Top schools in FCPS-Alexandria area

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stratford Landing, Waynewood, Riverside Gardens and Stratford on the Potomac are all nice neighborhoods in 22308. The majority of the families in these areas send kids to Ft. Hunt, Stratford Landing and Waynewood elementaries. They all feed into Sandburg MS and West Po. There are strong parochial and independent private options close by if that interests you.

I prefer the GW pkwy neighborhoods over Kingstowne, but they are both nice areas. It's woodsy and less developed.

Yes I agree that the neighborhoods are very nice in that area,...and elementary and even maybe middle schools are good. But what does everyone do for high school, private?

My impression is that people are happier with West Potomac HS than with Sandburg MS.

[Anonymous]

People who are zoned for Mt. Vernon generally use the AP opt out and send kids to West Potomac (or to private -- Bishop Ireton, St. Stevens & St. Agnes are a couple). Mt. Vernon is an IB school, so you can request a transfer on the grounds of wanting the AP curriculum. (you can also do this for a language that isn't offered). No transportation provided for these transfers.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't use the public schools in the Mount Vernon pyramid.

However--despite the schools, it's an awesome area. We live elsewhere in Alexandria/Fairfax and ended up sending our kids to private anyways, even though the schools are ok. We should have just bought a bigger and nicer place in 22309 for the same price. It's a beautiful area and very family friendly. The commute downtown isn't bad either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stratford Landing, Waynewood, Riverside Gardens and Stratford on the Potomac are all nice neighborhoods in 22308. The majority of the families in these areas send kids to Ft. Hunt, Stratford Landing and Waynewood elementaries. They all feed into Sandburg MS and West Po. There are strong parochial and independent private options close by if that interests you.

I prefer the GW pkwy neighborhoods over Kingstowne, but they are both nice areas. It's woodsy and less developed.

Yes I agree that the neighborhoods are very nice in that area,...and elementary and even maybe middle schools are good. But what does everyone do for high school, private?

My impression is that people are happier with West Potomac HS than with Sandburg MS.

Yes. The middle school is the weakest link.

[Anonymous]

I live in Stratford Landing. Most people send their kids to West Potomac and seem happy enough. I don't know anyone that's thrilled with Sandburg, but they push through bc it's only a few years.

The high school with the next biggest contingent is Bishop Ireton. It's a good school, not too far away and less expensive compared to other private options.

The housing costs in the zip code reflect the schools. You can take your "savings" and use it for private if you feel it's needed. A lot of people decide that doing that is unnecessary.