How important is it to live near the high school?

[Anonymous]

We live 25 minutes away from the high school that my children are districted to go to. Should we consider moving closer by the time they enter high school? My main concern is brand new drivers making that commute. Also just the wasted time on the road, not being able to get over there quickly for activities or if I need to pick them up when they’re sick etc.
We would have to downsize considerably and leave a nice neighborhood with close access to everything, but if it greatly improves their high school experience, then we’re willing to move. Can’t tell how important it truly will be for them, especially for social reasons. We will obviously never be the house kids want to come to because we’re so far away.
Anyone with experience living far away from the high school greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Personally, it is nice to live in the neighborhood with the HS. I dropped one kid off this morning, have to pick up another one up early for an appointment and then have to head back for a game tonight. If I lived 25 minutes away that would get old.

We live 1/2 mile and it has its benefits. The downside is that the traffic can be full of terrible drivers (teens and parents alike!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live 25 minutes away from the high school that my children are districted to go to. Should we consider moving closer by the time they enter high school? My main concern is brand new drivers making that commute. Also just the wasted time on the road, not being able to get over there quickly for activities or if I need to pick them up when they’re sick etc.
We would have to downsize considerably and leave a nice neighborhood with close access to everything, but if it greatly improves their high school experience, then we’re willing to move. Can’t tell how important it truly will be for them, especially for social reasons. We will obviously never be the house kids want to come to because we’re so far away.
Anyone with experience living far away from the high school greatly appreciated.

That is totally a personal preference question. Lots of people, my family included, are fine with traveling for a good school. If you are not, then totally fine for you to decide to move your individual family.

It’s kind of like asking do you prefer living in the city or country?

[Anonymous]

I would not want to live too close to a high school in fact any school. The streets become highly congested with drop offs and kids walking too and from school. Our area in mclean it is crazy. a 3-5 min drive away is ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live 25 minutes away from the high school that my children are districted to go to. Should we consider moving closer by the time they enter high school? My main concern is brand new drivers making that commute. Also just the wasted time on the road, not being able to get over there quickly for activities or if I need to pick them up when they’re sick etc.
We would have to downsize considerably and leave a nice neighborhood with close access to everything, but if it greatly improves their high school experience, then we’re willing to move. Can’t tell how important it truly will be for them, especially for social reasons. We will obviously never be the house kids want to come to because we’re so far away.
Anyone with experience living far away from the high school greatly appreciated.

High school is only 4 years. I wouldn't make this type of move just or that. 25 min isn't that far away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live 25 minutes away from the high school that my children are districted to go to. Should we consider moving closer by the time they enter high school? My main concern is brand new drivers making that commute. Also just the wasted time on the road, not being able to get over there quickly for activities or if I need to pick them up when they’re sick etc.
We would have to downsize considerably and leave a nice neighborhood with close access to everything, but if it greatly improves their high school experience, then we’re willing to move. Can’t tell how important it truly will be for them, especially for social reasons. We will obviously never be the house kids want to come to because we’re so far away.
Anyone with experience living far away from the high school greatly appreciated.

High school is only 4 years. I wouldn't make this type of move just or that. 25 min isn't that far away.

But I have two kids that are four years apart, so for me it’s 8 years of driving. And between my two kids, it’s four years of worrying about new drivers driving it.
-OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We live 25 minutes away from the high school that my children are districted to go to. Should we consider moving closer by the time they enter high school? My main concern is brand new drivers making that commute. Also just the wasted time on the road, not being able to get over there quickly for activities or if I need to pick them up when they’re sick etc.
We would have to downsize considerably and leave a nice neighborhood with close access to everything, but if it greatly improves their high school experience, then we’re willing to move. Can’t tell how important it truly will be for them, especially for social reasons. We will obviously never be the house kids want to come to because we’re so far away.
Anyone with experience living far away from the high school greatly appreciated.

High school is only 4 years. I wouldn't make this type of move just or that. 25 min isn't that far away.

But I have two kids that are four years apart, so for me it’s 8 years of driving. And between my two kids, it’s four years of worrying about new drivers driving it.
-OP

But they can't drive the first two years, so put them on the bus then and don't worry about it. Junior/senior year they can drive if they choose, but more likely you'll find people to carpool with.

I absolutely would not uproot my home for something that is guaranteed to be temporary if I liked my current neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

I absolutely wish we lived closer. My kids are very active in school activities and we are constantly driving back and forth.

[Anonymous]

I can't even imagine this. Where do you live? My kids can walk to our high school, but I can drive to at least two other in less than 25 minutes and several more in around 25 minutes. We obviously live in a far more condensed area than you do. Sometimes I think I'd love more space, but stuff like driving 25 minutes to the local public high school would likely keep us from moving further out until the kids are gone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't even imagine this. Where do you live? My kids can walk to our high school, but I can drive to at least two other in less than 25 minutes and several more in around 25 minutes. We obviously live in a far more condensed area than you do. Sometimes I think I'd love more space, but stuff like driving 25 minutes to the local public high school would likely keep us from moving further out until the kids are gone.

I just this was in FCPS ... now I am really baffled. Did not know this was possible in FCPS.

[Anonymous]

This could easily be the case for Langley and maybe even Oakton. But no, I wouldn’t move. That’s crazy talk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't even imagine this. Where do you live? My kids can walk to our high school, but I can drive to at least two other in less than 25 minutes and several more in around 25 minutes. We obviously live in a far more condensed area than you do. Sometimes I think I'd love more space, but stuff like driving 25 minutes to the local public high school would likely keep us from moving further out until the kids are gone.

I just this was in FCPS ... now I am really baffled. Did not know this was possible in FCPS.

This is turning into obvious trolling re: the upcoming school board boundary review. Please take it over to the boundary discussion.

Again this comes down to personal preference. Some people don’t want to drive any distance, others don’t want to live in a multi-million dollar shoebox. Life is about trade-offs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't even imagine this. Where do you live? My kids can walk to our high school, but I can drive to at least two other in less than 25 minutes and several more in around 25 minutes. We obviously live in a far more condensed area than you do. Sometimes I think I'd love more space, but stuff like driving 25 minutes to the local public high school would likely keep us from moving further out until the kids are gone.

I just this was in FCPS ... now I am really baffled. Did not know this was possible in FCPS.

I grew up in FCPS and my high school was 14 miles from home. The homes that are 12 miles away still go to that same high school-- Oakton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not want to live too close to a high school in fact any school. The streets become highly congested with drop offs and kids walking too and from school. Our area in mclean it is crazy. a 3-5 min drive away is ok.

I live four houses away from our high school and two elementary schools are on the other side of the high school. Yes, at dismissal time, the traffic does get a little backed up - but it lasts about 10 minutes. If I'm driving by the schools shortly before the beginning of the day, making a turn might take an extra minute or I might have to stop for kids in the crosswalk. But it is not that big of a deal.

My kids loved being able to walk to elementary and, and now high school. They are involved in sports and it is great not having to pick them up after practices or games - although I do pick them up in the winter if they have an away game and don't get home until 8:00pm or later. Also, they don't have to wake up super early. They can leave the house five minutes before the bell rings and still be on time. I think some of their friends that ride the bus are picked up half an hour before the bell rings.

[Anonymous]

We live across the street from a HS and it’s awesome. It’s a bit busier and slow for about 10-15 minutes before school and right after. It’s something I thought would be a bigger deal than it is. I barely notice.