Relocating from NY/NJ - Advice Needed: Elementary Schools in Arlington or surrounding areas

[Anonymous]

Vamoose Bus has two main stops in Virginia: one in Lorton and another in Arlington (Rosslyn). The Lorton stop is at the Lorton VRE Station parking lot. The Arlington stop is at 1601 North Kent Street, near the Rosslyn Metro station. The bus is best way if you live in VA and going off peak.

I go back to NYC on the train as from NY. I live by Bethesda. I either take Redline to DC and hop on Amtrak but lately driving BWI and parking next to train if a short visit. It is $9 dollar a day to park right next to platform at BWI for Amtrak. I also take Vamoose Bus or there are others out of Bethesda. You can park at the Parking Garage they charge except Sunday. Not too expensive. Bus stop right by garage.

To be honest by Bethesda is best place for someone who goes back and forth NYC a lot on public transportation. Either take bus from Besthesda, 20 minute Redline train to Union Station or drive the 34 miles to BWI and hop on Amtrak there. The BWI stop is before the tunnels in Baltimore so no tolls. Plus knocks time off the trip. The Acela from BWI to NYP is only like two hours 20 minutes if no issues.

I did it for work in NYC business trips where I went just for day a few times. I had to be there by lunch time. Go out to lunch team, do some meeting if office, then go to dinner and drinks and grab the 812 pm Acela back. I usually go to dinner and drinks near Penn Station.

I have been back and forth NYC to DC since 2017 over 100 times.

I did not move to VA when I relocated to
DMV because I go to NYC so much.

[Anonymous]

I live in Arlington and there are many schools that fit your requirements here. That said, if you need to travel to NY/NJ frequently and don't have commuting reasons to be in VA, you should definitely consider MD.

[Anonymous]

I live in Arlington and love it- that being said - we are not super diverse but we are very inclusive. 85-90%+ voted Blue last election.

Getting into ATS as a new 4th grader is slim to none. Its a lottery system and you'd be behind people already on the waitlist since K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work remote, but will have to travel into NY/NJ at least once a month. A friend mentioned she takes Amtrak into Penn Station which I understand is a pricey option. I’ve looked into bussing and flights as alternative options.

I would love to be walking distance to the school unless the school has an option for school bus. Do they allow 4th graders to take the bus?

I am looking to enroll my child into a diverse school, as 1) we are a minority - Asian and 2) I want them to have exposure.

At this point, since the summer is around the corner, I am trying not to be too picky since it is probably slim pickings but I do want a place that has at least 2 bedrooms, in unit full size laundry, parking, safe in a good school district ( 0 tolerance for school bullying), close to supermarkets and transit. Is that too much to ask? Lol.

Maybe doesn’t necessarily have to be in Arlington but does have to be accessible to the train and bus since I have to travel to NY/NJ. I’ve heard a lot of great things about Falls Church amd Fairfax County. How is it comparable to living in Arlington?

My husband wants a bigger place like a townhome, which I am okay with as long as it has my must haves. I don’t want to spend over $3500 for rent. We’re also in our early 40’s and over the nightlife and bar scene.

Then find an apartment within Courthouse or Rosslyn area and enroll your child at discovery elementary. Easy/walking access to everything including, school, grocery, coffee shops, and the bus line (Vamoose) to New York. I’ve taken that bus at least twice to NYC. It leaves from Rosslyn, it takes 4 to 4 1/2 hours to Penn station. It cost between $50 - $75 each way. Amtrak takes as long and is more expensive. You can walk your kid to Discovery elementary from both the Rosslyn and the Courthouse neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria City Public Schools, abbreviated ACPS here in DCUM, are a mess to avoid at all costs.

Arlington Public Schools, abbreviated APS here in DCUM, are generally considered good. Fairfax County and Falls Church City and Loudoun County public schools also are generally considered good.

We were waiting for you!!!

The irony is that literally right before I saw you post my spouse and I were trying to coordinate miles to bring our ACPS K-12 DD home from Berkeley for the summer. Boy oh boy, did it fail us!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria City Public Schools, abbreviated ACPS here in DCUM, are a mess to avoid at all costs.

Arlington Public Schools, abbreviated APS here in DCUM, are generally considered good. Fairfax County and Falls Church City and Loudoun County public schools also are generally considered good.

Plenty of people have excellent experiences with ACPS, including my three kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work remote, but will have to travel into NY/NJ at least once a month. A friend mentioned she takes Amtrak into Penn Station which I understand is a pricey option. I’ve looked into bussing and flights as alternative options.

I would love to be walking distance to the school unless the school has an option for school bus. Do they allow 4th graders to take the bus?

I am looking to enroll my child into a diverse school, as 1) we are a minority - Asian and 2) I want them to have exposure.

At this point, since the summer is around the corner, I am trying not to be too picky since it is probably slim pickings but I do want a place that has at least 2 bedrooms, in unit full size laundry, parking, safe in a good school district ( 0 tolerance for school bullying), close to supermarkets and transit. Is that too much to ask? Lol.

Maybe doesn’t necessarily have to be in Arlington but does have to be accessible to the train and bus since I have to travel to NY/NJ. I’ve heard a lot of great things about Falls Church amd Fairfax County. How is it comparable to living in Arlington?

My husband wants a bigger place like a townhome, which I am okay with as long as it has my must haves. I don’t want to spend over $3500 for rent. We’re also in our early 40’s and over the nightlife and bar scene.

