that George Mason is truly a neighborhood school and that there are incredibly involved parents/neighbors as well as lots of extra-curricular options sponsored by the PTA. The test scores are great and the principal (Kevin West) is open to meeting with parents about any issue. The playground is a social scene in the afternoons and all summer long...for all ages.

I can't speak personally about GW because my kids are still in elementary, but my friends who do have kids going this year are impressed thus far. The school gets a lot of bad press on this listserv, but not so much around town, so I am not sure what's up with the gossip rumors. The math scores went down last year, which definitely stirred up drama on the VA schools board and I haven't been able to get to the bottom of that yet. That said, most of the kids who are in public elementary with my kids are planning to go public at least through middle school. Some neighborhood folks go Catholic (St. Ritas, St. Mary's, Blessed Sacrament) and some go to St. Stephens/St. Agnes (which is in our neighborhood).

I would really suggest that you make an appointment to talk to Principal West before deciding about schools and neighborhoods. There are lots of anonymous people on these boards with strong opinions about the particulars of schools, but I think often you can get a sense of a school and whether it's a good fit just by spending some time inside the walls of the school. Also hang out in the afternoons during pick-up to see what is going on. We did this for several schools before our kids entered elementary and what we witnessed often didn't fit with our values. Good luck!

PP, telling the OP that GW doesn't get badmouthed around town is a lie. You should at least prepare her for the reality.

GW causes a lot of concern among Alexandria parents, no matter how you slice it.

[Anonymous]

Oh, look! Just as PP predicted, here comes the hate mongering on this listserv!

OP, I basically came on to +1000 what the PP said. There is a vocal minority on DCUM that have it in for ACPS, and the middle schools in particular. My experience in another Alexandria neighborhood is the same as PP. With a few exceptions, the vast majority of families are planning to continue with ACPS when their children reach middle school.

You can search the forums, and you will find a pattern repeated again and again of some people posting to say ACPS is "bad" and then parents with children currently enrolled posting to give very specific details on why they are happy with the schools.

Agree strongly with PP that you should visit the schools. They are more than happy to meet with you and arrange a tour. (Both elementary and middle).

Good luck with your house hunting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, look! Just as PP predicted, here comes the hate mongering on this listserv!

OP, I basically came on to +1000 what the PP said. There is a vocal minority on DCUM that have it in for ACPS, and the middle schools in particular. My experience in another Alexandria neighborhood is the same as PP. With a few exceptions, the vast majority of families are planning to continue with ACPS when their children reach middle school.

You can search the forums, and you will find a pattern repeated again and again of some people posting to say ACPS is "bad" and then parents with children currently enrolled posting to give very specific details on why they are happy with the schools.

Agree strongly with PP that you should visit the schools. They are more than happy to meet with you and arrange a tour. (Both elementary and middle).

Good luck with your house hunting.

Actually, I think it's the other way around -- the general consensus is the middle schools in Alexandria are a big problem. Not just on DCUM.

There is a very loud handful (like two or three) people on DCUM who think if they yell loudly they'll somehow sound like the default. But the truth is pretty much everyone I know and live with in Alexandria fears the middle schools and are actively making plans to move or go private before then. A couple tough it out and rationalize by saying that if their kids survive GW/Hammond/TC Williams, they will somehow stick out on college applications. A few people also make the "demographics are changing" argument.

But it doesn't change the fact that there is real anxiety among ES parents about the middle schools. I will agree everyone should check it out for themselves and make their own decision. But to pretend that this isn't a widespread belief in Alexandria is just foolish. And OP should know that if she's considering property there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Actually, I think it's the other way around -- the general consensus is the middle schools in Alexandria are a big problem. Not just on DCUM.

There is a very loud handful (like two or three) people on DCUM who think if they yell loudly they'll somehow sound like the default. But the truth is pretty much everyone I know and live with in Alexandria fears the middle schools and are actively making plans to move or go private before then. A couple tough it out and rationalize by saying that if their kids survive GW/Hammond/TC Williams, they will somehow stick out on college applications. A few people also make the "demographics are changing" argument.

But it doesn't change the fact that there is real anxiety among ES parents about the middle schools. I will agree everyone should check it out for themselves and make their own decision. But to pretend that this isn't a widespread belief in Alexandria is just foolish. And OP should know that if she's considering property there.

PP, what ES are your kids in?