Best public school options within 30 minutes of dc

[Anonymous]

We are in city of Alexandria. I don’t want to move but we cannot afford private. Where can we go with good/excellent schools and be able to get in and out of downtown (let’s say K st) within 30 minutes max.

[Anonymous]

I'm confused, you said you don't want to move so what are you asking exactly?

[Anonymous]

How are you getting into downtown? It also really depends where in downtown. Capitol Hill area? West End?

[Anonymous]

I live in Arlington and, while the schools aren't perfect, I appreciate that my kids are in a place where I know what school they'll be in, that they'll be safe, that the education is good, and they can walk to their K through 12 schools from our house. Super convenient and a nice community.

There's really no such thing as "the best." Every location and every school has pros and cons.

[Anonymous]

Commute in on the VRE for a better, more pleasant commute. Free parking at the stations. You'll want to be within a few miles of a station. We cross referenced VRE Stations and school scores. We would have been satisfied with HS pyramids of: Woodson, Lake Braddock, Robinson, and probably West Springfield.

30 minutes is not going to be your commute though. I contend, it will not be your actual, truthful commute from anywhere

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Commute in on the VRE for a better, more pleasant commute. Free parking at the stations. You'll want to be within a few miles of a station. We cross referenced VRE Stations and school scores. We would have been satisfied with HS pyramids of: Woodson, Lake Braddock, Robinson, and probably West Springfield.

30 minutes is not going to be your commute though. I contend, it will not be your actual, truthful commute from anywhere

It will not be, unless you drive and leave in the middle of the night.

[Anonymous]

Most parts of Arlington can get to K Street in less than 30 minutes, even at rush hour, and have good schools.

[Anonymous]

Maybe in bounds for Langley - if you can stagger your commute time enough I think it would be 30 minutes. We live in Arlington and schools are fine but there are definitely issues.

[Anonymous]

If you can’t afford private, what’s your housing budget? I agree with other posters saying Arlington. FWIW, we are in ACPS and decided to stick it out 50/50–son is doing great but also is a 99%ile kid so we aren’t worried about him so much. There have been challenges, for sure, but we have been okay with it for DS. DD has a level 1 autism diagnosis and we are sending her to private because she’d be overlooked in public—and from talking to other parents with similar kids, it would be a tough fit for her in ANY public school.

[Anonymous]

North Arlington (N of US-50, approximately) has good schools and a 30 minute commute to downtown DC. APS has a lot of lottery/option schools, although getting in to a lottery school obviously is not guaranteed. Many are happy with their geographically zoned APS schools.

McLean 22101 also works with a 30 minute commute. Most of 22101 is McLean HS which is strong academically, but in a decrepit building. Parts of 22101 go to Langley HS which also is academically strong and is newly renovated/expanded. The ESs and MSs are fine in 22101.

For commuting from either of these places, one ought to learn the commute routes both to & from DC via Chain Bridge, GW Pkwy/Spout Run, Key bridge, I-66 bridge, and Memorial Bridge. Which bridge is best will from vary day to day and based on time of day and accidents/construction. GW Pkwy from 495 to Spout Run just finished a complete rebuild and is now very smooth. The 395 bridge is only rarely the best bridge choice.

WTOP and Google Maps are your friends.

[Anonymous]

From 22101 I can take GWP to Memorial Bridge or I-66 bridge and by on the mall in 30 minutes nearly any day. If an accident happens on any bridge, all of the bridges will be delayed somewhat.

[Anonymous]

We’re happy with our South Arlington neighborhood right off of 50. We can get downtown in 15 with no traffic and no issues making it within 30 during rush hour. We’ve had a great experience with schools and the community

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re happy with our South Arlington neighborhood right off of 50. We can get downtown in 15 with no traffic and no issues making it within 30 during rush hour. We’ve had a great experience with schools and the community

Those schools are not the best

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most parts of Arlington can get to K Street in less than 30 minutes, even at rush hour, and have good schools.

Not true if you have to go over the 395 bridge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most parts of Arlington can get to K Street in less than 30 minutes, even at rush hour, and have good schools.

Not true if you have to go over the 395 bridge.

Yeah I've been scratching my head at people's claims you can get to downtown in 30 from most of Arlington. Never been true for me during rush hour.