Now, I’m the Pp who mentioned the Courthouse and Rosslyn neighborhoods to meet nearly all of your needs, except your budget needs. You will not be able to find a large place for that money, especially a townhouse - I rent my townhouse for twice that amount. You can try the Cortland apartments in Rosslyn, which would allow to walk Kiddo to school and walk to the bus station to New York but I two bedroom are from $3700 and up to $10,000. It is quite nice with lots of rich young professionals carrying around Dior/channel at times. It’s also very international. There’s a playground walking distance, Whole Foods is .75 miles up from there, and mom’s organic is walking distance as well. You’ll need 5k and up for a townhouse, occasionally, something may come up for 4500

https://cortland.com/apartments/cortland-rosslyn/available-apartments/

[Anonymous]

As a lifelong resident and proponent of Virginia, I agree with the previous poster who recommended Maryland. The trains South of Union Station are less reliable due to track sharing (as I understand it) and the transfer time at Union Station would be a hassle.

If it's an occasional trip, then Northern VA is fine - an uber to Union Station is your best bet. If you're talking daily, then I'd reconsider.

[Anonymous]

Just saw that you're talking monthly trips. That's easy then. Just take the train directly from Union Station, though - not from further South. From where I am in Alexandria, it's a 15 minute, $20 uber ride during off hours.

Amtrak is cheap if you buy tickets well in advance.

[Anonymous]

I guess they don't update this anymore, but this gives good information about the racial breakdown of each school. In general, the further north you go, the less diverse the schools are. My kids went to Glebe, Swanson/Hamm, and WL. Glebe is a great school and fairly diverse for North Arlington, and you can take the bus straight down Langston Blvd to get to metro and Rosslyn for the bus to NYC.

https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2023/06/Civil-Rights-Table-1-2022-web.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria City Public Schools, abbreviated ACPS here in DCUM, are a mess to avoid at all costs.

Arlington Public Schools, abbreviated APS here in DCUM, are generally considered good. Fairfax County and Falls Church City and Loudoun County public schools also are generally considered good.

Plenty of people have excellent experiences with ACPS, including my three kids.

+1
I would have posted to rent in old town, Del ray or even Carlyle and be walking distance to the king st stop. You can either take the slower train all the way from there, or metro to union station and hop on the Acela. We’re in old town and go frequently to ny. We also moved here from NY and find it to be a great mix of urban and walkable but still very neighborly and friendly. The schools are very diverse, and many have excellent programs, but you won’t hear about those on this board. You’ll just heat hatred, including from many who don’t even realize the Fairfax co portion of Alexandria goes to FCPs vs ACPS. OP, see if you can find a rental for Lyles crouch (LCTA). We have friends who rent a condo in old town village that’s in your price range and has everything you are looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work remote, but will have to travel into NY/NJ at least once a month. A friend mentioned she takes Amtrak into Penn Station which I understand is a pricey option. I’ve looked into bussing and flights as alternative options.

I would love to be walking distance to the school unless the school has an option for school bus. Do they allow 4th graders to take the bus?

I am looking to enroll my child into a diverse school, as 1) we are a minority - Asian and 2) I want them to have exposure.

At this point, since the summer is around the corner, I am trying not to be too picky since it is probably slim pickings but I do want a place that has at least 2 bedrooms, in unit full size laundry, parking, safe in a good school district ( 0 tolerance for school bullying), close to supermarkets and transit. Is that too much to ask? Lol.

Maybe doesn’t necessarily have to be in Arlington but does have to be accessible to the train and bus since I have to travel to NY/NJ. I’ve heard a lot of great things about Falls Church amd Fairfax County. How is it comparable to living in Arlington?

Lots of Asians in N Arlington or Falls Church City or Fairfax County.

School buses are the normal way most students get to school. Exception would be if one is living very very close to the school and sidewalks along the whole route.

Except along the MetroRail lines, Northern VA is largely suburban, rather than urban. Most people drive where they need to go, but there is local bus service along the major travel routes.

Falls Church City has IB for high school, and not AP. Fairfax County has some IB high schools and some AP high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria City Public Schools, abbreviated ACPS here in DCUM, are a mess to avoid at all costs.

Arlington Public Schools, abbreviated APS here in DCUM, are generally considered good. Fairfax County and Falls Church City and Loudoun County public schools also are generally considered good.

Plenty of people have excellent experiences with ACPS, including my three kids.

It is the only local school system that keeps an annual student death count. Glad to hear you have been lucky.

[Anonymous]

For OP in case of confusion. APS is Arlington Public Schools. ACPS is Alexandria City Public Schools. FCCPS is Falls Church City. FCPS is Fairfax County.

Plenty of Asians in N Arlington in particular. Large Mongolian population, some Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese, etc. Typically clustered around Arlington’s Orange Line metro stations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Alexandria City Public Schools, abbreviated ACPS here in DCUM, are a mess to avoid at all costs.

Arlington Public Schools, abbreviated APS here in DCUM, are generally considered good. Fairfax County and Falls Church City and Loudoun County public schools also are generally considered good.

Plenty of people have excellent experiences with ACPS, including my three kids.

It is the only local school system that keeps an annual student death count. Glad to hear you have been lucky.

You are amazingly naive if you think violence is limited to Alexandria.