Lookin gto move - which county has better schools Arlington or Fairfax?

[Anonymous]

11:07 has some good points. We moved to Arlington because of the more available extended day. (and because I commute to DC.)

the other thing Fairfax has going for it - availability of rec classes. Getting into popular rec classes (swimming, gymnastics, etc.) in Arlington is very stressful. Classes literally fill up in the first couple of minutes of registration. I didn't find it as difficult to get my daughter into classes in Fairfax, though we occasionally had to choose rec centers that were physically farther away.

I think there are good schools and lesser schools in both counties. Depending on your budget and where you're commuting, either could have good options. If you're looking to spend less than $700K, you'll find more in FFX.

[Anonymous]

I also agree that the schools are generally good in both, and with the poster who noted the easier options for extended day in Arlington and the different model for G&T services.

The other two things that kept me on the Arlington side of the border was smaller classes in elementary school, and the County's ability to get the roads clear enough to not have to take a week off for every snowstorm.

[Anonymous]

We are in Arlington and pulled our kids out of public for the following reasons:

1) Testing and test prep. It's never ending. My daughter's teacher told her she would lose her job if the kids failed the SOL's.

2) Overcrowding. The trailers are going to continue to multiply.

3) Too little recess/indoor recess pretty much all winter long

4) A total lack of communication at our school.

5) Zero faith in Coach Murphy and his cronies. The School Board also needs to step it up. Too much talking and not enough doing.

5) The GT services suck.

[Anonymous]

2016 National Merit Semifinalists in FCPS high schools: 237
2016 National Merit Semifinalists in APS high schools: 8

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2016 National Merit Semifinalists in FCPS high schools: 237
2016 National Merit Semifinalists in APS high schools: 8

Out of how many children?

[Anonymous]

How many of those were from TJHSST?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I could afford to buy into N. Arlington, I would. I like their long-term prospects much better than FCPS.

We could have easily afforded either, but at the end of the day we simply did not like the housing stock in North Arlington compared to Fairfax County.

I do agree FCPS is facing some near-term challenges, but the large influx of students into APS will present significant challenges for that system as well.

Arlingtonian here (I didn't like Fairfax housing stock or the commute), and I agree.

Look, there are some very vocal proponents and critics on both sides, and an alarming number of them seem to come here to post, but I don't see any significant differences for most families. Buy the house that works for your situation. School will be fine.

An alarming number? You just posted, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2016 National Merit Semifinalists in FCPS high schools: 237
2016 National Merit Semifinalists in APS high schools: 8

Out of how many children?

APS is a fraction of the size of Fairfax. Fairfax is the 10th largest school division in the US, with approximately 188,545 students- http://www.fcps.edu/about/
APS has approximately 25, 678 students. http://www.apsva.us/cms/lib2/VA01000586/Centricity/Shared/QuickFacts.pdf- about 1/7 the size of fairfax.
In both cases the number of semi-finalists is less then 1%.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2016 National Merit Semifinalists in FCPS high schools: 237
2016 National Merit Semifinalists in APS high schools: 8

Out of how many children?

APS is a fraction of the size of Fairfax. Fairfax is the 10th largest school division in the US, with approximately 188,545 students- http://www.fcps.edu/about/
APS has approximately 25, 678 students. http://www.apsva.us/cms/lib2/VA01000586/Centricity/Shared/QuickFacts.pdf- about 1/7 the size of fairfax.
In both cases the number of semi-finalists is less then 1%.

Relative to the size of their student populations, there are far more NMSF in Fairfax. If Fairfax were only minting NMSF at the rate of APS, it would have around 60, not 237.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How many of those were from TJHSST?

154 of them by my count- http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=2839

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How many of those were from TJHSST?

154 of them by my count- http://commweb.fcps.edu/newsreleases/newsrelease.cfm?newsid=2839

and 2 of those are actually Arlington students- http://www.apsva.us/site/Default.aspx?PageID=31571
Keep in mind that TJ pulls from all over NOVA, not just FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are in Arlington and pulled our kids out of public for the following reasons:

1) Testing and test prep. It's never ending. My daughter's teacher told her she would lose her job if the kids failed the SOL's.

2) Overcrowding. The trailers are going to continue to multiply.

3) Too little recess/indoor recess pretty much all winter long

4) A total lack of communication at our school.

5) Zero faith in Coach Murphy and his cronies. The School Board also needs to step it up. Too much talking and not enough doing.

5) The GT services suck.

This probably applies generally to public school, though. If you can accept that public school involves testing and doesn't always tailor things to your needs the way a private school might, Arlington has a lot to offer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like N. Arlington homes have held their value a lot better that those in Fairfax (esp. areas further out) during the fluctuations of the last 7-8 years. Given that the schools in both areas are quite excellent, it might be wise to focus on making a good long-term financial decision for your family.

Apples to apples comparisons are similar. Look a the home values in McLean near the North Arlington boarder and the houses in North Arlington near the McLean border and they have all held their values. The Arlington ones have always be more expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like N. Arlington homes have held their value a lot better that those in Fairfax (esp. areas further out) during the fluctuations of the last 7-8 years. Given that the schools in both areas are quite excellent, it might be wise to focus on making a good long-term financial decision for your family.

Apples to apples comparisons are similar. Look a the home values in McLean near the North Arlington boarder and the houses in North Arlington near the McLean border and they have all held their values. The Arlington ones have always be more expensive.

Sorry, the most expensive homes are in McLean not Arlington

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like N. Arlington homes have held their value a lot better that those in Fairfax (esp. areas further out) during the fluctuations of the last 7-8 years. Given that the schools in both areas are quite excellent, it might be wise to focus on making a good long-term financial decision for your family.

Apples to apples comparisons are similar. Look a the home values in McLean near the North Arlington boarder and the houses in North Arlington near the McLean border and they have all held their values. The Arlington ones have always be more expensive.

I don't want to get into a catfight, but I live in a McLean neighborhood not too far from Arlington where virtually every new house now is $2.3 million or more. The newer builds in Arlington seem to be less expensive.