On the other hand, $850-900K is enough to buy an older home in much of the Marshall district - that's $75-125K over the median sales price for a SFH in that district over the past 12 months. It's all about the expectation of a "forever home." |
Thats disgusting. For that cash live in the City of Falls Church or Arlington. Or at least get your kids in the neighboring district and have them go to Mclean or Madison. |
Marshall got a great renovation and you can walk there from Pimmit Hills. On the other hand, George Mason looks like an elementary school and the high schools in Arlington don't have nearly enough seats. |
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OP, High school is still far away for you, I presume? It really depends on elementary schools. Our school is diverse and I know there are Jewish kids there but for the past 3 years, my DS has always been the only Jewish kid in his class. Other kids are either Christian or Muslim; and he's been in large classes, approx. 25-27 kids. Now don't get me wrong, I want him to be exposed to other religions but it does irk me a little that he's always the only Jew in class.
Now there are some nice local congregations you can join, they have Hebrew schools and he can mingle with Jewish kids there. |
| I don't think there are many Jewish kids at Marshall. Lots of Muslim students, and a fair number of Asian and Hispanic kids, but your kid could definitely be the only Jewish kid in a typical class at GCM. I think of Woodson as the most Jewish school in NoVa, followed by McLean and Langley. |
| I know quite a few Jewish kids who are zoned to attend Marshall. Some attend, some go to Madison for AP, some go to local private schools, and some go to CESJDS. Its definitely not a large number but they exist. |
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I have several friends and friends-of-friends who teach at Marshall and have great things to say about the faculty and administration (less-great things about the quality of the renovation, ironically). Sports and extracurriculars are solidly middle-of-the-pack for FCPS. Student body has got quite a range of academic placements, from full-IB achievers to a large ESL population, but I feel like that's less of an issue in HS than in ES/MS. We are currently looking in Fairfax and while the Marshall district isn't our first choice due to commutes, we wouldn't disqualify a house in that pyramid.
Agree with PP that the military comment seems off; military families in FXCO tend to be in Burke/Springfield (LB/Robinson/WS) or outside Belvoir (Hayfield/MV). |
I missed the part of OPs post where OP said they were looking for a new build... There are definitely nice houses in the Marshall district for $850-900. Check out Falls Hill. Great neighborhood. |
If you do wind up in Falls Hill, I can GUARANTEE you that you will not be the only Jewish family there.
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Well George Mason has a much smaller enrollment than Marshall, thats one reason you may think it looks like an elementary school. As someone who spent a year a Marshall and 3 at Mason, they aren't even in the same universe academically. |
Judging from your post, you would have been better served to have spent all four years at Marshall. |
I don't think so. But whatever helps you sleep at night. |
The differences between Marshall, Mason and Yorktown are minimal, many people would rather a new home than a shit box. McLean and Langley have the premiere school pyramids and neighborhoods. |
Seeing that Marshall has a larger cohort of students who excel at academics and other activities than George Mason, and that the two top schools for Mason grads are JMU and VCU, I sleep fine. |
| Or you can buy a home for less in the Falls Church pyramid for 650K and pupil place to Marshall if you want IB. Our daughter attended Pine Spring ES, Luther Jackson MS and now Marshall and has received over $130K in scholarships just for her academics. |