What's It Like Living in Crystal City?
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Anonymous
OP here, can I ask where by the metro you live? Do you have kids? |
Anonymous
| If I was going to rent in a condo here with kids who would be attending school I would look at Clarendon / Courthouse area before Crystal City. |
Anonymous
I have a friend who lives in the condo complex across from the big Virginia Highlands Park. Definitely not low SES. They've talked over time about moving to a SFH but like their neighborhood and schools and ultimately decided they didn't want to give up what they like there to move where they'd need to get a SFH in their budget. |
Anonymous
May I ask why. We're also looking at the area you mentioned. |
Anonymous
I lived there in an apartment when my kids were young, very walkable, multiple parks and lots of kids everywhere. Easy access to downtown and metro. |
Anonymous
| If you are looking in that general area, go a bit south to Potomac Yard -- more families and a playground right there. Or go a bit further from the Metro and look at the Aspen apartments in North Del Ray - tons of families there. If schools are a factor look in Arlington. |
Anonymous
OP here. Sigh, elementary school is definitely a factor. Finding it hard to evaluate schools from out of town. Not that it would make a difference now since no one is allowing tours due to Covid (rightfully so). |
Anonymous
| Schools are not good in CC or Del Ray. Look in Arlington. |
Anonymous
| Aurora Highlands is a great neighborhood full of kids right near Crystal City. Crystal City itself has two of the nicest parks in Arlington, Long Bridge and Virginia Highlands. |
Anonymous
Do you like airplane noise? The airplanes literally will be taking off in your backyard. With kids, I’d do something like this: https://www.militarybyowner.com/va/homes-in-arlington/mbo1472100/ Or this: https://www.militarybyowner.com/va/homes-in-arlington/mbo182870/ Or this: https://www.militarybyowner.com/va/homes-in-arlington/mbo1474443/ |
Anonymous
https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Map_Elementary_August2021_Update.pdf Oakridge (lower Crystal City) and Arlington Science Focus (Clarendon/Courthouse) would be considered "better" than Hoffman Boston (CC) and Innovation (Courthouse/Rosslyn). Innovation is a new school, so still a bit of an unknown. My kid goes there and it's been good so far, though. Hoffman Boston has a significantly higher FARMS rate (ie poor kids) than the other schools mentioned. ASFS would be the lowest FARMS rate. All of them have relatively diverse student bodies, particularly in comparison to the schools in the NW part of the county. |
Anonymous
You don't hear airplanes in Crystal City because they aren't in the air yet. Surprising but true. They are much louder in Rosslyn, Courthouse and neighborhoods up the river. The trains, on the other hand, are quite loud for the buildings by the tracks. |
Anonymous
Where we're looking by Courthouse/Rosslyn is zoned for Innovation. What grade is your child in? I'm glad to hear you're happy so far. How does the administration seem? Do you live in a single family home there (are there any)? |
Anonymous
My child is in one of the younger grades. The administration has been working to create community since the school just opened and I think it's working. The principal has been very accessible since last spring, though I haven't had any reason to interact with her directly. Overall they are going for a warmer, more touchy-feely approach than ASFS, which was our zone school before they changed boundaries. I think there is no homework for the whole school, but definitely for younger grades. There are some (incredibly expensive) single family homes and townhouses zoned to the school, as well as apartments and condos of all income levels. |
Anonymous
Thank you for the feedback, I really appreciate it. This sounds like it might be a good fit for our child. I'm going to do some more research on housing options within the school zone. |